Y you should vote

Less than 100 years ago, our foremothers fought to secure the right for all women to vote. To be viewed as equal citizens in our country and have a say in shaping our future.

Our country has reached a new milestone with the first African-American nominee for president and the first woman vice president nominee. It's an exciting time in American history.

Not only is our nation making history, but the YWCA has also reached an important milestone in its 100-year history. For the first time, the YWCA (the nation's oldest and largest women's organization) will be a national sponsor of the 2008 presidential debates. As a sponsor, the YWCA has also taken the initiative to create a voter guide that covers issues that relate to the YWCA's mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Issues such as affordable healthcare and housing; ending violence against women; providing quality early childhood education; equal pay for equal work; ending discrimination and promoting equality and strengthening hate crime laws.

These issues are discussed at length on the YWCA's new website ywcavote. It's about your vote. Making your voice heard so you have a role in shaping your future. This powerful tool allows you to register to vote; learn about the important issues our country faces and even become a community activist.

We encourage you to use this tool. Refer your mothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, nieces, friends, coworkers and neighbors to the site. But most importantly, encourage all women to exercise the right that our foremothers fought so hard to earn just 88 years ago.

Note: This Friday marks the first presidential debate. The two presidential nominees -- Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama -- will debate foreign policy and national security during a 90-minute event that begins at 9 p.m. EST.