Representing West Virginia women and families on a national scale

On May 3, West Virginia Assistant Attorney General Janet James stood before the YWCA USA Annual General Assembly in Washington, DC and repeated an oath to uphold the YWCA’s mission of “eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.”James, who currently serves on our board of directors, was one of eight women sworn in that day to the National Coordinating Board (NCB) of the YWCA USA. This 21-member board represents nearly 300 affiliated local YWCAs serving 2.5 million women and girls each year. Globally, the YWCA USA is a member of World YWCA, which has affiliates in 122 countries that serve 25 million women and girls worldwide. James was elected as one of the two representatives of the Mid-Atlantic Region, which encompasses 49 YWCAs in nine states. Below you will find her reflection on being elected to this important position.

"I first became involved with the YWCA of Charleston because its work is crucially needed in our community and because those who do this work have such passion for the people they serve. I served as the YWCA of Charleston’s board president from 1999-2003, and for the past eight years, I have acted as the organization’s liaison to the YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region, along with our Executive Director Debby Weinstein.

When our Mid-Atlantic Region volunteer member came to her term limit on the YWCA's National Coordinating Board (NCB), I was compelled to run for the NCB because of my passion for and belief in the YWCA USA’s advocacy work at the national and world levels, and its development of hallmark programs dealing with racial justice and women's economic empowerment. I was thrilled to hear that I had won the election in January, and humbled to stand before the more than 300 women from across the country to be sworn in to the NCB on May 3, 2009. It is extremely important that the YWCA USA be visible and active on the national and world stages.

On the NCB I will be a part of the decision-making process for the endowment fund, property acquisition and sale, development of peer review standards and other business with local associations, such as gender-neutral petitions and disaffiliation, and maintaining linkages to the World YWCA, including determining delegates to the 2011 World Council Meeting in Switzerland. I am very grateful to the YWCA Charleston for providing me with the opportunity to have a leadership role in the work of the Mid-Atlantic Region and the YWCA USA. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which I will never forget.

The YWCA USA just celebrated its 150th anniversary in Washington DC. It is my hope that 150 years from now, the YWCA will no longer be needed for its current mission because there will no longer be homeless women and children, no one will be the victim of domestic violence, racism will have been eliminated, all employers will have on-site daycare, and women will have leadership roles in every aspect of life. But to get there, much work remains."

New words, same mission

Last week, the YWCA USA General Assembly voted by an overwhelming 91% margin to amend the organization's national bylaws and revise its mission statement to read:

"The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all."

This new mission statement has been pared down from the former, lengthier version:

"The YWCA is a women's membership movement nurtured by roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strengthened by diversity, the Association draws together members who strive to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. The Association will thrust its collective power toward the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary."

The YWCA of Charleston plans to amend our bylaws to reflect this mission statement change during our Thursday Board of Directors meeting. What do YOU think about this change?

YWCA USA Celebrates 150 years of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women

The YWCA USA celebrated its distinguished 150-year legacy as the nation's oldest and largest women's organization at a gala awards dinner in Washington, D.C. over the weekend.

First Lady Michelle Obama noted that "the YWCA has been on the frontiers of this nation's history, standing up for gender and racial equality." In a videotaped message to the YWCA, she remarked, "You fought for job opportunities for women and bringing down barriers that were used to limit the ability of all women to achieve their full potential, and your rich legacy has touched generations of women - mothers, grandmothers and daughters. I want to personally thank you for supporting the President's call to service. In these challenging times, we all have something to contribute."

For the past 150 years, the YWCA has been at the forefront of every social justice movement in America - from the abolition of slavery to voting rights, from civil rights to pay equity, and from violence prevention to global health. Today, its nearly 300 local associations represent the largest provider of services to battered women in the country, and offer critical community services such as sexual assault support services, child care and after school programs, transitional housing for homeless women, job training, leadership development, and economic empowerment programs.

"We are very proud of our 150-year history of accomplishments in civil rights, women's rights and human rights," said Lorraine Cole, Ph.D., YWCA USA CEO. "We look forward to another 150 years of serving American women and girls, and advocating for peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all."

Four distinguished American women leaders were honored at the dinner, which was held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel:

• Lilly Ledbetter is the Supreme Court plaintiff whose name is attached to the first bill signed into law by President Obama. It stipulates that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit can be reset with each new discriminatory paycheck.
• Patti Austin is a Grammy(R) Award-winning jazz singer, composer, and staunch activist against domestic violence who started the Blue Movement, a growing national campaign that brings together individuals to help stop violence against women, children and men.
• Eve Ensler is an internationally acclaimed playwright, author of "The Vagina Monologues" and co-founder of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls.
• Dorothy I. Height is an icon of the civil rights movement who also worked for the YWCA, leading its racial justice efforts for 33 years, and then later headed the National Council of Negro Women for many decades.

The YWCA USA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to social service, advocacy, education, leadership development, and racial justice. Established in the United States in 1858, the YWCA is the oldest and largest national women's organization, and celebrating its 150th anniversary. The YWCA USA is also a member of World YWCA, which has affiliates in 122 countries that serve 25 million women and girls worldwide. Visit www.ywca.org.

The YWCA of Charleston, WV - established in 1912 - is proud to be a part of this prestigious organization and is honored to further its mission in the Greater Kanawha Valley.