YWCA Racial Justice Position a New Opportunity for West Virginia

The following post was written by Hallie Chillag Dunlap, a member of the YWCA of Charleston's Board of Directors and Chair of the YWCA Eliminating Racism Committee.

In the early weeks of the summer, Paul Sheridan came to me, and to the YWCA of Charleston with an idea of reaching out to the United States Justice Administration in the hopes of acquiring federal stimulus dollars to further the work of the Eliminating Racism Committee of the YWCA Board of Directors and our associated community group, One Kanawha. Members of these groups are consummate community activists, motivated by a strong social justice imperative. Members quickly recognized an opportunity to develop a staff position dedicated to this end through personal and community commitment and federal dollars.

As conversations evolved regarding how we could develop a social justice position to support our existing work, we realized that a grant application that reflected the YWCA's mission as well as community needs could truly empower a potential employee to do thoughtful and critically needed work in our community.

Furthermore, this would be a chance to meet both the requirements of the stimulus money (put someone to work) and to hire an individual to help to fulfill the mission of the YWCA, specifically our "eliminating racism" call to action. YWCA staff members (thank you Felicia Bush and Deb Weinstein) and community partners (thank you Paul Sheridan, Tracy Dorsey Chapman, JoEllen Zacks, Crystal Good, and Margaret Chapman among others) worked tirelessly to complete an intensive grant application in less than two weeks!

The dream of having a dedicated employee to push our equity work forward was an exciting and unprecedented opportunity. This individual would not have another job to distract him or her from our important mission! We realized that having a paid YWCA staff position could really grow what had been before exclusively volunteer work. Last month we were notified that we would have the opportunity to hire such an individual, which was an extremely exciting revelation for our community and committee members!

To this end, we are currently looking for a Racial Justice and Hate/Bias Crimes Statewide Coordinator. This position will coordinate a one-year, statewide, racial justice training project. In addition, the position requires that this individual facilitate statewide trainings in racial justice and hate/bias crime issues. This individual will also have the opportunity to develop a model community dialogue. We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic individual with social justice priorities to come and dedicate themselves to the call to eliminate racism.

For more information, please see extended position specifications here.

To paraphrase the timeless words of Mahatma Gandhi, come and be the change you want to see in this world!

First Lady says "August is Girls Night Out Month"

The following article is a Monthly Message by West Virginia's First Lady Gayle C. Manchin, published on HuntingtonNews.net. The First Lady shares the YWCA of Charleston's passion for making each home in our community a safe place free from domestic violence. We thank her for her voluntary post on this issue and on our Girls Night Out event this coming Thursday that benefits victims of domestic violence through the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program.

August is 'Girls' Night Out' Month

August, 8, 2009 (HNN) -- August is a month of reining in our last summer activities, thinking of our new beginnings--whether it be the opening of school, band and athletic practices, or fundraisers as fall quickly approaches. My mind goes to the ‘Girls’ Night Out’ event which has become an annual favorite, not only here in Charleston, but across the state and nationally.

The theme this year is Girls in pearls: the black and white bash on Thursday, August 13, 6-11 p.m. at the Sunrise Mansion. All of these similar events were designed to draw attention and awareness to debilitating effects of domestic violence and the essential need for women to know they can and should be able to turn to other women for resources, support, and maybe above all, unconditional friendship. The YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program offers 24/7 shelter and supportive services for victims of domestic violence.

Unfortunately domestic violence is a horrific problem that continues to plague West Virginia at alarming rates; therefore, the YWCA of Charleston has begun a discussion on ending the cycle of domestic violence in our state. The YWCA of Charleston believes that all people – women, men and children – have the right to live their lives free of violence, oppression, and intimidation. Our very nation was founded on this premise; however, domestic violence directly violates these rights and makes the home a place of terror instead of a place of peace.

In our most recent data, the West Virginia State Police Crime Statistics Report, noted 14,315 reported incidents of domestic violence. Of these, 10,530 of the victims were female and 3,518 were male, illuminating the fact that violence and abuse is not limited to one gender and certainly no one race. Domestic violence is defined as any of several acts between family or household members causing or placing another in jeopardy of physical harm; creating fear by harassment, psychological abuse or threatening acts; committing sexual assault or abuse; and confining or abducting another person against their will.

Yearly, YWCA representatives are joined by other domestic violence advocates from around our state for Domestic Violence Prevention Day at the state capitol in a continuing effort to educate lawmakers and the public about this ongoing appalling dilemma in our state.

Although these are all steps in the right direction, it takes more than government, law enforcement, and service providers like the YWCA to fully combat this issue. Women empowering women is one more way that we can be advocates and a voice for all who are intimidated into silence. It takes the entire community to look after our friends and neighbors and be positive role models to our children and students. It takes all of us in rising up as a community and saying “no more” to the cycle of violence.

I would invite all women who would like to join us in Charleston on August 13 to register online at http://www.ywcacharleston.org/ or contact Carol Carroll, Phone: 304-340-3573 or Email: ccarroll@ywcacharleston.org or check for events in your community----better yet-start one in your community to insure that we eliminate victims and engage advocates!

United We Serve

This summer, President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama launched the "The United We Serve" program, encouraging all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities this summer through September 11, 2009. YWCAs across the country have joined hundreds of other nonprofits and community organizations in posting their volunteer opportunities to the site http://www.serve.gov/. This site was specifically to be a comprehensive clearinghouse of service opportunities throughout the country. First Lady Michelle Obama even released a special video about this project.

We have posted numerous YWCA of Charleston volunteer opportunities on this site, from reading to children at the YWCA Child Enrichment Center, to cooking healthy meals for residents at the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter, to sorting donations at the YWCA Past & Present Gently Used Clothing Store. Click here for a full list of our volunteer opportunities in Charleston, WV.

Like the President and First Lady, we encourage you to get involved and give back to your community during this last month of the summer. Sign up for one of our opportunities, contact a YWCA in your hometown, or go to http://www.serve.gov/ and look for special projects that fit your interests and talents. Whatever you choose, you will be helping someone in need and improving the quality of human life in your community. United, we serve.

Economic Abuse - Wall Street or Main Street?

A term commonly associated with Wall Street could apply on Main Street more often than you might expect. According to a new national poll released by The Allstate Foundation, 86 percent of Americans fail to see a connection between domestic violence and "economic abuse." In fact, when given a choice of definitions, the survey revealed that nearly eight out of 10 Americans link economic abuse to Wall Street woes or irresponsible spending.

On the contrary, economic abuse is a tactic commonly used by abusers to control their victims' finances and prevent them from leaving a dangerous relationship. Many victims stay in abusive relationships due to lack of resources to stand on their own two feet. In a recent press release by The Allstate Foundation, Jennifer Kuhn - manager of the Economics Against Abuse program - stated:

"Many people associate domestic violence with physical attacks, but damage to your credit score and being cut off from access to money create lasting scars that make it hard, if not impossible, for abuse victims to recover. For victims of domestic violence, economic abuse is much more personal - and dangerous."

The poll also found that more than 70 percent of Americans know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. With millions of Americans touched by domestic violence in some way, here are some of the warning signs of financial abuse the Allstate Foundation has identified:

• Taking money, credit card or property from a partner without permission
• Racking up debt without a partner's knowledge
• Purposely ruining a partner's credit score
• Preventing a partner from earning money or attending school
• Being forced by a partner to hand over paychecks
• Canceling insurance or credit cards without the partner's knowledge
• Harassing a partner at work to negatively impact a job
  

Building financial skills is an important key to overcoming economic abuse. Now more than ever, it is important that domestic violence survivors build economic skills to overcome financial instability - the leading barrier to exit and stay out of an abusive situation. Here at the YWCA of Charleston, we empower domestic violence survivors with the tools to become financially self-sufficient by providing shelter, clothing, transportation to work, money management classes, education, and job readiness assistance. Furthermore, we offer individual counseling and support groups free of charge and assist victims with obtaining free court and legal representation so they can receive the support they desperately need.

Thanks to The Allstate Foundation and the "ClickToEmpower" Campaign, the YWCA USA has been selected as one of four national organizations to partner in friendly competition to raise national awareness about economic abuse – specifically, how it can impact the personal safety and financial security of domestic violence victims and their families. The organization receiving the most votes at the end of the two-month campaign period will receive $100,000 to support economic empowerment education for domestic violence victims.

How YOU can "click to empower" domestic violence victims through the YWCA:

From July 15 through September 15, visit www.clicktoempower.org and cast your vote for the YWCA each and every day. Also, tell everyone you know to do the same - especially those who know and love the YWCA. Also, please promote this contest on your web site, blog, Facebook, Twitter, or any way you can! We can win this competition, but only with your help. Let's get out there and Click to Empower!

Urge your Senators to support the Hate Crimes Prevention Act

The following is information from the YWCA USA's Social Action and Advocacy office. Social action and advocacy have been the cornerstones of our national organization since it's inception almost 150 years ago. In communities across the United States, YWCAs like the YWCA of Charleston continue to work to improve social and economic conditions for all people. We work diligently to bring first-hand knowledge of how federal level policies and programs affect women, girls and their families in communities across the country. Historically, the YWCA USA has fought for issues such as the abolition of child labor, the 8-hour workday and desegregation and, today, we urge you to help carry on our long tradition in social action and advocacy.

Call your Senators now and urge them to support the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S.909). The Senate could consider the measure as early as Wednesday, July 15. The Matthew Shepard Act is a much-needed update to existing federal hate crimes laws. It expands the law to protect victims of crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity, and allows federal law enforcement to assist state and local jurisdictions in the prosecution of hate crimes. A companion measure, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, was passed by the House earlier this year.

Call your senators today at 202-224-3121 (Congressional switchboard) to urge them to strongly support this bill so that all Americans are protected from hate crimes.

About the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act

This bill would strengthen and expand current federal law by:

• expanding the legal definition of a hate crime to cover crimes committed because of a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability;
  lifting the overly restrictive requirement regarding engagement in a federally-protected activity. Currently, the federal government can only prosecute a hate crime if the perpetrator intended to prevent the victim from exercising a federally-protected right, such as the right to vote or attend school;
• providing local law enforcement officials important resources, including federal training and direct assistance, to combat violent, bias-motivated crime;
• allowing the Department of Justice to help local and state governments investigate and prosecute hate crimes and/or allowing federal investigations and prosecutions when local authorities are unwilling or unable; and
• demonstrating the federal government’s resolve to address violence based on prejudice.

About hate crimes

• Hate crimes are committed when a perpetrator intentionally selects his or her victim because of the victim’s membership in a particular social group usually defined by characteristics like race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Hate crimes don’t just cause harm to the victim; they are designed to intimidate and terrorize whole communities on the basis of personal and immutable characteristics.
• According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, hate crimes tend to be much more violent than other crimes.

Who supports the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA)/Matthew Shepard Act (S.909, H.R.1913)?

• This legislation enjoys strong bipartisan support and is similar to legislation introduced in the 110th Congress.
• The legislation is supported by 300 civil rights groups, women’s groups, disability groups, and law enforcement agencies including the YWCA USA. The president and the attorney general also support this legislation.