Asheville
FALL 2017
DIABETES PROGRAM PROMOTES HEALTH AND BUILDS COMMUNITY
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very week the support groups of our Diabetes Wellness and Prevention (DWP) program meet to learn, share personal challenges and advice, and set goals to improve their health. These sessions are part of the new evidence-based model we have implemented to better support people in our community living with or who are at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Through curriculums created by the national Center for Disease Control and Stanford University, along with a partnership with Western Carolina Community Health Services, the YWCA aims to help participants lower A1C blood sugar levels, lose weight, increase energy, and build a community of support. “It offers a new paradigm for thinking about yourself and your life,” said DWP participant, Tom Ninni, when asked how the new program model was supporting his health journey.
During the weekly group meetings, facilitators lead discussions on critical topics such as managing stress, understanding food labels, the importance of physical activity, and working with health care providers. In addition to the educational component, participants exercise at least two and a half hours per week here at our YWCA Fitness Club. “This program has shown me that exercise is more important than I’ve realized,” said program participant, Donna Hagan. The YWCA began using this new program model in August and already participants are getting results and feeling empowered to take control of their health. In the first month alone, participants have lost a total of 56.5 lbs - an average of 3.3 lbs per person! Soon our participants will have even more support with the addition of a dedicated DWP Fitness Coach. This YW staff position and our new program model are made possible through grants from Mission Health, Sun Life Financial and generous community donors.
WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE
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s the largest network of domestic violence service providers in the country, the YWCA brings awareness to the pervasive and intersectional nature of violence against women and girls through the Week Without Violence campaign. Although YWCA Asheville does not provide direct gender-based violence services, we are committed to advocating for and supporting a resilient community free from domestic and sexual violence. As a partner agency with the Buncombe County Family Justice Center (FJC), YWCA Asheville staffs the Children’s Den, which provides free onsite childcare for parents accessing services at the FJC. We also participate in collaborative community engagement initiatives.
Beth Maczka, CEO
NC YWCAS LAUNCH STATEWIDE ADVOCACY INITIATIVE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lyndia Chiles, President Leslie Fay, 1st Vice President Cameron Raley, 2nd Vice President Marian Arledge, Secretary Nona Workman, Treasurer Cathleen Adams Marcie Ball Jesica Gaskin Veronika Gunter Wendy Haner Coryn Harris Joyce Harrison Kendall Oliver Lauren Akiko Pittman Heidi Reiber Betsey Russell Bobbie Short Becky Stone
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
AvL Technologies Asheville Savings Bank CarePartners Foundation Duke Energy Progress HomeTrust Bank The Biltmore Company Eblen Short Stop Stores Webb Investment Services
During the YWCA Week Without Violence, October 16 - 20, 2017, we will work with Helpmate, FJC partner and local provider of domestic violence services, to lift up survivors and work to end intimate partner violence. The YW will host Helpmate’s exhibit of survivor art, the Clothesline Project, and representatives from Helpmate will offer surveys to the YW community on domestic violence in Buncombe County. These surveys assist Helpmate in improving community awareness and education efforts. Thanks to our members, program participants, parents and volunteers, the YWCA produced the most responses to the survey last year! We are excited to be a part of this important work.
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e are excited to announce that North Carolina is one of three states chosen to pilot the YWCA Statewide Advocacy initiative. The YWCA NC Cohort is made up of leaders from our sister YW Associations throughout North Carolina - YWCA Asheville, YWCA Central Carolinas (Charlotte), YWCA Greensboro, YWCA High Point, YWCA Lower Cape Fear (Wilmington) and YWCA Winston Salem. We aim to become a unified voice in addressing issues for the communities we serve across the state.
In conjunction with Week Without Violence, YWCA Asheville is taking part in a powerful community-wide art installation called the Still Standing Project. The art features survivors’ stories of hope and strength to inspire our community to take a stand and give courage to others to break the silence of violence. The installation will be available for viewing through the end of the year.
Our YWCA NC Cohort began meeting this summer to discuss issues and disparities that impact our communities and tie directly to our mission-centered work. Through workshops and conversations facilitated by YWCA USA staff, our Cohort has chosen to focus our collective efforts on the unjust treatment of people of color. To set our priorities, the Cohort surveyed our constituents to get community input on what issues concern them most in the areas of policing, immigration, education and voter suppression. It was apparent that our communities are first and foremost concerned with racial profiling by law enforcement. As our Cohort moves forward to formulate action plans to promote more equitable policies and practices, we want to work with you, our constituents, to improve experiences and prevent unjust outcomes. At the core of our mission - eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all - YWCA believes that no one should suffer from the negative impacts of institutional and structural racism. Laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate the discrimination of people of color are unjust. We believe that when community members come together, we can come up with solutions that benefit everyone and create safer communities for all. Your continued involvement and support of the YWCA’s mission and programmatic work is essential to this effort.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS MAKE A SPLASH AT THE YWCA
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n our community, there is a disparity between white children and children of color learning to swim. Beginning this school year, YWCA Aquatics launched an innovative partnership with next door neighbors, Asheville Middle School, to promote swim equity in our community. Five days a week, our experienced instructors are teaching 11 - 13 year olds swim lessons as part of the students’ Physical Education. This opportunity allows us to reach children who, because of economic and historical barriers, may otherwise never learn to swim. YWCA Aquatics Coordinator, Kitty Schmidt really believes swimming should be a part any P.E. curriculum for safety and health. “[The students] are very excited about learning to swim and really get to burn some energy,” said Schmidt. “They are learning a new sport with an added health benefit of exercise.” Swim equity is precisely the type of initiative the YWCA pursues as we work to eliminate racism, empower women, nurture children and promote health. Swim lessons, swim suits, goggles and caps are provided for free for all students through the generous support of YWCA donors, Asheville Middle School, Buncombe County Foundation, and the Fannie Landwith Foundation. Thank you for helping make this all possible!
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185 S. French Broad Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 254-7206 www.ywcaofasheville.org
ywca
A CONVERSATION WITH BETH MACZKA, CEO AND Amanda Read, Director of Women’s Empowerment
BM: Tell me a little about your background and how you came to the YWCA. AR: I’m from Greensboro, NC, got my Masters in Social Work from USC, and the day I was walking across the stage, I got a call saying I got the [MotherLove Coordinator] position here at the YW. I was so excited and said of course I would take it!
BM: Tell me how your department relates to our mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women. AR: Both of our programs, MotherLove and Getting Ahead, focus on Empowering Women by really trying to meet people where they are. In both programs you see these ladies who see the end goal for where they want to be and they just don’t know what it looks like to get there. Our programs offer information, give women the opportunity to learn to build upon their skills, and connect them to resources so that they can empower themselves. When it comes to Eliminating Racism, we work to alleviate some of the barriers that these women are facing on a daily basis...where their neighborhood is, if they have a language barrier. I honestly think the department really encompasses our mission fully. BM: What do you think makes our Women’s Empowerment programs unique in our community? AR: As a small staff we are able to develop strong relationships and I feel that our participants get to know each other within our programs and connect on a deeper level. They get to build their own community within the YW. BM: What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? AR: I’m excited for Getting Ahead with our new Coordinator, Giannina Callejas. We did more marketing out in the community - knocking on doors, giving out flyers, meeting people face to face. I would say most of our referrals and new participants are coming from the different public housing developments in Asheville. We have a lot of ladies who have never stepped foot in the YWCA before. It is great to expand our reach. @ywcaofavl
www.facebook.com/ywcaofasheville
The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.