Asheville
YWC A IS ON A MISSION
Spring ‘15
SPRING 2017
A STAND AGAINST RACISIM The YWCA’s Stand Against Racism, in partnership with YWCA Associations throughout the country, aims to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness around the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. The goal of Stand Against Racism is to unite our community in a bold demonstration that delivers a clear message: We are on a mission to eliminate racism.
“E
very year, the YWCA of Asheville and our local Stand Against Racism partners coalesce around this awareness campaign, and we continue to be one of the most active Stand sites in the country,” said Gerry Leonard, YWCA of Asheville Volunteer & Racial Justice Coordinator. “In an ever-changing social and political landscape, we have seen our community stand up and speak out against systemic racism that disproportionately impacts people of color.”
The YWCA of Asheville has once again invited area organizations, businesses, faith communities, government agencies and individuals in Asheville and Buncombe County to take a stand by participating as an event site in the 2017 Stand Against Racism. Any group of any size that believes in a society free of racism is invited to become a Stand site. These events include days of support and discussion gatherings at work places to larger scale Stands like film screenings, rallies, panel discussions and marches. This year’s theme is Women of Color Leading Change and many local Stand Against Racism events are currently scheduled to take place throughout the month of April. Find a local Stand event a www.ywcaofasheville.org/stand and check out the insert in this newsletter for a list of public events to participate with. Strength comes from numbers. To learn more and to take the stand pledge, visit StandAgainstRacism.org. For questions about participating in the Stand Against Racism contact Gerry Leonard at gleonard@ywcaofasheville.org.
Local Women of Color Leading Change YWCA of Asheville hosts Women of Color Leading Change, a panel discussion highlighting local WOC who are leading grassroots efforts towards equity and inclusion. The focus of the event will be on challenges faced and success stories from WOC leaders along with words of wisdom for others looking to make change in their communities. Join us Thursday, April 27 from 6:30 - 8:30 at the Edington Center. For more information visit www.ywcaofasheville.org/stand.
A VISIONARY FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE
A
s we celebrate the theme of this year’s Stand Against Racism: Women of Color Leading Change, we honor a true visionary leader, E. Thelma Caldwell. Caldwell served as the Executive Director of the YWCA of Asheville from 1965-1975, making her the second African American in the nation to lead a newly integrated YWCA association and the first in the South. She was a pioneer of integration in Asheville with her forward-thinking and vision for a unified YWCA community.
Chief Executive Officerr, Beth Maczka
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
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“These were times of violence and unrest in the black communities of our country, with sit-ins, marches, etc. [And a time] when other minorities became convinced that they too, had the potential to better their lot in life,” said Caldwell. “These were the times that the national YWCA moved ever more assertively to help these groups realize their dreams.” Caldwell was already looking ahead to integration in Asheville during the planning for the new location of the Black branch of the YWCA. She insisted on two things: that the building not be located in the middle of a historically African American neighborhood, and that the branch be named South French Broad, not Phyllis Wheatley, the original name of the Black branch in Asheville. “It was intentional,” said Caldwell of strategizing for integration efforts. “We sat down and calculated the risk and also sat down and said ‘who would help us do it’. [And there were] so many who were glad to be part of it.” Under Caldwell’s executive leadership, the Black and White branches were integrated.
Board President, Lyndia Chiles
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lyndia Chiles, President Heidi Reiber, 1st Vice President Cameron Raley, 2nd Vice President Marian Arledge, Secretary Leslie Fay, Treasurer Cathleen Adams Natalie Bailey Jesica Gaskin Althea Gonzalez Wendy Haner Jerri Jameson Kendall Oliver Bobbie Short Muriel Singer Viola Spells Becky Stone Laurie Stradley Nona Workman Lu Young Page 2
However, the decision to merge the two Asheville branches was met by strong public criticism and even a petition against the merger with 2,500 signatures. The newly integrated YWCA of Asheville faced a significant loss of funding from those who opposed the change. In response to these challenges, a group of retired Black board members formed the YWCA Booster Club in 1976 to support the YWCA. Later joined by White members committed to integration, the Boosters worked tirelessly to carry on Caldwell’s work. Quotations from E. Thelma Caldwell courtesy of her 1992 interview for the Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection, Ramsey Library UNC Asheville Special Collections.
Leave a Lasting Legacy L Named for E. Thelma Caldwell and dedicated to the women of the YWCA Booster Club, our Legacy Society ensures our organization’s resiliency and supports the YWCA mission: Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for all. We invite you to make a profound impact in carrying out this work by joining the E. Thelma Caldwell Legacy Society. Contact Stephanie Tullos, Development Specialist at 828.254.7206 x207 or development@ywcaofasheville.org. To learn more, visit www.ywcaofasheville.org/plannedgiving.
Asheville
STAND AGAINST
RACISM 2017 Public Stand Events
YWCA of Asheville hosts Women of Color Leading Change, a panel discussion highlighting local WOC who are leading grassroots efforts towards equity and inclusion. The focus of the event will be on challenges faced and success stories from WOC leaders along with words of wisdom for others looking to make change in their communities. Join us Thursday, April 27 from 6:30 - 8:30 at the Wesley Grant Center. April 8 Superhero-themed Social Justice for Kids Dancing Bear Toys & Spellbound Bookshop 1:00 - 2:00 pm at Dancing Bear Toys
April 25 The Ripple Effect with Mia Birdsong Buncombe County HHS & Family Justice Center 6:00 pm at Diana Wortham Theatre
April 13 The Facing Project UNCA Key Center for Community Engaged Learning 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Key Center
April 27 Diversity in WNC Contributors to Music and Medicine Grateful Steps Inter Faith 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Grateful Steps
April 17 Stand Up, Speak Out for Respect & Dignity A-B Technical College 2:00 - 3:30 pm at Mission Health/ A-B Tech Conference Center
April 27 & 28 Mi Historia: Latinos Today in WNC Literacy Council of Buncombe County 4/27 9:00 am - 7:30 pm 4/28 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville
April 18 Combating Structural Racism in the Workforce WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition 5:30 - 7:30 at Bhramari Brewhouse April 18 Film-screening of documentary “13th� 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Francine Delany New School for Children April 20 How the Paradigm of Racism has Shifted Building Bridges 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Rainbow Community School April 22 Racial and Cultural Identity Bookbinding Workshop The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design April 24 Collaborative Conversations: Creating Equity in Our Schools Educators for Equity 6 - 8 pm at Rainbow Community School April 25 Advancing Equity Lunch & Learn with Marisol Jimenez WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at MAHEC Education Center in Pisgah
April 27 & 28 Poster Writing Event and Fundraiser Warren Wilson College 4/27 11:00 am - 1:00 pm 4/28 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Warren Wilson College April 28 Micro-Aggressions with Lucia Daugherty Carolina Day School 12:30 - 3:00 pm at Carolina Day School Auditorium April 28 10% Benefit Day for YWCA The Hop Ice Cream Cafe 11:00 am - 10:00 pm The Hop on Merrimon and The Hop West April 30 Celebrating the Lives of Local Changemakers The MLK Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe Co. The Residents Council of Asheville Housing Authority 3:00 - 4:00 pm at The Edington Center
For more information visit: www.ywcaofasheville.org/stand.
SUMMER HOURS
Fitness Studio
Mon-Fri: 5:30 am - 9 pm (Pool closes at 7:30 pm) Sat: 7 am - 6 pm Sun: 11 am - 6 pm (Pool closes at 1 pm)
Multipurpose Room
Child Care: Mon-Thurs: 8 am - 8 pm Fri: 8 am - 3 pm Sat: 9 am - 12 pm Sun: Closed
Cycle Studio
YWCA GROUP FITNESS SCHEDULE SCHEDULE
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
6:15 - 7:15 am Wake Up Circuit/ Marta
6:30 - 7:30 am 6:15 - 7:15 am Step & Sculpt/Tracy Wake up Circuit/ Marta
6:30 - 7:30 am Cycle/Becky
8:15 - 9:15 am 8:15 -9:15 am Hip-Hop Cardio/ Eden Pump/Fyffe
8:15 - 9:15 am Gentle Yoga/ Annette
8:15 - 9:15 am Pump/Tracy
9:00 - 10:00 am Silver Sneakers Circuit/ Ronnie
9:00 - 9:45 am Silver Sneakers Cardio Fit/Aileen
9:15 - 10:15 am Hip-Hop Cardio/ Jackie
9:00 - 10:00 am Cycle/Jim 9:15 - 10:15 am Silver Sneakers Circuit/ Ronnie
9:15 - 10:15 am Pilates/Kelsey
9:30 - 10:30 am 9:15 - 10:15 am 9:15 - 10:15 am Stretch & Flexibility/ Stretch & Flexibility/ Total Body Toning/ Jackie Fyffe Stephanie
9:15 - 10:00 am Chair Yoga/ Stephanie
10:00 - 11:00 am Zumba/Katie
10:00 - 11:00 am Silver Sneakers Classic/Ronnie
10:00 - 11:00 am Silver Sneakers Classic/Cynthia Lee
10:15 - 11:15 am Intro Tai Chi/Jan
10:30 - 11:30 am Backcare Yoga/ Lindsay
10:15 - 11:15 am Tai Chi Level 2/Jan
10:45 - 11:45 am Yoga l-ll/Stephanie
11:00 - 11:40 am Spin/Aileen
10:15 - 11:15 am Core Yoga/Tucker
11:00 am - 12:00 pm 11:15 am - 12:15 pm 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Cycle/ Alieen Creative Movement/ Cycle/Aileen Eden
10:15 - 11:15 am Level II Yoga/ Lindsay
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Strength/Aileen 11:15 am - 12:15 pm 11:15 - 12:15 pm Creative Movement/ Gentle Yoga/ Stephanie Eden
11:45 am - 12:45 pm 12:00 - 1:00 pm Core Yoga/Tucker Restorative Yoga/ Tucker
5:30 - 6:30 pm Bootcamp/Hilarey
Saturday
6:30 - 7:30 am 6:15 - 7:15 am Step & Sculpt/Tracy Wake up Circuit/ Marta
6:30 - 7:30 am Cycle/Becky 8:00 - 9:00 am Pump/ oseph
Friday
4:30 - 5:30 pm Zumba/Fabienne
4:30 - 5:30 pm CSI/Casey
5:30 - 6:15 pm CSI/Casey
5:30 - 6:30 pm Zumba/Madeleyne
5:45 - 6:30 pm Cycle/Madelyne 6:30 - 7:30 pm Zumba/Madeleyne
6:30 - 7:30 pm Yoga I-II/Lindsay
5:30 - 6:30 pm Tabata/Joseph
CONNECT
Download the YWCA App on your phone for the latest updates! * Connect with @ywcaofavl on Twitter for weather cancellations *Note: Schedules may change - please visit www.ywcaofasheville.org/schedules for the most current class listings.
ASHEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIM EQUITY - 2017
T
here are many children in our community who never learn to swim. Most of them grow up without access to a pool or swim lessons. Many have parents who don’t know how to swim. Many have some level of fear, mistrust or misunderstanding when it comes to being in the water. With drowning as the leading cause of unintentional death of school age children and teens –compiled with the fact that African American children are six times more likely to drown than a white child – the YWCA is on a mission to ensure all kids in our community have access to lifesaving swim lessons. Through a new partnership with the In Real Life (IRL) after school program, which serves students in middle school ages 11 to 13, the YWCA is offering free swim lessons to even more children than ever before. This swim equity initiative includes not only the swim instruction but also provides suits, goggles, swim caps and towels for all participating students.
safe in the water. These students chose this opportunity over 50+ other elective programs offered through IRL. Their interest and the number of students who are choosing the program far exceeded expectations from the IRL program leads. “The children are having so much fun! Kids are overcoming fear and learning how to become strong swimmers,” said Randall. “The instructors and the facility are amazing.” Within each IRL program, students work on goal setting. In the YWCA swim program, each student will choose their own personal goal for swimming and our instructors help them meet these milestones. “It’s really nice to work with kids of this age who are independent but still learning so much,” says Kitty Schmidt, YWCA Aquatics Coordinator. “It is great to see them take pride in their accomplishments in the pool and feel good about themselves.”
“The YWCA is serving a critical need in our community,” said In Real Life Program Director, Brian Randall. “IRL after school is so grateful and thrilled to be partnering with the YWCA swim equity program.”
IRL is an Asheville City Schools Foundation program that coordinates and delivers high-quality, engaging after school programs for Asheville City Schools middle school students. The YWCA is looking forward to continuing this partnership and having more opportunities to reach students of all ages in our community and start to change the statistics.
Every week, around twenty boys and twenty girls from Asheville Middle School walk over to the YWCA pool to work on swimming skills, and learn to have fun and be
We are grateful that this pilot program has been made possible through funds granted by The Helen A. Powers Fund, Bank of America N.A., Trustee through July 2017. Page 3
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ASHEVILLE NC PERMIT #73
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ASHEVILLE NC PERMIT #73
185 S. French Broad Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 254-7206 www.ywcaofasheville.org
SAVE THE DATE YWCA 110th Anniversary Celebration May 11, 2017, 6-8:00 PM at UNCA Lipinsky Auditorium Since 1907, YWCA of Asheville has been eliminating racism and empowering women in our community. Join us as we celebrate our rich history with a reception and presentation in honor of our 110th year of service.
@ywcaofavl
www.facebook.com/ywcaofasheville
The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.