2017 - 2018 COMMUNITY REPORT YWCA BOARD ELIMINATING RACISM & EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1867 OFFICERS HONORARY MEMBERS LaJuana Fuller Clentine K. Brodsky * President Lavera S. Brown * Melanie Gefert-Azur Sarah B. Campbell * Vice President Helen S. Faison, Ph.D. * Tishekia Williams Vice President Elsie H. Hillman * Michelle A. Mantine Cordelia Jacobs Secretary Carole Markus Maribeth Donnelly Mary H. Page, Ph. D. Treasurer CO-INTERIM MEMBERS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Nancy Y. Banker Beth Heeb Jeanne M. Barrett Monique McIntosh Rita F. Black R. Anne Herman * Deceased Derya A. Jacobs Cheryl L. Kubelick, Ph.D. Mildred Myers, D.A. Tyra Oliver MISSION VISION Nancy L. Skeans YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is dedicated to We envision a community that Madelyn E. Toliver eliminating racism, empowering women, advances education, opportunity, and Shakita Trigg, CSSGB, SA and promoting peace, justice, freedom, equity regardless of gender, race, or Zauyah Waite and dignity for all. background. HISTORY Today, YWCA offers comprehensive services YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s work began in to struggling women and families, including 1867 when a group of women met to sew for affordable child care, supportive housing, and the suffering families of Union soldiers – a real financial assistance. We erode health inequities pioneering venture at a time when women’s by connecting families to affordable health clubs were unknown, social agencies were care and navigating disadvantaged women non-existent, and women had almost no toward improved breast health. We nurture girls’ opportunities for civil engagement. The YW’s educational ambitions, encouraging interest in growth was sparked by this unmet need for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. women’s leadership. Since then, YWCA has And we provide organizations and individuals worked to empower women and girls, promote with the education and tools necessary to fairness and equity, and challenge social challenge racism. injustice. 1 YWCA GREATER PITTSBURGH PROGRAMS & SERVICES BY THE NUMBERS CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING CHILD CARE SERVICES EDUCATION Helping families transition from Children 10,662 Providing quality child care and early homelessness to self-sufficiency Families 6,293 education. • Safe, stable, affordable housing Providers 1,520 • Quality early child education and care for • Supportive services infants through Pre-K SUPPORT FOR CHILD • Training and support for child care providers RACE AND GENDER EQUITY CARE PROVIDERS • Child care subsidies and information Promoting equity, providing education, Adults 5,861 advocating for change Child care providers 1,243 RESOURCE CENTER • Diversity training and consultation Organizations 428 Removing barriers, connecting women, • Public awareness and educational events creating opportunities • Voter registration and empowerment RESOURCE CENTER • Breast Health Equity Education Adults 4,336 • Health Insurance, Medicaid, CHIP enrollment YOUTH SERVICES Families 1,994 • Financial Assistance Preparing underserved youth for success • Public Benefits (LIHEAP, SNAP) • STEM education RACE AND GENDER EQUITY • Free Tax Preparation • Life skills Adults 2,157 • Connection to legal services and • College and career exploration Children 1,457 employment services YOUTH SERVICES Adults 122 Children 2,583 HOUSING Individuals 153 Households 65 HOMEWOOD-BRUSHTON EARLY CARE Children 57 Families 47 Families receiving subsidized 45 or free child care 39,023 SERVED 2 3 - HOUSING FOSTERING WELL BEING AND YWCA Greater Pittsburgh provides supportive - housing for individuals and families struggling SELF SUFFICIENCY with homelessness. In addition to safe, desirable homes, our housing programs supply Welcoming All ∙ Providing Resources ∙ Improving Well-Being individualized service plans, access to other YWCA programs, and connections to other Today, women are often the heads of households and sole providers for their families, providers to help participants work toward long- YWCA maintained a presence at and need all the resilience, know-how, and support that they can get to confront the term stability. We reunite separated families and 285 events, engaging over 22,700 socio-economic challenges they face. YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Resource Center provide an emotionally supportive environment individuals is a one-stop-shop providing a compassionate ear and the gamut of resources that for participants struggling with behavioral health issues. The families who graduate from our women need to achieve financial stability and all-round well-being. programs are financially secure, self-sufficient, and better equipped to access opportunities and make choices about their futures. RESOURCE CENTER The YW’s Resource Center provides a comfortable, welcoming space where women and families can share their stories, access a multitude of services, and ensure that all their basic needs are met. Last year the YW’s YWCA reached over 300,000 Resource Center provided a safety net to over individuals with information about 4,000 women by: health care enrollment assistance • Providing a welcoming, open, culturally sensitive environment • Connecting individuals and families with benefits such as SNAP, LIHEAP, and rent rebates • Assisting with enrollment in Medicaid, CHIP, and other health insurance options • Connecting women with organizations and services to increase self-sufficiency and 1,360 individuals received one-on- improve self-esteem one health care enrollment support • Working with partner agencies to provide One of YWCA’s Resource Coordinators had legal aid and financial counseling for clients the pleasure of meeting Ms. Ellen at the Senior who need them Center where she received produce vouchers • Meeting one-on-one with women to hear for seniors to use at local farmers’ markets. their stories, assess their needs, and help As a senior with little computer experience, with financial support Ms. Ellen was hesitant about applying for food Ethan came to his tax appointment wearing a • Providing Breast Health Equity Workshops stamps. But with a little encouragement from the U.S. Army baseball cap. He had struggled with to underserved women, improving ease of Resource Coordinator, who guided her through his tax preparation in the past, and YWCA’s access to information about breast health the process using a Resource Center laptop, tax preparer was able to ease his worries by • Preparing tax returns for low income families Ms. Ellen was able to apply online without even taking time to explain the submission process. at no cost, helping them to keep money in leaving the safety of her community. Ms. Ellen When the tax preparer showed Ethan that he their pockets and their communities said: 316 women participated in Breast would be receiving a refund of over $1,100, he • Providing transportation assistance for “The Resource Center Coordinator was very Health Equity Workshops at was relieved (and excited!) – and our preparer working individuals, students, and seniors helpful to me. She was very respectful and gave community locations, including was honored to have an opportunity to help a me hope. I learned a lot from her.” the Allegheny County Jail veteran. 4 5 TECHGYRLS® CREATING PATHWAYS A hallmark YWCA program, TechGYRLS® engages elementary and middle school FOR SUCCESS aged girls across Allegheny County and into West Virginia and Ohio, broadening Nurturing Confidence ∙ Fostering Success ∙ Challenging Stereotypes girls’ knowledge of and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Youth Services Department excites students’ interest in TechGYRLS® nurtures girls’ confidence in STEM subjects through hands-on, collaborative, and project-based learning that aligns STEM areas through hands-on problem solving with Pennsylvania Academic Standards and supplements their school experience. that teaches communication, collaboration, and Our STEM programs engage underserved K through 12 children from schools across time management. The program reduces the opportunity gaps that can harm girls’ success Allegheny County and beyond, expanding their appreciation and knowledge of STEM in STEM, and fosters participants’ long-term fields, while nurturing their interest and confidence as future STEM professionals. success. STEM IMPACT STEM STARS STEM Impact extends the reach of YWCA A collaborative project of YWCA Greater Greater Pittsburgh’s successful out-of-school Pittsburgh and Carnegie Science Center, STEM LAUNCHPAD Stars is an out-of-school program for local time STEM programming by providing partner A brand new program launched in 2017, middle school girls that challenges gender, afterschool agencies and instructors with LaunchPad is YWCA’s high school continuation racial, and socio-economic barriers to STEM training, curricula, and resources to deliver of STEM Stars. Launchpad provides teenage education and careers. By engaging girls in their own informal STEM programs for youth women from low income homes with two hours of exploratory STEM learning every in grades K-8. STEM Impact targets providers afterschool STEM exploration and career week, STEM Stars nourishes their interest, that serve children from low-income families, training throughout the academic year. Using builds their confidence, and improves their many of them people of color, and by exposing new technologies and practical applications, aptitude for STEM. YWCA’s STEM Stars learn underserved children to STEM, aims to girls learn 21st Century skills such as website how to grow crystals, build robots, and write excite