YWCA West Central Michigan

It is a little over 100 days until the presidential election, and we want to equip everyone with the information they need to get their vote out. To learn more about absentee voting, go to
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/absentee-voting. Your vote matters!

Media description: A graphic of a Michigan absent voter ballot with text saying, "Did you know? You can submit your online absentee ballot application until 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day." YWCA logo on bottom left.

On July 10th, a press conference was held to announce the launch of the Domestic Violence Specialty Court in Kent County. This court will provide focused support and justice for survivors and enhance safety, accountability, and rehabilitation. This is excellent news, especially for the survivors who walk through our doors daily seeking legal support.

Media description: A photo of five people posing in a courtroom with a quote from Charisse Mitchell, CEO of YWCA West Central Michigan, stating. "The launch of the Domestic Violence Specialty Court is a significant step forward in our collective effort to reduce domestic violence and foster a safer community. YWCA logo on the bottom.

On June 28th, Grand Valley State University students hosted a Beauty & Wellness event at the YWCA to benefit clients from our residential programs, and those served through Safe Haven Ministries and Women's Resource Center. We are incredibly grateful for the GVSU students who took the time to offer an afternoon of care for those who need it most. Thank you! 🧡

Throwback Thursday to May 28th, when we partnered with Grand Rapids Pride Center for a night of trivia to raise awareness of domestic violence in 2-SLGBTQ+ relationships. It was a blast, and we are so grateful to GR Pride Center and House Rules!

Media description: Two photos from an LGBT quiz event at House Rules, organized by Grand Rapids Pride Center and YWCA West Central Michigan. The venue has attendees participating and a host standing by a mic.

July is Disability Pride Month, commemorating the ADA's passage on July 26, 1990, which outlawed disability discrimination. The flag's charcoal background signifies mourning and rage over ableism, while the diagonal stripes represent breaking barriers. In the U.S., 1 in 4 adults has a disability, and rates of violence are 3x higher among them. Disabilities, including autoimmune diseases and traumatic brain injuries, can be visible or invisible.

Media description: Image showing a message "Happy Disability Pride Month!" with a striped flag with a charcoal background. Green stands for sensory disabilities, blue for psychiatric, white for invisible/undiagnosed, gold for neurodivergence, and red for physical. YWCA West Central Michigan logo is at the bottom.

Thank you to the incredible Single Sponsors for their generous support during of the 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs. Judges Charity Softball Game! Your sponsorships made the event unforgettable. 🧡

We are currently hiring a Director of Crisis Intervention Services. If you lead with a sense of equity and inclusion, are passionate about serving survivors, and love community advocacy and collaboration, this is your role! Read more about this position and how to apply here: https://bit.ly/4brYXk5

Be safe tomorrow! Keep in mind the effect that fireworks have on furry friends and those who struggle with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We are here if you need us. 🧡

Shoutout to our incredible Double Sponsors for making the 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs. Judges Charity Softball Game a huge success! Your support means the world to us and helped create unforgettable memories on the field.

Thank you to SBBL Law for being the Triple sponsor for this year's 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs. Judges Charity Softball Game. Your generosity helped make the game a wonderful experience!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Gruel Mills, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and Dickinson Wright for their incredible support as Home Run Sponsors of the 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs. Judges Charity Softball Game. It was an unforgettable experience, and our community came together for a fantastic day of fun and sportsmanship!

A HUGE thank you to LMCU for their incredible support as our Presenting sponsor for the 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs Judges Softball Game! Your generosity and community spirit helped make the event a tremendous success. We couldn't have done it without you!

The Grand Rapids Pride Festival was a success! Thank you to all who stopped by our booth to say hello, offer inspiring stories, and learn more about the YWCA. It was a blast, and we are so grateful to the Grand Rapids Pride Center for putting on a wonderful event that exemplifies the meaning of an inclusive community. 🧡🏳️‍🌈

The Grand Rapids Pride Festival is tomorrow and we are so thrilled to be a part of it! Stop by our table and spin the wheel for some of these cool prizes. Who is ready?🌈

On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas to inform the population that the Black slaves were now free. Well, sort of. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But that "emancipation" only applied to places under Confederate control - slaves in border states and rebel areas under Union control were not covered. Texas was a border state with limited Union presence, so slavery continued to thrive. It wasn't until the Civil War came to a close and the 13th Amendment was ratified in January 1865 that slavery was officially abolished. So, for more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Black folk were not free. Even still today, as long as institutional and systemic racism exists, as long as systems of oppression persist, and as long as equity, safety, and justice are out of reach, we are all free. That is why we continue to do our work - to be allies, accomplices, and leaders in the movement to liberate, honor, and empower all who are kept from living their fullest lives. We continue to work, even today, on Juneteenth to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

We are so excited to join Justice 4 ALL for the Juneteenth Jam! The event is tomorrow, Juneteenth, at Calder Plaza from 4pm-8pm. Thanks to Justice 4 All for including us in this wonderful community event. We cannot wait to celebrate freedom with you. 🧡 Find out more about the event here: https://bit.ly/3xbcq1S

Many thanks to Versiti Blood Center of Michigan, which ran a Mother's Day campaign in which Versiti donated a monetary amount to us for every blood donation made May 1-7. They raised an amazing $1,928! We are so grateful to Versiti and their alignment with our mission. 🧡

Happy Pride Month! The YWCA stands in solidarity with all members of the 2-SLGBTQIA+ community in June and every day of the year. We recognize that Pride started as a riot and that the fight for equity and inclusion is ongoing. We honor the impact the 2-SLGBTQIA+ community has had on history and will continue to elevate their voices.

Swinging into action with gratitude! 🥎🌟 As the 40th Annual Women Lawyers vs Judges Charity Softball Game approaches, we wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to our All-Star Sponsors: Moss & Colella PC, Thacker Sleight PC, and Warner Norcross + Judd LLP for knocking it out of the park with their commitment to our mission.

As we continue to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we highlight the work of Korean-born graffiti artist Royyal Dog. In 2022, he installed this mural on the side of Hopson Flats. The mural represents the Sisters Cities International Agreement between Grand Rapids and Gangnam-gu District, South Korea. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3yGThFq

We are still here if you need us! 🧡

We want to remind everyone that next week, we are partnering up with Grand Rapids Pride Center for a fun night of trivia! No registration is needed, but we recommend getting there early because House Rules fills up quickly. We hope to see you there!

Huge thank you to our Hall of Fame Sponsors Mika Meyers PLC and Varnum LLP for their incredible commitment to the YWCA. Their partnership and belief in our mission are why this game continues to thrive!

Today, on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, we stand in solidarity with the 2-SLGBTQ+ community. "The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision-makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc., to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse s*xual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and s*x characteristics." Join us in championing love, equality, and acceptance for all. 🌈 Find out more at may17.org/about

We are hosting a trivia night at House Rules on May 28th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in partnership with . Admission is free, and all bar proceeds will go to both organizations. Don't miss out on this fun night!

"The Ravens are taking the truly despicable step of honoring Rice as a Ravens hero. People can change. Time does shift perspectives. There can be context. Just not in this case. The Ravens aren't confronting what Rice did. They aren't acknowledging it. They are ignoring it. They are hoping everyone forgets about that moment and moves on. That's not going to happen."

https://bit.ly/3H508JB