YWCA Kalamazoo

Help kids in YWCA programs start the school year off on the right foot by donating school supplies! We accept donations at our downtown location at 353 E Michigan Ave Kalamazoo, MI 49007 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 to 5! Click this link to see more items on our wish list! https://a.co/bwUboUh

Please contact Anne Marie at [email protected] with any questions.

✨🎉Thank you to all of our generous sponsors and everyone who bought a ticket to Women's Equality Day Luncheon 2024! We're thankful to announce we are officially SOLD OUT! See you all at the event in a couple of weeks! 🙌💃

LAST CALL! Ticket sales for our Women’s Equality Day Luncheon close in one week! Be sure to grab yours by 11:59pm on Thursday, August 8!

Enjoy lunch and a keynote presentation by renowned civil rights leader and best-selling author Valarie Kaur, as well as a book signing!

Get your tickets before they sell out! http://l.ead.me/WED2024

✨ Celebrating the power of change! 🌟 Today marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a game-changing legislation that ensures equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. 🙌✊ Let's honor the brave activists who fought for this transformative law, reminding us all that everyone deserves respect, inclusion, and full participation in society. 🌎🌈 Let's keep advocating for justice and accessibility! 💪💙

🍎 Exciting news for kids' nutrition in Kalamazoo! 🥕

Did you know that YWCA Kalamazoo's Dreamery food service program is making waves in children's healthy eating? We're thrilled to share that we've been featured in Second Wave Michigan for our participation in the amazing 10 Cents a Meal program!

This innovative initiative is a game-changer for Michigan's kids and farms. It's not just about food - it's about nurturing healthy habits and supporting local agriculture.

As Megan Maddox from the Michigan Department of Education puts it: "This lets them offer more variety and teach kids healthy eating habits across the state."

Isn't it wonderful to see our community investing in our children's future? 💚

What do you think about programs like this? Leave a comment below!

Know a parent who'd love to hear about this? Tag them to spread the word! Let's celebrate good food and great education together! 🎉

How 10 Cents a Meal brings healthy food to more Michigan kids The Michigan program supplements the food service programs’ budgets for fresh produce, encouraging a greater menu variety and healthier eating habits for kids statewide.

🌈✨Celebrate Disability Pride Month with us! 🎉💪 This July, we're shining a spotlight on the incredible strength, resilience, and accomplishments of the disability community. 🙌❤️ Join us in honoring the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990, a landmark moment in history. 🎉🇺🇸 Let's come together to promote visibility, awareness, and inclusivity for all. 💙🤝

✨🎉 It is an honor to spotlight Andrea Stedge, Victim Advocate extraordinaire, who is celebrating an impressive 20 years of service at YWCA Kalamazoo! 🌟🙌 Her dedication and passion for supporting victims is truly inspiring. 💪🌸
In her own words, "Working at YWCA Kalamazoo in the Victim Services Department is an absolute honor. The mission drives me, and seeing the organization grow over the past two decades has been a joy. Knowing that I've made a real impact in the lives of victims and their children fills my heart with gratitude every day." ❤️✊

Let's give a big virtual round of applause to Andrea for her unwavering commitment to justice and empowerment! 💖👏

🎉✨ For 20 years of dedication and making a difference! Congrats to Sherry Brockway, LLMSW, our rockstar Director of Emergency Response Services on her incredible journey at YWCA Kalamazoo. 🙌🔥 Sherry's commitment to eliminating racism, empowering women, and fighting against domestic violence and sexual assault is truly inspiring. 🌍✊ From front line survivor care to community presentations, Sherry has played a vital role in spreading awareness and making a difference in our community. 🙌🏽💙 Her dedication has even earned her formal recognition from United Way for raising funds in Kalamazoo! 🏆 Keep shining your light, Sherry – you're a true champion of justice and empowerment! ✨🔥We're so lucky to have someone like Sherry on our team, working tirelessly to create positive change. 🌍🤝 Let's give her a virtual round of applause! 👏👏👏 Share your love and appreciation for Sherry in the comments below. ❤️✨

💔 Equal work, unequal pay: The truth about Black women's earnings in America.

Did you know? Black women earn just 66 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men part-time and seasonal workers. 69 cents for every dollar paid to full-time, year round workers. This isn't just a gap - it's a chasm of injustice that impacts generations. 👩🏾‍💼💸

Over a lifetime, this disparity adds up to a staggering $884,800 loss for Black women. That's nearly a million dollars of stolen potential, dreams deferred, and opportunities missed. 😔

It's time to break the silence and demand change. What steps can we take to close this wage gap and ensure equal pay for equal work? 🤔

Join the conversation and spread awareness. Use to share your thoughts and experiences. Together, we can build a more equitable future. 💪🏾✨

Join us for our annual Women’s Equality Day Luncheon on Friday, August 23 from 12-2pm at Advia Credit Union headquarters, 6400 W Main St. in Kalamazoo!

Enjoy lunch and a keynote presentation by renowned civil rights leader and best-selling author Valarie Kaur, as well as a book signing!

Get your tickets now! http://l.ead.me/WED2024

📢 Let's celebrate the 60th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which dismantled segregation and championed diversity. 🌍💪 From desegregation to equal rights for all, this legislation laid the foundation for a more inclusive society. 🌈✊ Let's honor the heroes who made it happen and continue the fight for social justice today. Together, we can create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 🤝✨

📢 BREAKING NEWS 💪✊ We have teamed up with , , and to challenge Michigan's unjust ban on Medicaid coverage for abortion. 🚫🔒Following the lawsuit filing this morning, our CEO Susan Rosas spoke on behalf of our agency about the impact this ban has on our agency and those we serve. We will continue to fight until NO ONE in our state is denied reproductive health care because of who they are, where they live, or how much they earn. 🙌 🗽✊🌈

🌈✨ This Pride Month, let's celebrate the "unashamed champion of change" Kim Coco Iwamoto! 🏳️‍🌈 From fighting for LGBTQIA+ student rights to empowering LGBTQIA+ families, she's been a force of change. 💪🏼🔥 Her journey from law school to the Hawai‘i State Board of Education and the Victory Institute is an inspiration to us all. 🌟 Let's honor her unwavering dedication to equality and justice. 🙌🏽✊🏾

🎉🔗 Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history 🇺🇸💥 On this day in 1865, the last enslaved African Americans were finally informed of their freedom 🙌✊ Let's remember and honor their resilience and strength as we continue the fight against racism and injustice ❤️🤝 Join YWCA Kalamazoo as we stand united in our mission to eliminate racism and empower women 💪🌟

✨ Celebrating Pride Month with Yasmin Benoit, a true force to be reckoned with! 🌈👩🏾‍🦱 This incredible British activist, model, and writer is breaking barriers and redefining beauty standards. 💪🏽💜 Yasmin's work in advocating for representation of Black women in the modeling industry is truly inspiring. 🙌🏼✨ Let's show our support for her and the movement! 🌟🌸 Follow to keep up with her amazing journey. Together, let's make the world a more inclusive place for everyone! 🌍❤️

On June 6th, advocates and decision-makers convened in Lansing for YWCA Kalamazoo’s annual Stand Against Racism event. 💪🏾✊🏿 The gathering and workshop included thoughtful discussions and activities aimed at planting seeds of advocacy for communities to create their own reproductive health funds. 🌸✊ Thank you to everyone who joined us, with special shoutouts to the founder of the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice (MCRJ), Cassy Jones-McBryde, and Senator Stephanie Chang for helping us kick off our event!

🌈 Celebrating Pride Month by honoring Angela Davis, a true trailblazer! 🏳️‍🌈👏 In 1997, Davis fearlessly came out during an interview with Out magazine, becoming an icon for the LGBTQIA+ community. 💪🏿✨ Her fight for justice didn't stop there. She has also been a tireless advocate for Black rights and women's empowerment! 🙌🏾💃 Let's learn from her example and continue the fight for equality. 🌎❤️ +

🌈✨ Shoutout to the trailblazing queen, , for breaking barriers and making history! 🎉🔥 As the first transgender woman of color to write and direct a TV episode, she's paving the way for more inclusive storytelling. 💪💖 Not only that, she's also the first openly transgender woman of color to score a major deal with ! 🌟🎥 Janet's campaign is all about empowering transgender women, and we're here for it! 🙌🌈 Let's celebrate her achievements and keep fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights together. 🌍💙

YWCA Kalamazoo Crisis Line is down. Those seeking services should call 269-633-9480.

🌈🎉 Celebrate Pride Month with us and honor the resilience and contributions of LGBTQIA+ community advocates! 🏳️‍🌈✨ We're excited to be tabling during Kalamazoo's Annual Pride 2024 on Friday, June 7. 🙌💜 Stop by our table and tell us, on video, how you celebrate Pride and what it means to you.🌈❤️ Your pride stories may be featured on our social media platforms! 📸🎉 Let's spread love, acceptance, and equality together! Make this the most inclusive and empowering Pride yet! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 +

🗓️ Mark your calendars! YWCA Kalamazoo's Stand Against Racism event is back on June 6th! 🙌🏼 Join us at the Lansing Capitol for an empowering round table mixer and workshop to kickstart your community's reproductive health fund. 💪🏾 Let's connect, inspire, and take action together to create inclusive and racism-free communities across Michigan. 🌟 Don't miss out on this opportunity for change! RSVP to our Round Table Mixer and formal work by clicking the link below.

📲 http://l.ead.me/SAR24

🌸 Honoring AAPI Heritage Month by celebrating Ashley So, a true force of fashion & activism! 🙌 Starting at 13, Ashley fought against COVID-19 & anti-AAPI racism. As a designer & seamstress, she crafted 1,000 masks for frontline heroes, earning the prestigious People's Hero award at the E! People's Choice Awards. 👏 Now, she passionately rallies in SoCal, supporting survivors of anti-Asian violence. 💪 Let's uplift inspiring voices like Ashley's and unite against hate! ✊❤️

🎉 See you this evening at the 2024 Women of Achievement Awards Celebration!💪 We're honoring incredible women who are fighting for homeless children, pre-kindergarten readiness, housing equity, and against gun violence. 👏 These fierce advocates have protected licenses for 17,000 Licensed Professional Counselors in Michigan. 💼 These fierce advocates are creating legacies of support for families, maintaining alliances, and fighting for equality and dignity for all. 🙌 They're dedicated to empowering girls in our community and providing culturally competent counseling in African American families. ✊🏾 Let's celebrate their unstoppable leadership and inspire the next generation. 🌟

🌺 Honoring the power of AAPI youth voices! 🌺 Let's shine a light on Kapulei Flores, an incredible Native Hawaiian photographer and activist using her lens to capture the fight to protect Mauna Kea. 📸🌋 This sacred dormant volcano holds deep meaning for the Kanaka Maoli people, and Kapulei is documenting their journey to preserve it. 💪✊ From protests to sacred ceremonies, her photos bring their movement to life and share their culture with the world. 🌍🙌 Join us in celebrating Kapulei and supporting her community's fight against the construction of an 18-story telescope on Mauna Kea's summit. 🛑🔭 Together, we can amplify their message and stand for justice! Also checkout her website to support and stay updated with her content.

https://www.kapzphotography.com/portfolio

🗣️💙 🌺✨