YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish

I can hardly believe our Inspire Luncheon with Dr. Mae Jemison is next month! We hope to see you there (virtually or in-person) at The Westin Seattle on September 19. Tickets are selling fast, but it’s not too late for you to get yours! All of us at YWCA are looking forward to hearing from our speaker, and we are excited to be hosting an event where our community can gather and meet other like-minded people. More than just a social gathering, the Inspire Luncheon is YWCA's biggest annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the event allow us to continue our vital work and offer programs that support and empower BIPOC women in our community. We can’t do this without your support. Help us continue our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and ensuring all people in our community have the opportunity to thrive. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased their Luncheon tickets. If you’re going to be joining us virtually, we encourage you to get lunch from some of our local Black-owned businesses while you watch in honor of National Black Business Month. Even if you are joining us in-person this year, we encourage shopping at local BIPOC and women-owned businesses year-round. You never know when you’ll find your next favorite shop! We hope to see you all on September 19 for our Inspire Luncheon! In solidarity, Maria Chavez Wilcox

YWCA hosted a Housing Roundtable with U.S. Congresswoman Kim Schrier at our award-winning Family Village Issaquah location. Different community leaders from across the housing provider continuum shared insights and opportunities around housing insecurity and stability, affordable housing, home ownership, and community support systems.

We’re thrilled to announce that you can now register to attend our 2024 Gen Z National Town Hall in person! 🏛️ This is your chance to engage directly with fellow voters, hear from inspiring speakers, and be part of the conversation around the issues that matter most this November. Participate in meaningful discussions that impact our communities and register today 🔗 bit.ly/3Ak82Pi

🌸 Moms deserve equal pay for their dedication both at home and in the workforce. Let's push for hashtag#PayEquity and support hashtag#MomsEqualPayDay today and every day! Join us ➡ bit.ly/40683On 💪 👩👩👧

Dear YWCA supporter, Summer is here, as evidenced by the sweltering heat we are experiencing this month. Although many students are anxious to enjoy their vacation, not all youth are able to take full advantage of their summer. In the U.S., 12.8% of households are food insecure, or lack access to an affordable nutritious diet, and 17.3% of households with children experience food insecurity. Of these households, Black and Latinx families are disproportionately impacted at rates more than double that of white households. We have seen a significant increase in food insecurity the past few years as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only caused unemployment rates to peak at unprecedented levels but also severely disrupted the food supply chain. We are grateful for resources like Washington’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals to children who normally receive free or reduced price meals during the school year, and this year’s new national SUN Meals program, but more resources are needed, because no child should ever go hungry. YWCA offers various programs and resources to families in our care year-round, but the start of the school year is especially difficult for families who are already struggling to budget money for rent, food, and other necessities. By donating to our School Days drive, you can help make the new school year easier for families in our emergency housing programs and give students the boost they need to feel more confident and empowered when September arrives. In solidarity, Maria Chavez Wilcox

Thank you to longtime partner, U.S. Bank for your wonderful support of YWCA. It was great to have help from a group of 15 employees from the U.S. Bank Bellevue District sprucing up the grounds at Family Village Issaquah on July 16. 

YWCA was lucky to count a group of volunteers from Symetra Financial who helped to stock shelves and serve lunch at Angeline’s Center for Women on June 20 as part of Symetra Summer of Service. Thank you for taking the time to support this important YW program and the women it serves!

This month we celebrate Juneteenth, a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1865. This day is an opportunity to recognize the ways freedom and justice are too often delayed for African Americans, while celebrating Black joy and resilience in our community. June also marks the start of Pride month, and we want to highlight the lives and work of queer Black women whose history helped shape our future, despite their work, names, and identities being frequently erased. Women like Stormé DeLarverie, a Black lesbian famous for her call to action at Stonewall, Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman known for her fearless activism for the LGBTQIA+ movement, Audre Lorde, a Black lesbian known for her scholarly work and intersectional activism, and many more deserve to have their stories told. We honor the memory of our sisters who came before us, especially the Black, queer, and trans sisters who paved our way forward, and we will follow their example by continuing to fight for the women of today. In solidarity, Maria Chavez Wilcox

YWCA is grateful to Saja and Leila for representing us at this summit and on the Hill – and for advocating for economic equity, and inclusive, racially just, and economically empowering workforce development services! Thanks also to Marisol Tapia Hopper at the WDC for organizing the Hill day visits. You can read more about the visit here: https://bit.ly/3X2BrXe

Thank you to our volunteers and attendees for joining our Greenbridge job fair! The turnout was amazing and we are so grateful for our wonderful community.