Episode 18: YWCA-Evanston/Shore
In this episode, we sit down with the leaders of the YWCA/North Shore which includes Karen Singer, the CEO of the organization, Tiffany McDowell, the Director of the Equity Institute at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore and Trimmy Stamell, the Director of Corporate Relations and in charge of the Race Against Hate. The Race Against Hate takes place on June 16, 2019 and is co-sponsored by Dreamtown Realty.
The conversation begins by discussing the history of the YWCA, and the pillars of the organization. YWCA was founded in 1858. It is the oldest and largest multicultural woman’s organization in the world and, since its inception, has been an advocate for social change in the areas of civil rights, race relations, and the empowerment of women.
YWCA Evanston/North Shore came into existence in 1931 as a branch of the Chicago YWCA and was incorporated independently in 1947. Initially a place for women coming into the city from rural areas to work to find safe housing, our programs and services have changed over the years to meet the changing needs of the 16 communities they serve.
We then spoke with Tiffany McDowell, the Director of the Equity Institute at the YWCA about the programing she leads. The Institute is dedicated to promoting racial and gender equity at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels by partnering with individuals and institutions through training and education, community engagement programs, and annual events.
Trimmy Stamell discussed the upcoming Race Against Hate which is taking place on Sunday, June 16, 2019. More information can be found by clicking here. The Race has taken place for the past 20 years. The Race Against Hate honors the legacy of Ricky Byrdsong, the former Northwestern University Men's Basketball Coach and Skevanston resident who, while walking with his two young children in 1999, was murdered by a white supremacist. We discuss my own and the community's personal connections to the horrific incident.
There are approximately 300 independent YWCAs in the country. Each association is completely autonomous with its own board of directors, governing documents and structures, funding streams and programs designed to respond to the unique needs of the community it serves. The national YWCA provides no funding for its associations.
The discussion also encompasses the work of the YWCA which is rooted in four interconnected pillars:
· Freedom from violence
· Women’s economic advancement
· Racial and gender equity
· Aquatics access and opportunity
We discuss future plans for the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, and how they serve a large regional area.
The YWCA Evanston/North Shore can be found online at https://www.ywca-ens.org/. Their social media handles can be found there as well.
I’d like to thank several people for help with today’s show. This includes my real estate brokerage, Dreamtown Realty in Evanston for helping me with my graphics for the show. I’d like to thank Industrious in Evanston for use of their space to record follow them on Instagram at @industriousevanston. And if listening to this podcast gave you the bug to buy or sell real estate, give me a call or go to my real estate website at http://www.aaronmasliansky.com And don’t forget to subscribe! Thank you.
