YWCA of Tucson Programs and Services
 

Social Services Your Sister’s Closet Women’s Counseling Network Phase/YWorks Financial Education for Women Women & Money Conference Women’s Leadership Development Annual Women’s Leadership Conference Women on the Move Awards Banquet Women’s Leadership Program Programs for Young Women Bright Futures Bright Futures Scholarship Girls With Tools TECHgyrls Programs for Youth Racial Justice Youth Program It's Time to Talk Annual Youth Forum on Race Let's Get Real Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium Girls With Tools Youth Facilitator Training Bright_Futures TECHgyrls Health Education Breast Cancer Support Services for Spanish Speaking Women Bright Futures Breast Cancer Education Program Racial Justice Programs Let's Get Real Understanding Racism Community Education Program It’s Time to Talk Forums on Race Tucson Anti-Racism and Diversity Resource Directory Racial Justice Youth Program Journey to a Hate Free Millennium Racial Justice Program Consultation and Technical Assistance Programs and Services Descriptions Social Services Your Sister’s Closet Your Sister’s Closet provides clothing appropriate for job interviews and to begin employment, in an attractive and supportive environment, to unemployed and homeless women who are seeking employment.  Women also receive personal grooming supplies such as shampoo, make-up and deodorant.  Clean, fashionable clothing, in good condition, is needed and donations are accepted on Mondays from 8:00am to  5:00pm.  More than 9,000 women have received services from Your Sister’s Closet since this program was created in 1988.  The YWCA has an on-going need for volunteers to work directly with women or to help manage the inventory of clothing.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Your Sister’s Closet, please contact the YWCA at 520-884-7810, or  email us. The Women’s Counseling Network The Women’s Counseling Network provides individual therapy to low-income women without charge.  Long-term counseling is provided by therapists who volunteer their time to provide professional services to women who are referred by the Women’s Counseling Network.   Fifty women are served by this program each year.  If you would like to learn more about the program or are interested in being a volunteer for the Women’s Counseling Network, please contact the YWCA at 520-884-7810, or email us. PHASE/YWorks PHASE/YWorks is designed to address the employment needs of women who are unemployed, underemployed, or transitioning in the workforce.  This directed and supportive program, in a female-only environment, will help: Identify barriers --- self-imposed or otherwise---which have kept you from moving forward with your employment goals. Build skills and confidence to overcome barriers Increase your ability and willingness to take employment-related risks Obtain more satisfying and higher paying employment PHASE/YWorks addresses the diverse employment needs of the women of Pima County with three program components:     1. Skills for  Successful Employment: Designed for women who are new to the  workforce and/or seeking employment to help them build the necessary skills to be successful securing employment. Click here for additional information and to register or call 884-7810 ext. 113.     2. Computer Class:     Instruction to build basic computer skills applicable to the workplace.     3. Employment Education Workshop Series:     A series of workshops offering a wide range of topics relevant to women     at various stages of their careers. Program participants are welcome to choose to participate in any or all of the  program components and in any order.  Click Here  for the PHASE/YWorks brochure and registration form.  For questions and additional information, call Andrea Marafino at 884-7810 ext 113. Financial Education for Women:  Women & Money Program Research shows that women on average have less financial resources and must stretch those dollars more years than men: Women earn about 73 cents to every dollar earned by men   About half of all working women take time off from work to care for their families, cutting into company sponsored retirement and healthcare plans plus less Social Security benefits   Women statistically outlive men so women need years more money to pay for food, healthcare and housing “Controlling money, rather than money controlling you” is key to a woman’s quality of life whether 17 or 70 years old.  The YWCA launched a financial how-to program for women in 2005 that includes a one-day conference and other activities that will provide women with the confidence and skills to start controlling their finances.  HSBC North America is the major underwriter of this new YWCA of Tucson program; HSBC has made a $13 million investment across the nation to arm consumers with the tools and knowledge needed to make smart financial decisions   To read more about Women and Money Click Here for the Women and Money page.   Women & Money Conference   This lively one-day conference is designed to appeal to a wide range of women from all  income levels. Attendees will be inspired to take control of their finances by listening to high profile keynote speakers and learning some easy money basics at breakout sessions. Lunch and parking are provided. To read more about Women and Money Click Here for the Women and Money page. To read more about the 2008 Women & Money Conference click here for 2008 Brochure. You can also contact us by phone at 520.884.7810 Email Back to Top Women’s Leadership Development Annual Women’s Leadership Conference The YWCA of Tucson sponsors the Women’s Leadership Conference  each year in October. The 20th annual conference will be held October 3rd at the Westin LaPaloma. This outstanding, day-long conference features Dee Dee Myers, political analyst, commentator and author of Why Women Should Rule the World and Kimberly Bowie, leadership trainer. In addition to nationally known speakers, the conference offers workshops aimed at building leadership skills across a wide variety of topics. To view the 2008 brochure and to register click here.  If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive the brochure, please call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Women on the Move Awards Banquet The YWCA established the Women on the Move Awards Banquet in 1982 to honor Tucson women for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the community and to the mission of the YWCA. The 2008 Women on the Move Awards Banquet will be held on Sunday, December 14th  Click here to see a list of the women honored at the 2007 Banquet. For additional information, please call the YWCA at 884-7810 x108 or email us. Women’s Leadership Program The Women’s Leadership Program is designed to help women discover and develop the qualities and skills that they need to be effective leaders in the workplace and in the community. This eight week program, open to seventy women each year, challenges women to examine not only their skills, but their attitudes about themselves and their willingness to accept the challenges and risks that come with leadership. Here’s what graduates of the 2008 YWCA Leadership Program had to say about the 8-week program: I enjoyed the diversity of speakers and participants it provided a lot of perspectives and allowed me to expand my understanding   I loved the speakers and their subject matter. I left every session feeling empowered and learning something new to apply to my own life.   I’m completely blown away by the depth of the messages presented by all the speakers.  This has far more reach in my personal growth than I'd expected.  Thank You!   All expectations were overachieved!  The best leadership program I have participated in within the last 28 years of my career.   For information, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 ext.108  or email us. Back to Top Programs for Young Women Bright Futures Bright Futures is a leadership development, recognition and scholarship program for young women. The countywide Bright Futures program is designed for high school seniors-every school in Pima County may nominate up to five students. Each young woman participating in the program will have demonstrated leadership by overcoming an obstacle/challenge in her life and have a GPA of 1.7-3.2. The young women in Bright Futures attend workshops on topics including, Being a Leader, Life After High School, How to Make a Good First Impression, Body Image and Self Esteem, participate in a team building ropes course, spend a day on a college campus, practice their new leadership skills though a volunteer experience with the YWCA and explore career and educational opportunities with an adult mentor. Three of the young women in Bright Futures will be selected in a random drawing for a  $1,000 scholarship to further her education. For additional information call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us In addition to the county wide Bright Futures program for high school seniors, the YWCA of Tucson has adapted the program as an eight-week after school program. If you would like to bring this program to your school call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Through a partnership with Pima Community College Foundation, the YWCA has established a $20,000 scholarship fund to make it possible to provide ten Bright Futures Scholarships each year for young women to attend Pima Community College.   Bright Futures Scholarship The YWCA, in collaboration with the Pima Community College Foundation, has established the Bright Futures Scholarship program in which ten scholarships will be awarded to female students who have demonstrated determination in overcoming an obstacle and who plan to enroll at Pima Community College. The scholarship deadline for 2008 has passed, but please check back this fall for the 2009 scholarship application. If you have questions about the Bright Futures Scholarship call the YWCA 520-884-7810 or email us at amarafino@ywcatucson.org.     TECHgyrls® TECHgyrls® is a national initiative and signature program of the YWCA developed in 1997 in response to the widening gender gap in exposure to and interest in technology. The program is designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in technology and engineering. TECHgyrls®  provides girls with access to technology and leadership development. The goals of the YWCA TECHgyrls® program is to broaden girls’ knowledge and interests and help them develop the confidence to use technology tools in their daily lives. The fourteen-week program raises girls’ awareness, confidence, and competence in the crucial areas of technology while helping them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Through computer animation programming, engineering projects, and field trips, girls learn to use technology in ways that are motivating and compelling to them. The YWCA offers TECHgyrls at Naylor Middle School, La Cima Middle School, Sierra Middle School, and at Ocotillo Elementary School, Menlo Park Elementary School, Pima County Juvenile Court Detention Center School and at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Ceneter. For more information, call the YWCA at 884-7810 or email us. Girls With Tools Girls With Tools was created in 2002 when adult volunteers noticed during a mixed gender carpentry workshop that girls tended to relinquish their tools to boys who were eager to “show them how” or “do it for them.” Girls With Tools provides opportunities for girls age 8 - 15 to build a variety of woodworking projects using basic hand and power tools in an all female environment. Girls With Tools encourages safety, teamwork, cooperation, creative thinking and time management. Girls are provided with information on future career and educational opportunities. Girls With Tools is a weekly, year-round after school program. The program meets each Wednesday from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Zuni Avenue Peace Center and the first Saturday morning of the month at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Center at 525 N. Bonita Ave. For more information call the YWCA at (520) 884-7810 or email us.   Back to Top Programs for Youth Let’s Get Real Let’s Get Real is a strong and effective 2 hour program that features the screening of the 35 minute documentary, Let’s Get Real. The film features only youth voices speaking about their personal experiences with name-calling and bullying. Students speak candidly about being a bully, being a victim of bullying and acting as an ally. This program makes the link between bullying and prejudice and encourages honest dialogue as well as developing empathy as essential steps towards a solution.   Racial Justice Youth Program The YWCA Racial Justice Youth Program provides opportunities for youth to understand the life experience of others, open the door to sustained connection with youth who are different from themselves, replace stereotypes with real people, encourage and be a catalyst for further dialogue and meaningful activities for thousands of students each year. The Racial Justice Youth Program empowers students with skills to lead and influence others to eliminate racism and prejudice. The Racial Justice Youth Program begins each year in October with the Annual It’s Time to Talk Youth Forum on Racism where teams of students from high schools and middle schools throughout Pima County come together to learn and share in small dialogue groups facilitated by youth and to create their own on-going action plans against racism to take back to implement in their schools. The projects created at the Youth Forum are eligible for support through a small grants program offering grants from $100 to $1000. All aspects of the YWCA Racial Justice Youth Program are planned and implemented by young men and women who serve as members of the Racial Justice Youth Program Committee. If you would like information about how you or your school can participate, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. It’s Time to Talk Annual Youth Forum on Race The It’s Time to Talk Annual Youth Forum on Race takes place in October and this very exciting and interactive day-long forum is attended by up to 600 students and teachers. All schools in Pima County---including private, charter, and alternative schools---are invited to participate by sending a team of students and an advisor to spend a day learning and sharing with students from other schools through small group dialogues facilitated by youth. The student teams create their action plans against racism to take back to their schools. Special activities are planned for teachers and advisors. The projects created at the Youth Forum are eligible for support through a small grants program offering grants from $100 to $1000.  For information about how your school can participate, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us.   Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium Journey to a Hate Free Millennium is a powerful two-hour program that features the 35 minute film, Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium. The film is an inspirational, award-winning documentary that seeks solutions to the horrible hate crimes that have become frequent events in our daily lives. This stirring film features shocking examples of hate crimes in modern America: The vicious murder of Matthew Sheppard, the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr., and the unfathomable shootings by high school students at Columbine High School. Dialogue centers on creating a vision of the new millennium where senseless acts of violence and hate are a thing of the past. This program is appropriate for middle and high school students as well as adults. If you would like to learn more about the program or how to arrange to bring Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium to your school or organization, please call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Back to Top  Racial Justice Youth Program Facilitator Training The YWCA Racial Justice Youth Program is supported by more than 80 youth who have been trained as volunteer facilitators. Volunteer facilitators are prepared for this work by a day long facilitator training program created by the YWCA especially for youth. If you would like more information call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or  email us. Bright Futures Bright Futures is a leadership development, recognition and scholarship program for young women. The countywide Bright Futures program is designed for high school seniors-every school in Pima County may nominate up to five students in the spring of their junior year to participate in the program. Each young woman participating in the program will have demonstrated leadership by overcoming an obstacle/challenge in her life and have a GPA of 1.7-3.2. The young women in Bright Futures attend workshops on topics including, Being a Leader, Life After High School, How to Make a Good First Impression, Body Image and Self Esteem, participate in a team building ropes course, spend a day on a college campus, practice their new leadership skills though a volunteer experience with the YWCA, explore career and educational opportunities with an adult mentor. Three of the young women in Bright Futures will be selected in a random drawing for a  scholarship to further her education. For additional information call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us In addition to the county wide Bright Futures program for high school seniors, the YWCA of Tucson has adapted the program as an eight-week after school program. If you would like to bring this program to your school call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Through a partnership with Pima Community College Foundation, the YWCA has established a $20,000 scholarship fund to make it possible to provide ten Bright Futures Scholarship each year for young women to attend Pima Community College. Click here for the Bright Futures Scholarship Application.   Bright Futures Scholarship The YWCA, in collaboration with the Pima Community College Foundation, has established the Bright Futures Scholarship program in which ten scholarships will be awarded to female students who have demonstrated determination in overcoming an obstacle and who plan to enroll at Pima Community College. The scholarship deadline for 2008 has passed, but please check back this fall for the 2009 scholarship application. If you have questions about the Bright Futures Scholarship call the YWCA 520-884-7810 or email us at amarafino@ywcatucson.org.     TechGYRLS TECHgyrls® TECHgyrls® is a national initiative and signature program of the YWCA developed in 1997 in response to the widening gender gap in exposure to and interest in technology. The program is designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in technology and engineering. TECHgyrls®  provides girls with access to technology and leadership development. The goals of the YWCA TECHgyrls® program is to broaden girls’ knowledge and interests and help them develop the confidence to use technology tools in their daily lives. The fourteen-week program raises girls’ awareness, confidence, and competence in the crucial areas of technology while helping them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Through computer animation programming, engineering projects, and field trips, girls learn to use technology in ways that are motivating and compelling to them. The YWCA offers TECHgyrls at Naylor Middle School, La Cima Middle School, Sierra Middle School, and at Ocotillo Elementary School, Menlo Park Elementary School, Pima County Juvenile Court Detention Center School and at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Ceneter. For more information, call the YWCA at 884-7810 or email us. Back to Top Health Education Breast Cancer Support Program for Spanish Speaking Women The YWCA provides Breast Cancer Support Program for Spanish speaking women in Tucson who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Services include a bi-weekly support group, home and hospital visits, transportation for treatment and other medical appointments, and Spanish translation services. For additional information please call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 Bright Futures Breast Cancer Education Program A new breast cancer education was created in conjunction with the Bright Futures leadership development program for young women. The young women in the YWCA Bright Futures program have an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills by organizing teams in their high schools to distribute information about the importance of annual screening through mammography and monthly breast self-examination to their mothers and the other significant women in their lives. For more information, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or  email us. Back to Top Racial Justice Programs Let’s Get Real Let’s Get Real is a strong and effective 2 hour program that features the screening of the 35 minute documentary, Let’s Get Real. The film features only youth voices speaking about their personal experiences with name-calling and bullying. Students speak candidly about being a bully, being a victim of bullying and acting as an ally. This program makes the link between bullying and prejudice and encourages honest dialogue as well as developing empathy as essential steps towards a solution.   Understanding Racism Community Education Program The YWCA provides Understanding Racism Workshops to provide a forum for participants to discover conscious and unconscious ways that racism has impacted their lives. This powerful program is designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of differences. Participants explore personal perceptions and issues concerning race, conflict, and internalized racism. The four-hour workshop includes the viewing of the 90 minute film, The Color of Fear. This year the workshop is October 9, 2007 Click To register . For more information or to schedule an Understanding Racism Workshop for your organization, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. It’s Time to Talk Forums on Race It’s Time to Talk, a program created by the Urban Institute of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, provides our community with more opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural dialogue about racism. Individuals are offered opportunities to participate in large community luncheons with nationally known keynote speakers, host small dinners in their homes, or organize larger gatherings in their workplaces or neighborhood centers. More than 200 volunteers have been trained as It’s Time to Talk facilitators. For information call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Tucson Anti-Racism and Diversity Resource Directory This resource for our community includes Tucson programs and organizations that work to combat racism, suggested activities and events, and books, magazines and films that are available to individuals who want to take additional steps to learn more and to become more active in the fight against racism. Click here to access Tucson Anti-Racism and Diversity Resource Directory. For more information or to add an item to the Directory, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Click here to access Tucson Anti-Racism and Diversity Resource Directory.  For more information or to add an item to the Directory, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Back to Top Racial Justice Youth Program The YWCA Racial Justice Youth Program provides opportunities for youth to understand the life experience of others, open the door to sustained connection with youth who are different from themselves, replace stereotypes with real people, encourage and be a catalyst for further dialogue and meaningful activities for nearly 1,500 students each year. The Racial Justice Youth Program empowers students with skills to lead and influence others to eliminate racism and prejudice. The Racial Justice Youth Program begins each year in October with the Annual It’s Time to Talk Youth Forum on Racism where teams of students from high schools and middle schools throughout Pima County come together to learn and share in small dialogue groups facilitated by youth and to create their own on-going action plans against racism to take back to implement in their schools. The projects created at the Youth Forum are eligible for support through a small grants program offering grants from$100 to $1000. All aspects of the YWCA Racial Justice Youth Program are planned and implemented by young men and women who serve as members of the Racial Justice Youth Program Committee. If you would like information about how you or your school can participate, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium is a powerful two-hour program that features the 35-minute film, Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium. The film is an inspirational, award-winning documentary that seeks solutions to the horrible hate crimes that have become frequent events in our daily lives. This stirring firm features shocking examples of hate crimes in modern America: The vicious murder of Matthew Sheppard, the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr., and the unfathomable shootings by high school students at Columbine High School. Dialogue centers on creating a vision of the new millennium where senseless acts of violence and hate are a thing of the past. This program is appropriate for middle and high school students as well as adults. If your would like to learn more about the program or how to arrange to bring Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium to your school or organization, please call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or  email us. Let’s Get Real Let’s Get Real is a strong and effective 2 hour program that features the screening of the 35 minute documentary, Let’s Get Real. The film features only youth voices speaking about their personal experiences with name-calling and bullying. Students speak candidly about being a bully, being a victim of bullying and acting as an ally. This program makes the link between bullying and prejudice and encourages honest dialogue as well as developing empathy as essential steps towards a solution.    Racial Justice Program Consultation and Technical Assistance The YWCA of Tucson has been recognized nationally for our work in Racial Justice: The National League of Cities Award for Undoing Racism is 1999 and the American Psychological Association and Kellogg Foundation Valuing Diversity Award for creating effective community strategies in 2001. Our organization has provided consultation and technical assistance to numerous non-profit organizations, educational institutions, municipalities, and employers to help them create and implement anti-racism and diversity programs and initiatives. The YWCA is also available to work with your organization to help you develop a more diverse board of directors and volunteers. For more information call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 or email us. Back to Top

 525 N. Bonita Avenue • tucson, az 85745