YWCA of Tucson Programs and Services
 

Social Services Your Sister’s Closet Women’s Counseling Network Phase/YWorks Support Group for Spanish Speaking Women Financial Education for Women Women and Money Conference Women’s Leadership Development Annual Women’s Leadership Conference Women on the Move Awards Banquet Women’s Leadership Program Women's Leadership Coaching Circle Programs for Young Women Bright Futures Bright Futures Scholarship Program 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 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 is a program that provides clothing appropriate for job interviews, in an attractive and supportive environment, to women who are seeking employment – empowering them to interview with confidence. Women also receive shoes and accessories as well as personal grooming supplies such as shampoo, make-up and deodorant.    Volunteers are needed throughout the week to assist with client services as well as clothing intake and inventory management. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Your Sister’s Closet, click here for more information.  Your Sister’s Closet also accepts donations of clean, fashionable women’s clothing, accessories and shoes, in good condition on Mondays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm or by appointment. Clothing must be appropriate for job interviews. Your Sister’s Closet also accepts donations of perfumes, toiletries and personal grooming products such as shampoo, make-up and deodorant. If you are interested in organizing a clothing drive at a business or organization, or would like to schedule an appointment to drop off a donation on a day other than Monday, please contact the YWCA at (520) 884-7810 ext. 113 or send us an email.   The YWCA appreciates the support provided by The West, Inc. For more information about this wonderful, volunteer owned and operated, gift and needlework store go to www.thewestinc.com. 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 The YWCA’s PHASE/YWorks program is designed to address the employment needs of women who are unemployed, underemployed or transitioning in the workforce. There are three different components to the PHASE/YWorks programs:  Skills for Successful Employment Class The Skills for Successful Employment Class is designed to build women’s confidence as well as help them develop basic skills in career development and job search strategies. During the class, participants will:  >         Assess their personal skills  >         Identify their individual interests  >         Develop job search strategies  >         Explore local employment trends Participants will also be matched with Career Guidance Specialists to receive individual career guidance over a six-month period.  Click here to register.  Introduction to Basic Computer Skills Classes The YWCA currently offers an Introduction to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint Class and an Introduction to Microsoft Excel Class. In the Introduction to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint Class, participants will learn how to create documents with Microsoft Word and prepare presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint. In the Introduction to Microsoft Excel Class, participants will learn how to produce spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel.   Click here to register.  Employment Education Workshops These workshops address a variety of topics that are relevant to the diverse employment needs of women. Workshop topics vary from month to month. Examples of workshops that have been offered in the past include:  >   People Keys: How to make bad work relationships good and good work relationships better >   Time Thieves: How to stop being too busy, boost productivity, stop wasting time, and take back your life >   Managing The Angry Public: How to give great customer service even when your customers are not so great Click here to register. All PHASE/YWorks programs will take place at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Center at 525 N. Bonita Avenue. For more information, call the YWCA at (520) 884-7810 ext. 113 or send us an email. Click here to register. Support Group for Spanish Speaking Women The YWCA provides a bi-weekly Support Group for Spanish Speaking Women. For more information call 884-7810 ext 105 or email   Financial Education for Women:  Women & Money Program   Financial education is especially critical for women because many money issues affect women uniquely:   >        On average, women earn only $0.78 for every $1.00 earned by men. For women of color, the gap is even greater—only $0.69 for African American women and $0.59 for Latinas. >         Women are more likely than men to work in a permanent part-time capacity, greatly reducing their chances of having access to company retirement plans. >        About half of working women suspend their careers to take care of family for a year or more, disrupting their income and reducing their Social Security benefits. >         Following divorce, most women’s standard of living declines while men’s improves. >         Most women live longer than men, requiring them to make their money last longer. Women are also more than twice as likely to be impoverished in their retirement years.   The YWCA’s Women & Money Conference is an annual one-day conference designed to advance financial literacy among women of all ages, backgrounds and income levels. The goals of the Women & Money conference are to:  >         inspire women and increase their confidence about personal finance. >         provide women with tools and resources to help control their financial destiny. >         create a forum for women to network with other women in the financial arena. >         empower and motivate women to discover their prosperity potential.  Women & Money Conference attendees have the opportunity to hear from high profile keynote speakers and attend workshops presented by local financial experts on a wide variety of topics.       “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. Sponsorship of the Women & Money Conference represents a critical component of HSBC - North America's community engagement commitment providing information and tools to help individuals and their families make sound financial decisions. Click here to visit the Women and Money page.   For more information on the 2009 Women & Money Conference, including information on how to register, click here. You can also contact us by phone at (520) 884-7810 ext. 113 or 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 . The 21st annual conference will be held September 25, 2009, at the Westin La Paloma, from 8:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. This year’s conference will honor Lilly Ledbetter, namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The morning keynote address will be given by Sara Laschever, co-author of Ask for It!, a woman’s guide to using the power of negotiations to get what they really want. The afternoon keynote address will be given by Ann Tardy, author of LifeMoxie! 9 Strategies to Take Life by the Horns. In addition to these nationally known speakers, this outstanding, conference offers workshops aimed at building leadership skills across a wide variety of topics. To view the brochure and register for the conference, click here . If you would like to be added to the YWCA mailing list and receive the conference brochure when it becomes available in May, 2009, please click on the “Join Our Mailing List” button on the left side of this page. Comments from the 2008 Conference attendees: “The workshop presenters - fabulous and the overall contributions of the committee- wonderful! I really appreciate the commitment to bring a successful group of women together for the panel. What a representation of strength and unity, poise and leadership. I have to admit I was truly inspired.” “This conference was incredibly beneficial in starting my career as a young woman. Thank you so much.” “There are few things more exquisite than spending the day with so many intelligent, expressive, generous and energetic women! Thank you so much for your generous and inspirational efforts!” “The conference is a great motivation and inspiration for all women longing to be exceptional leaders. Great opportunity for growth!” “This was my first conference and I can tell you I have a ‘high’. I plan to attend next year and continue in becoming a leader.” Your caring for growing women leaders is reflected in the program! Excellent!” 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. The banquet will honor Lifetime Achievement Award winners Mary Belle McCorkle, Priscilla Robinson, and Jessie Zander; Iris Dewhirst Award winner Betsy Bolding; Business Leadership Award Winner Jan Lesher; Corporate Award winner JP Morgan Chase. In addition, twelve particularly outstanding women will receive the Women on the Move statuette. Click here to learn more about the twelve women who were selected to receive Women on the Move Statuettes at the 2008 Women on the Move Banquet. Click here to see a list of all past Women on the Move Award Recipients. For additional information, please call the YWCA at 884-7810 x106 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. The 2009 Program will be held on consecutive Tuesday evenings from March 3 through April 21 at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Center, 525 N. Bonita Avenue, from 5:15 to 8:30. Topics for this year’s program include Leadership Concepts Leadership Realities: A Dialogue with Women Leaders Team-building Negotiating Skills Goal Setting Networking, Mentoring & Coaching Time Management Personal Strengths Assessment   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. Click here for an application for the 2009 Women’s Leadership Program. For information, call the YWCA at 520-884-7810 ext.106  or email us. YWCA Women’s Leadership Coaching Circle Learn how to lead your life, instead of letting your life lead you. This four-part, small group series will help you take leadership concepts you learned in the YWCA Women’s Leadership programs and practically apply them to your life. Led by executive coach Suzanne McFarlin, the coaching circle is being created in response to requests from participants in YWCA programs who are interested in further creating opportunities for growth, leadership and empowerment. If you would benefit from eliminating barriers to personal success, setting relevant goals, articulating what you want in your life and being held accountable for achieving it, please join us for these dynamic, interactive sessions.   Dates: Tuesdays May 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2009 Time: 5:30- 7:00 PM Location: The YWCA, 525 North Bonita Avenue Price: $145 Click here to register Suzanne McFarlin, Owner of Changing Tides Coaching and Consulting, is a certified coach, organizational effectiveness consultant, educator and speaker.  She helps position both individuals and organizations for success by helping them discover their possibilities for what they can achieve and achieve their goals.  Suzanne studied coaching and became a certified coach with Dr. Martha Beck, best-selling author of Finding Your Own North Star, monthly columnist for O Magazine and NPR touted “best known life coach in America.”  Through the American Society for Training and Development, she earned professional certificates for training services.   She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Michigan and instructed MBA students in Management Communication and Career Development at the University of Arizona’s Eller Graduate School of Management.  She has served as a volunteer facilitator for the YWCA Tucson Women’s Leadership Program and workshop presenter at the YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference.        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.   Bright Futures Scholarship Program The YWCA, in collaboration with the Pima Community College Foundation, has established the Bright Futures Scholarship Program through which ten scholarships will be awarded annually to female students who have demonstrated determination in overcoming an obstacle and who plan to enroll at Pima Community College.     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, La Cima 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 Center. Click Here to register for Techgyrls 2009 summer program. 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 at the Zuni Avenue Peace Center.. 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.   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 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. 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. 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