onegreater los angeles

Working together for peace, justice, freedom, equality and dignity.

pg 2 Congressman Xavier Becerra

WHAT’S INSIDE

pg 3 Compton Empowerment Center

May 2013

Celebrating Leaders with Grace and StrengthAlong with lead sponsors Union Bank and Edison International, we proudly

present the “2013 Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon: Celebrating Leaders with Grace and Strength” to be held Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Join us as we celebrate the lives and accomplishments of phenomenal women in the community and workplace.

Mary Fisher has been named the 2013 Phenomenal Woman of the Year. Fisher travels the world advocating for those who share her HIV-positive status. She has served as an ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and on the Leadership Council of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS.

Michelle Isenberg, Principal of Isenberg & Associates Fine Art Advisors is slated to receive the inaugural President’s Award at the 2013 Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon. The inspirational art for the YWCA GLA Urban Campus, which includes original works and reproductions, was made possible because of Michelle’s direction and vision and took the visual aspect of the campus to a stunning level of beauty and aspiration. The YWCA GLA President’s Award honors friends of the organization in a distinct way.

Returning to host the 2013 event will be Clear Channel’s radio personality Josefa Salinas. During the event, guests will enjoy a pre-event reception, lunch, inspirational speakers, awards ceremony, and entertainment by Roger Espinoza, flamenco guitarist. Proceeds from the event will benefit YWCA GLA programs and services. Media sponsor for the event is Los Angeles Confidential Magazine.

There’s still time to join us! For tickets, tables and sponsorships contact Greg Richardson at (310) 659-5517 or ywcagla@eventsbyone.com.

2013 Phenomenal Woman Awards LuncheonWelcome to

ONE VOICE,

ONE MOVEMENT,

ONE VISION.

If you would like to receive One Voice via email, please email monica.galindo@ywcagla.org.

pg 4 YWCA Union Pacific Youth Program Receives Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award

Mary Fisher 2013 Phenomenal Woman of the Year

We create a safe space to live, learn and grow.Congressman Xavier Becerra Calls For End To Sequester Cuts And Investment In Jobs Training

Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus called for an end to the drastic sequester cuts during his visit to the YWCA Greater Los Angeles Urban Campus. During his visit, he spoke with local at-risk youth served by the Los Angeles Job Corps program. Nationwide, the Job Corps program faces $83 million in cuts this fiscal year under sequestration. Sponsored by the Department of Labor, it is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive educational, vocational and social skills training program.

“In Los Angeles, these are the people harmed by the sequester,” Congressman Xavier Becerra said. “For our youth served by the YWCA, this is a second chance, a bridge to entering the workforce and contributing to our economy. They shouldn’t be victim to reckless cuts. Let’s work to replace the sequester in a balanced, responsible way that doesn’t leave them behind.”

The Los Angeles Job Corps program provides residential and non-residential programming at no cost to homeless, emancipated, and at-risk youth ages 16-24. It currently serves approximately 735 clients. Annually, approximately 1,200 youth are served and it is estimated that over 65% of residents in the program are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“Success comes from the soul. If one’s soul is inspired ....they can achieve greatness,” YWCA Greater Los Angeles CEO Faye Washington said in welcoming Congressman Becerra to the Urban Campus. “Our 34th District, Congressman Xavier Becerra has been an inspiration for the past 21 years. We are now joined with the vision of a man that gets the plight of our youth, Halleluiah”

Faye Washington, YWCA GLA CEO, received a great honor on behalf of the YWCA Job Corps Urban Campus during the April 4, 2013 Downtown Breakfast Club’s 33rd Annual Roses and Lemon Awards. The club pinned a rose on Ms. Washington with their Special Achievement Award for spearheading the development of the Los Angeles Job Corps Urban Campus. “Together, we have come so far and accomplished so much,” shared Washington. “Thanks to community

support and the effort of dedicated partners, the campus now accommodates over 400 at-risk students ages 16 to 24 and provides high impact training space for these students.”

Other ‘roses’ included Grand Park, Endeavor, Metro Expo Line, Figat7th, and CityTargetRrenovation. The Club also saluted veteran PR executive N. Richard (Dick) Lewis, founder of Lewis & Associates, with its Foundation Award for his record of marketing innovation

Congressman Xavier Becerra speaks to Job Corps students and YWCA GLA friends and supporters.

YWCA’s Urban Campus Honored at Downtown

In 1985, the city of Compton approached the YWCA GLA with an urgent need to help those victimized by sexual assault. With a proven record of results-based community service along with a strong mission focused on empowering women, the YW was their choice when the need to address this serious issue in their community became apparent. Now, 28 years later, the YWCA GLA’s Compton Empowerment Center has grown into a community beacon offering a robust Sexual Assault Crisis Services (SACS) program, Child Development, and other empowerment services.

“Because resources in this community can be so limited, knowing that the YWCA offers these programs and resources impacts individuals and the greater area in a significant way,” shares Mikki Melton, Senior Site Manager. “We are a full service organization offering various resources along the journey from victim to survivor.”

After years of service, in 2009, the YWCA SACS program expanded and now serves hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout greater Los Angeles anchored in three different community locations.

“The Compton site started a legacy for the YWCA GLA of

YWCA Program Site Focus: Compton Empowerment Center

Breakfast Club.

Faye Washington, YWCA GLA CEO, received a great honor on behalf of the YWCA Job Corps Urban Campus during the April 4, 2013 Downtown Breakfast Club’s 33rd Annual Roses and Lemon Awards. The club pinned a rose on Ms. Washington with their Special Achievement Award for spearheading the development of the Los Angeles Job Corps Urban Campus. “Together, we have come so far and accomplished so much,” shared Washington. “Thanks to community support and the effort of dedicated partners, the campus now accommodates over 400 at-risk students ages 16 to

Sexual Assault Outreach Specialist, Olivia Alvarez closed out the activities of “Week Without Violence” with a Community Self-Defense Class at Union Pacific.

Sexual Assault Outreach Specialist, Olivia Alvarez, provided presentations about YWCA GLA Sexual Assault Crisis Services and sexual assault to students at El Camino College Compton Center.

superior Sexual Assault Crisis Services and the success of this program has led to thousands of individuals getting the help, healing and hope they so deserve,” continued Melton. “Our dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to create

a safe space focused on assisting individuals from hospital visits, accompaniment to court dates, various counseling offerings to helping them get connected with social services they might need.”

After 10 years of fighting against sexual assault in the Compton area and being even more rooted and established in the community as a service provider, the opportunity and need for Child Development became clear. The YWCA

Compton Child Development program opened in 1996 serving 40 families and has grown since then to serving 80 families annually.

“As we expand our offerings at the Compton location, our vision is to provide empowerment services in line with the mission and model of the YWCA GLA while addressing community need,” continued Melton. “People come in all the time and return for help because they talk about feeling

safe and that the YW was the only place they could turn. We all long for a day when these types of services are not needed but we are grateful to be part of an organization and a community where we can serve ‘survivors who have broken

the silence and victims who have yet to find their voice’.”Mikki Melton has been the Senior Site Manager at

YWCA Compton Empowerment Center for five years. She began with the YWCA GLA in 1998 as secretary for the SACS program and has worked her way up through the organization. She is passionate about this field and her work.

O N E V O I C EO N E V O I C E

SAVE THE DATE:May 15, 2013

Omni Los Angeles Hotel

EVENT INFORMATIONOR RESERVATIONS:Greg Richardsonywcagla@eventsbyone.comor (310) 659-5517

SALUTING WOMEN WHO INSPIRE CHANGE

The PhenomenalWoman Awards

The YWCA Greater Los Angeles

Proudly Presents

From L-R: YWCA Program Director Norma Gonzalez, Congresswoman Chu, YWCA Chief Executive Officer Faye Washington, and YWCA Senior Director Sharon Shelton.

Congresswoman Judy Chu and CDC Executive Director Sean Rogan congratulate the YWCA GLA on the success of the Youth Development Program.

YWCA Union Pacific Youth Program Receives Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award

On March 1, 2013, the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC) joined Congresswomen Judy Chu to present the YWCA Greater Los Angeles with a 2012 Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award for its Youth Development Program. This effort was recognized for its effective use of federal funds in the 38th Congressional District. The Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award recognizes projects or programs that demonstrate the impact Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have on residents and communities in the Los Angeles County area.

The CDBG Program gives local governments a flexible way to address a wide range of unique community development challenges. The primary objective of the Program is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income.

The YWCA’s Youth Development Program was chosen by Congresswoman Judy Chu as a prime example of how CDBG funds are used to benefit her district. The County’s First Supervisorial District provided the YWCA, which is the first and only center to address the unmet needs of youth in the Union Pacific community, with $42,000 in CDBG funding to support the Youth Development Program. Through YWCA efforts, youth have a safe haven where they can go to be mentored, receive support and encouragement, and gain access to vital resources that will help them excel academically. Life skills workshops impart tools for confidence and self-esteem building. Parents have expressed deep gratitude for being able to count on the YWCA to provide a safe space for their children to learn and grow while they work towards providing for their families.

CDC Executive Director Sean Rogan said, “I congratulate the YWCA on their Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award. We are delighted to provide CDBG funds to support this vital resource for the youth within the Union Pacific community.”

The Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award recognizes projects

or programs that demonstrate the impact Community

Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have on residents

and communities in the Los Angeles County area.

YWCA Greater Los Angeles Locations:

greater los angeles

O N E V O I C E

Union Pacific Empowerment Center 4315 Union Pacific Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90023Programs: Childcare, Seniors, Youth

Osborne Empowerment Center12059 Osborne Street Sylmar, CA 91331 Programs: Seniors, Transitional Housing

Angeles Mesa Empowerment Center 2501 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008Programs:Child Development, Sexaul Assault Crisis Services

Sexual Assault Outreach Specialist, Olivia Alvarez closed out the activities of “Week Without Violence” with a Community Self-Defense Class at Union Pacific.

Walnut Park Empowerment CenterOpening Fall 2013!7515 Pacific Blvd. Walnut Park, CA 90255Programs:Child Development, Sexaul Assault Crisis Services

Compton Empowerment Center 1600 E. Compton Blvd. Compton, CA 90221Programs: Child Development, Sexaul Assault Crisis Services

North Valley Infant Learning Center11133 Omelveny AveSan Fernando, CA 91340Programs: Child Development

YWCA GLA Urban CampusExecutive Office1020 South Olive Street Los Angeles, CA 90015Programs: Job Corps, Workforce Training

Studio Club 1215 Lodi Place Los Angeles, CA 90038Programs: Transitional Housing

South Bay Empowerment Center 920 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, CA 90813Programs: Sexaul Assault Crisis Services

To support the work of the YWCA GLA visit: www.ywcagla.org

greater los angeles

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Become a member today and ADD YOUR voice to help change YOUR community and help empower lives! Scan the QR code or visit ywcagla.org/membership for more information.

The YWCA Greater Los Angeles:Safe space to live, learn and grow.

Officers:Vivian D. Howell

PresidentEleanor Beasley

Vice PresidentPatricia Keane

TreasurerLisa D. Cagnolatti

Secretary

Elected Members:

Maria L. Garcia Samantha W. Jones

Amanda J. LeeAlva P. Adams-Mason

Renuka Patel

YWCA Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors

Thank you to our Partners!

youtube.com/ywcagreaterla

twitter.com/ywca_gla

facebook.com/ywcagla

ywcagla.blogspot.com

StayConnected.

1020 S. Olive Street, 7th FloorLos Angeles 90015

The YWCA Greater Los Angeles gratefully acknowledges the dedication of our partners to the greater Los Angeles community and furthering our mission. This month we are highlighting donors who have been long-time supporters and friends, consistently giving generously to the YWCA GLA and our various programs.

Over the last several months, we have received the following long-time supporters:

• Bank of America: $40,000• Union Bank: $50,000• Cedars-Sinai: $25,000• All State Foundation: $15,000

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to community!

Thank you!