ywcaalaska

Eliminating racism and empowering women

2 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

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YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 3

Dear Friends,

People ask me every day, “What does the YWCA do?” Frequently this question is followed by, “Do you have a pool?”

Our goal for this special insert is to introduce you to YWCA Alaska. Our mission is simple: eliminate racism and empower women. YWCA Alaska knows that our State and our planet need the brain power of all its inhabitants, all men and all women, to solve the complexities of the 21st century. But in the places where solutions are being created women are absent.

• Ofthe196countriesintheworld,only20areledbywomen.

• In the United States, only 21 of the Fortune 500 CEO’s arewomen.

• Womenholdabout14%ofBoardseats

• 18%ofourelectedcongressionalofficials.

For women of color, these statistics are much lower.

• Only4%holdtoppositionsatcorporations

• 3%holdBoardseats;and

• 5%holdcongressionalseats.

Womenwillhavefinancialpower.Overthenext40years,womenwillinherit70%ofthe$41millionininter-generationalwealthtransfer.By2025,60%ofbillionairesareexpectedtobewomen.

Yet,outofeverydollargrantedbyU.S.foundations,lessthan8centsfundsprogramsforwomenandgirls.Andtoday,50yearsaftertheEqualPayActof1963,womenarebeingpaid77centsforeverydollarmenarepaid,a14centincrease.

InAlaska,thisrateis67cents,anincreaseof8cents.

There is a lot of work to be done. Stand with YWCA Alaska at the forefront of this movement.

Fromitsfirstassociationin1858inNewYorkCitytopresentday,YWCA’sacrossthecountryhavebeenattheforefrontofmostmajormovementsintheUnitedStates.Wecreatedthefirstboardinghouseforfemalestudentsin1860,thefirstAfricanAmericanandNativeAmericanYWCA’sforwomenin1890andwerethefirstinthefightforthe8hourworkdayin1920.In1989,thefirstYWCAwascreatedinAnchorage,Alaskaandin2011thatYWCAtookontherepresentationofthewholestatebecomingYWCAAlaska.TheYWCARetirementfundpre-datesSocialSecurity.

With help from our supporters and volunteers, YWCA Alaska continues to be on the forefront today both in Anchorage and across the State focusing on social justice, youth and economic empowerment, leadership and women’swellness.Inthepagesthatfollowyouwillhearthevoicesofthosewhohaveclaimedandreclaimedtheir personal power.

You can get involved. Go to our website: www.ywcaak.org. You can Donate. You can Volunteer. You can come toanEvent.BecomeamemberofYWCAAlaskaandjoin25millionwomenin1300USsitesand125countriesaround the world who make a difference.

(Bytheway,wedonothaveapool.ButtheYMCAonTudorRoaddoes–enjoy!)

Sincerely,

Hilary Morgan

CEO

Letter from the Executive Director

Mission stateMent

YWCa alaska is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women while promoting dignity, peace, freedom

and justice for all.

YWCa Board of direCtors

NoelleKompkoff, President

CarrieLindow, President-Elect

BetsyHaines, Secretary

KirstenBall, Treasurer

Margo Bellamy

Pita Jelley Benz

Patti Bozzo

JoyGreen-Armstrong

Olympia Machuga

VeronicaReem

SuzanneRudolph

ReneaSaade

KitChen CaBinet MeMBers Eleanor Andrews

Barbara Baugh

Carla Beam

Deborah Bonito

Barbara Cash

Suzanne Cherot

Morgan Christen

Carol Comeau

Barbara Donatelli

Leslie Ellis

Heather Flynn

Charlotte Fox

Jana Hayenga

DianeKaplan

ChristineKlein

KrystalKompkoff

Jo Michalski

LeslieNerland

GloriaO’Neill

Connie Ozer

Maggie Price

SharonRichards

Cathie Straub

Arliss Sturgulewski

Tay Thomas

4 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

did you know...• 70%ofprisonersinAlaskaarepeopleofcolorand/orAlaskaNative.

• 42outof100womeninAnchoragehaveexperiencedintimatepartnerviolence.

• Mt.ViewwasrecentlydeclaredbyUAA&PennStateresearchersasthemostdiverseneighborhoodintheUnitedStates,utilizinginformationfromtheU.S.CensusData.

YWCa alaska offers several programs to promote human rights and empower women.

Comments made by people in participating organizations and businesses…

i’ve never told anyone this before, but…• MysonisbulliedatschoolforbeingLatino.

• Racismispartofmyexperienceeveryday.

• Mydaughtercomeshomefromschoolintears,andImustremindhereverynightthatbeingAlaskaNativeisbeautiful.

• BecauseofmypoorEnglishskills,IspentyearsinAnchoragetotallyisolated, feeling alone.

• Idon’tthinkracismisanissueinAnchorage.

• Employersmakejudgmentsaboutmebasedonmyaccent.

• Ithoughtbeingcolor-blindsolvedtheproblem.

• Iwanttobepartofthesolution.

• I’mnervoustostarttheconversation.

• Ourkidswillgetitright.

• Weneedtotalktoeachother.

Social Justice

OMAH AlAskA NAtive WOMeN speAkers 2010 stANd AgAiNst rAcisM MOveMeNt

sOutH HigH scHOOl’s stANd AgAiNst rAcisM cAMpAigN 2013

In2013,54localbusinessesandorganizationsinAnchorageparticipatedintheNationalStandAgainstRacismDayonApril26,2013.

Personal storyIn2012,anactivemembercalledtheYWofficeshortly

aftertheannualStandAgainstRacism.“Thankyou,”shesaid. As an employee in a large business here in Anchorage, she organized and participated in an intensive dialogue on racism for her employer’s StandAgainst Racismday. “Itwas the first time our staff had ever talked about it,” she shared, “and it was a discussion that needed to happen.”

Tolearnmore,visithttp://standagainstracism.org

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 5

senshido self-defense ClassesAyearagowhenSamanthaKoenigwaskidnappedfromalocalcoffeestand,thenewsshowedavideoofherbeing

led away by her kidnapper. As Hilary Morgan, YWCA Alaska CEO watched the news clip, she realized that there were fewopportunities inAnchorage forwomen to learnself-defense.Amonth later, aSenshidoSelf-DefenseClasswascreated by YWCA Alaska for all ages, genders, sizes, and athletic abilities to attend. Since then the response has been overwhelming. Today YWCA Alaska offers monthly Senshido classes and special request population classes for specific age groups, special needs and rural locations.

to register for senshido Classes call 644.9600 or go to our website www.ywcaak.org. Classes offered the first thursday of every month.

social Justice dialogues series: opening Minds and hearts Bringing people together for honest dialogue opens lines of communication and helps move communities to action.

Social Justice Dialogues create space for Alaskans to have difficult conversations on racism, race and gender equity, pay equity, sexism, and many other multifaceted and complex topics. Throughout the year the YWCA Alaska coordinates “brown-bag”gatheringsforcommunitymemberstocometogethertoexploretheseissues.ThisyearsuchtopicsasWomen in theMilitaryandWomenCommunityOrganizershavebeendiscussed. It createsopportunities forhonestdialoguetomoveourcommunityforward.The2014SocialJusticeDialogueSerieswillbeayear-longexplorationofwhat racism means in Alaska and how we can define our future as a community. This topic was chosen based on overwhelming community response.

Social Justice

Social Justice Dialogues create space for Alaskans to have difficult conversations. seNsHidO

seNsHidO You’reinvitedtojoinusandshareyourexperience,ideas,and hope.

OMAH - June 21, 2013 • 12-1:30pm • Youth and SocialSustice Dialogue.

Visit www.ywcaak.org for a Dialogues Series Calendar.

6 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

did you know...• Every3minutes,awomanisdiagnosedwithbreastcancerintheUnitedStates.

• Every13minutesawomandiesofbreastcancer.

• Alaskahasoneofthehighestratesofbreastcancermortalityandmorbiditypercapitainthenationaccordingtothe Center for Disease Control.

YWCa alaska Women’s Wellness program reduces breast cancer mortality in alaska.

enCorePlus ENCOREPlus’mission is to reduce breast and cervical cancermortality through education and removing barriers

to services. The program provides breast and cervical cancer screening to medically underserved women of diverse backgrounds. Through intensive community outreach, YWCA Alaska connects women with not just screening, but also theinformationandeducationaboutearlydetection.ParticipantsareenrolledintheState’sBreastandCervicalHealthCheck program to ensure their exam is paid for, and work with them to overcome barriers to an exam. The YW focuses on women who need an extra helping hand—whether that is a taxi ride to an appointment, a professional interpreter, or just consistent support and communication from our staff.

Lend a helping hand Sometimes you need a hand in life. This program provides direct assistance to individuals undergoing treatment for

cancer, with the goal of reducing the stress caused by the financial burden of treatment. Assistance comes in many forms, and can include help with transportation, food, and emergency household needs.

Women’sWellness

YWCAAlaskaWomen’sWellness program reduces breast cancer mortality in Alaska.

sudANese WOMAN eNrOlliNg iN BcHc

WellNess teAM WitH uAA NursiNg teAM

June 27, 2013 Planned Parenthood Block Clinic Midwifery and Women’s health Care Block ClinicContactusat907-644-9620oronourwebsitewww.ywcaak.orgforan

appointment or more information.

Personal story: GladyscametoYWCAAlaskawhenshedidn’tknowwhere

else to turn. She was experiencing ongoing pelvic pains and heavy bleeding, and could not afford medical care because she had recently been laid off from her job. Left with no insurance, no income, and a denial letter from Medicaid, she turned to the YWCAAlaska for assistance.At49, shehadnot had a pap smear or annual exam in over5 years.An Outreach Specialist worked with Gladys to arrange for an appointmentatPlannedParenthood(within24hours).HermedicalcostswerecoveredbytheState’sBreastandCervicalHealthCheckprogram.UponfindingoutthattheYWcouldhelpwith everything from the cost to the transportation;tears were shed, and she embraced her Outreach Specialist. YWCA Alaska is proud to have connected her to the care she deserves.

Personal story: Miriamawomaninhermid-30’swithsmallchildrenathomehad

worked all her life. She continued working her job at an Anchorage grocery store when she was diagnosed cancer. She continued working through her first series of treatments until they became too intensive she had to leave her job. After her resignation, she had the added stress of being able to keep her apartment for herself and small children. This is when she approached the YWCA Alaska.

A majority of the Lend a Helping Hand clients are between a rock and a hard place—or more specifically, too sick to work but still and waiting through a long approval process for disability benefits. Miriam had applied for disability benefits when she was initially diagnosed, but she was still waiting for approval. Through the Lend A Helping Hand program she was able to pay her rent, bridging the gap between the loss of her job and the beginning of her disability benefits. Thisone-timeassistancekepther inherhomeuntil herDisability benefits kicked in, and allowed her to continue her cancer treatments.

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 7

alaska Literacy ProgramImagine you are new to a country—trying

to learn the language, orient your family, and figure out how to navigate new systems. Can you imagine how overwhelming it would be to navigate a foreign healthcare system? YWCA Alaska is a member of the nationally recognized Anchorage Health Literacy Collaborative. Each year we work with our partners in the Collaborative to bring health information and screening access to students at the Alaska Literacy Program (ALP). ALP offers classes toadults who want to improve their basic English—students who are recent immigrants to the U.S., including many refugees. To make healthinformation accessible, advanced members of the student body act as Peer Language Navigators, serving as both a linguistic andcultural bridge to information on breast and cervical cancer. Multiple information sessions are presented at ALP from how to perform a self breast exam to what will happen during a pap smear. Students are then offered professional interpreter services and transportation to their mammography and pap appointments, as well as continued support from YWCA staff.

Women’sWellness

ALP offers classes to adults who want to improve their basic English–including many refugees.

Alp

Alp WOrksHOp

Men too410mendieofbreastcancerin

Alaskaeachyear.1-3%ofallbreastcancer cases are diagnosed in men. YWCA Alaska offers financial assistance to men who cannot afford a diagnostic mammogram. We know that an inability to pay should never stand between an individual and the health care needed.

8 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

did you know...• 60%ofgirlsand57%ofboysinAnchoragehavelessthan3caringadult

figures in their lives to turn to for advice.

• Thereare97differentlanguagesspokeninAnchorageSchoolDistrict.

• 45% of Alaskan high school students feel they don’t matter in theircommunity.

YWCa alaska empowers youth to counter feelings of isolation and irrelevance.

Multicultural female Leadership ConferenceMulticultural Female Leadership Conference, amini-conference formiddle

school girls to discover their potential. This annual one-day conferencedesigned to empower Middle School girls from diverse backgrounds to reach their highestpotential, developpersonally, find their voices, andbuild self-esteem. Girls interact with female role models from the community who facilitate all day workshops.

Youth Empowerment

Personal story

Lauren hoffman is a Girls Circle facilitator at Begich Middle school:

“It was not until our final meeting that I realized how far ourgroup had traveled together. The girls in the group will never be best friends, but there was a lot of growth and improvement in how the girls interacted with one another. Though our group did not start with any direct adversity, it was clear that separate friendships within the group already existed. The moment that made the biggest impact wastheaffirmationactivity.Iaskedthegirlstomovetheirchairsintoacircle,placingonechairinthecenter.Inoticedrightawaythatthegirls had “mixed” up their seating. For the first time they had chosen tonotsit in theirgrade leveldivides. Iwas furtherstunnedat thegenuineaffirmationsthegirlsgaveeachother.IcouldseetheprideonVandu’sfacewhenthegroupshoweredherwithpositiveattributes.This activity requires girls to be vulnerable which is very challenging in Middle School.

It was enlightening to hear the girls’ responses to our finalquestions. One girl shared that she will leave Circle with a better understanding of herself and that she will take her new friendships with her. Another girl shared that Girls Circle was the only time in her week that she could share how she felt and people would really listen. When asked “what would you tell your friends about Girl’s Circle?” one girlsaid “it’s a place where I fit inand have fun.” The Girls Circle group continues to highlight and reiterate the need for the group experience in Middle School. Girls left our group with increased connections to other students, adults, and a greater self worth.”

Multicultural Female Leadership Conference, amini-conferenceformiddle school girls to discover their potential.

MFlc 2011

i MAke A diFFereNce 2009

saVe the dateNovember 11, 2013 is the 23rd annual YWCA

Multicultural Female Leadership Conference which will be held at the BP Energy Center, in partnership with the Anchorage School District and Wells Fargo. For more information see our website: www.ywcaak.org.

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 9

Youth Circles for Girls and BoysThis year, YWCA Alaska provided 30

YouthCirclesin13schoolsintheAnchorageSchool District.

These circles provide 22 of the 40nationally recognized developmental assets needed for girls and boys in our community to thrive. These small groups of 8 – 10youthmeet for 8 consecutiveweeks eachsemester during the school year. Facilitated by trained volunteers, these circles allow participants to share their personal strengths and develop a sense of belonging. Often being the difference between a youth thriving in their daily lives.

Join the YWCa and Volunteer to be a Youth facilitator.

Young People of achievement awards

Young People of Achievement Awards honor ten local youth, ages 16-18, whohave faced significant challenges in their lives and have demonstrated efforts that support the YWCA mission.

Youth Empowerment

2013 yOuNg peOple OF AcHieveMeNt AWArdees

russiAN jAck 2013 girls circle

saVe the dateNominations for the 2014 Young People of

Achievement Awards open in January 2014.Please check our website at www.ywcaak.org for nomination forms.

DR E A M

10 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

2013YoungPeopleof Achievement Honorees

The individual chosen for the YWCA Alaska Young People of Achievement Award is not your average high school student. They all have a balanced combination of fortitude, courage, determination andcompassion.Readingthe words below, you will feel a shimmer of hope and expectancy for the world they will create as our future leaders.

Meetthe2013youthachievementhonorees!Theyare an impressive group of young people, ready to lead us into the future.

Karly norton KarlyNorton,duringhersophomoreyearofhighschool

sh suffered from severe headaches and was diagnosed with a brain tumor which resulted in surgery. Then again in her junior year another tumor was discovered and a second surgery was performed. Both surgeries required her to leave school. She was given the option to change her class schedule for one less demanding. She declined the option, determined to stay in her honors courses despite her potentially life threatening situation. Karly is the studentleader for Change of Heart, where she organizes workshops for freshman aimed at reducing prejudices, teaching tolerance and learning the importance of embracing diversity.

Bao Kang VangBaoKangVang’sfamilyhasfacedmajorfinancialhardship

when her father was laid off when the Wonder Bread factory closed, and her mother contracted a health condition that prevented her from working. Bao is working to overturn the perception that Hmong women are powerless. As a young Hmong woman, she takes on responsibilities often intended formeninherculture;fishing,hunting,andprovidingforherfamily.

Chan Mi Joo Chan Mi Joo was born in South Korea, her parents

relocatedtoKenyaandlatertoAmericaformissionarywork.Chan Mi lost her father to stomach cancer early in her life. ChanMi’sbiggestchallengecamerecentlywhenhermotherwas diagnosed with breast cancer. Chan Mi describes her mother as her closest friend and writes that imagining cancer could claim another parent has been a “big blow” to herworld.ChanMi’sfamilymedicalhistoryhassparkedherdesire to become a doctor. Chan Mi wants to be a voice for theoppressedandunderserved.“IknowthatIamjustoneperson in a sea of billions of people, but just one drop of water can cause ripples across a whole pond.”

Christina Marie edwin Christina Marie Edwin is an aspiring conservationist. Her

mother, whom she lived with after her parents divorced, became addicted to drugs when Christina was 8. Shewas then sent to live with her father and five brothers where she quickly took on the role as the mother figure in a household of young men. As the years went on, her mother’s absence remained her greatest challenge. Attimes she compromised her own safety and best interests to provide love and support for others. Christina realized she needed to change and made the difficult commitment to stop mothering others and start caring for herself. Since then, she has stayed engaged in learning opportunities and has started to rebuild a relationship with her mother, now in recovery.

Pang thao Pang Thao was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and

moved to the United States when she was 10 years old.During her sophomore year of high school, Pang was married and not long after had a daughter and later a son. Pang says that after having her children, everything changed, and she realized she needed to work harder so that she couldsecureher family’s future.Pangmanagestobalancebeing an honor roll student and her family obligations as a mother,housewifeanddaughter-in-law.Herdreamofgoingto college to be a nurse will make her the first in her family to pursue higher education.

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 11

2013YoungPeopleof Achievement Honorees

Vang her Vang Her dreams of starting her own business in

Anchorage.Vang’sfamilyimmigratedasHmongrefugeestotheUnitedStatesin2005.AdaptingtoanAmericanlifestylewas difficult. Vang’s parents struggled to find jobs thatcould support the family and Vang was bullied at school for not speaking English. Vang writes, “only education can take us away from the life we had before…since we came here forabetterlife, Iamdeterminedtomakeithappenformyfamily.” Vang has been honored with the Alaska Chamber of Commerce Business Scholarship and hopes to encourage other young women to pursue male dominated fields.”

Paul tandy Paul Tandywasborn3monthsearly in Taiwananddue

tocomplicationsatbirth,becameblind.Paulwrites,“IntheTaiwanese and Chinese culture, a person with a disability doesn’thavemuchofachanceatlivingagoodlife.”Fearfulofhisfuture,Paul’sbirthparentsplacedhiminanorphanage.He was adopted a year later and brought to live with his family in Anchorage. Despite being blind, Paul took on the challenge of becoming one of the few blind wrestlers in the nation.Inaddition,Paulplaysseveralinstrumentsandevenplaysviolininhisschool’sorchestra.Becausehecannotseethe conductor, he memorizes all of the music and listens to the rhythm of the piece so that he can follow along with the rest of the students.

reynalda deJesus-Martinez Reynalda DeJesus-Martinez was born in rural Mexico

andmoved toAlaskaat theageof twelve. Reynalda is anindigenous person from a tribe called Triqui. She writes “the primary language of Mexico is known worldwide to be Spanish,butinmycaseIhadtolearntospeakitinordertobepartofMexicanculture.”Duringherchildhood,Reynaldawitnessed the attacks, abuse and murder of members of her Triqui tribe due to political and ethnic land disputes. The racism, violence and ethnic discrimination lead her family to move to another part of Mexico and eventually to Alaska. Reynalda’s experience with prejudice and violence hasstrengthened her pride in her culture and has taught her the importance of tolerance.

tiemchieng Panoam Tiemchieng Panoam dreams of becoming an Obstetrician.

Tiemchieng’sparentsfledfromwarinSouthSudan.Growingup her father would often return to Sudan for business while her mother worked two jobs. Tiemchieng writes that because she knew how hard her mother worked to “keep a roof over our head” she took on the responsibility as the “lady of the house”; cooking, cleaning and lookingafter seven younger siblings. When Tiemchieng encounters negative attention because of the dark color of her skin, she proudly states “my black is beautiful”. She aims to show women that they can do anything they set their mind to. CurrentlyavolunteeratProvidenceHospital; sheplans totake her medical knowledge back to South Sudan to provide her people with access to quality health care.

Vaasaumamao Pedro Vaasaumamao Pedro loves to play basketball and

softball. When Vaa was a freshman in high school, she tried to fit in. As a result she did things that she is not proud of. She became depressed and withdrawn from her family. After transferring schools and with the support of her family, Vaa is now on a path to graduating high school and continuing on to become an athlete in college. Vaa writes shelearned“nottofollowthecrowd,buttobecome(her)own leader.”

The individual chosen for the YWCA Alaska Young People of Achievement Award is not your average high school student. They all have a balanced combination of fortitude, courage, determination and compassion.

12 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

Women Economic Empowerment Center

did you know...• Alaskanwomenearn$.67forevery$1menearnforperformingthesamework.

• By202560%ofbillionairesareexpectedtobewomen.

YWCa alaska’s Women’s economic empowerment Center houses the only small Women Business Center in the state.

the Women’s economic empowerment Center is an economic lifeline for womenWomen owned businesses are growing at a record pace. YWCA Alaska’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Center empower

entrepreneurs(menandwomen)byassistingtheminstartingandgrowingtheirsmallbusinessesthroughtraining,educationandone-on-onecounseling.Additionally,theCenteroffersfinancialstabilitycoursessuchasday-to-daymoneymanagementandincomegeneration.

The Center serves the entire state and is in the process of serves the entire state, both women and men. The Center is in the process ofcreatingstatewideonlinecoursesviatheOnlineWithLibrariesNetwork.TheCenterempowerentrepreneursbyassistingtheminstartingandgrowingtheirsmallbusinessesthroughtraining,educationandone-on-onecounseling.Additionally, theCenteroffersfinancialstabilitycoursessuchasday-to-daymoneymanagementandincomegeneration.

Currently the Center is piloting an innovative new project, called BrainWorks, to assist individuals with traumatic brain injury in startingtheirsmallbusiness.IncollaborationwithTheUniversityofAlaskaAnchorage’sCenterforHumanDevelopment(UAA-CHD)TheWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentCenterfacilitatestheBrainWorksProjectinSouthCentralAlaska.

Class schedule for June:• BusinessPlanning101($350-4WeekCourse):First

FourSaturdaysinJune(1st,8th,15th,22nd)from10am-2pmattheYWCA

• DaytoDayMoneyManagement($25):ThursdayJune6thfrom5-8pmattheYWCA

• IncomeGeneration($25):ThursdayJune20thfrom5-8pmattheYWCA

• BrassTacksBusinessBasicsFree:ThursdayJune13thfrom5-8pmattheYWCA

• ThursdayJune27thfrom5-8pmviatheOWLNetworkattheLoussacLibraryPublicConferenceRoom

Class schedule for July:• BusinessPlanning101($350-4WeekCourse):First

FourWednesdaysinJuly(3rd,10th,17th,24thfrom5-9pmattheYWCA

• IncomeGeneration($25):ThursdayJuly18thfrom5-8pmattheYWCA

• BrassTacksBusinessBasicsFree:ThursdayJuly11thfrom5-8pmattheYWCA

• ThursdayJuly25thfrom5-8pmviatheOWLNetworkattheLoussacLibraryPublicConferenceRoom

Join us at the YWCa for our Business Classes.tier 1 - Basics: the ABc’s For more information see the website: www.ywcaak.org

Brass tacks Business Basics (Free) An introductory for prospective entrepreneurs, this class serves as an orientation to the process of starting a small business.

day-to-day Money Management ($25) A monthly budget template for one year. This course is designed for individuals who are to feel more secure about managing their own money.

income generation course ($25) Thisclassassistswithprioritizingone’sfinancialgoalstoincrease their income.

tier 2 – incubate: ready, set, launch! This tier prepares individuals for the launching of their Small Business.

Business planning 101 – 4-Week course ($350) A professional quality comprehensive business plan. This course will take students through the process of creating a bank ready business plan, planning and starting a business.

Business lectures and seminars (start at $20) Throughout the year, lectures, seminars, workshops and symposiums are offered on topics pertinent to small business development, management, and growth. To stayuptodateonwhat’sbeingofferedvisitusat:www.ywcaak.org

Both tiers include individual professional business counseling;accesstoourBusiness ResourceLibraryandourWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentCenter’sprivatebusinessoffice.

BusiNess 101 grAduAtiON 2012

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 13

Personal story

dog Musher follows the YWCa path to launch her business Just 175 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Fairbanks, Alaska

experiences freezing temperatures unimaginable to many and unbearable to most for more than half the year. Starting and operating a small business in those conditions takes determination, know-how and heart. Fairbanksresident Eleanor Wirts is just that sort of woman.

Intheearly90’sWirtsfellinlovewithdogmushingwhilelivingontheEastCoast. InsearchofopenspaceshemadeherwaytoAlaska in thespringof2003.

Eleanor found the open spaces she was looking for while raising, training, and runningsleddogsinAlaska.InAugustof2012Eleanorstartedcontemplatingopening a dog mushing school. By chance she came upon an article in Alaska BusinessMonthlythatdescribedtheservicesofferedbytheWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentCenter(WEE)andsheknewthatitwastimetotakeaction.

At the end of August Eleanor called the WEE. She spoke with the program director and her conversation validated what she already knew “it was time.” She immediatelyregisteredfortheSeptembercourse.The720–mileroundtrip commute from Fairbanks to Anchorage every Wednesday for four weeks to attend the class did not deter her. Eleanor says, “Iwould havemade thedrivedownthereforanothermonth.Theclasswasgreat. Iwish ithadgoneon longer.”

During the first class Eleanor felt like she went “six feet under” and was wonderingwhatshe’dgottenherself into.Overthecourseheranxietyeasedas professional guest speakers such as lenders, tax experts and lawyers educated the students. Throughout the month Eleanor gained confidence that she was going to be able to make informed decisions about how to start, run and operate her business.

In February 2013, just five months after completing the YWCA course,Eleanor proudly opened her Dog Mushing School and Education Tours business. She called it appropriately, Just Short of Magic, LLC because she believes thatonceyouvisitherbusinessanddogs,thereisnodoubtthatwhatyou’llexperienceis“JustShortofMagic.”InAprilEleanorannouncedherfirst$2,000day!

LearnmoreaboutEleanor’sbusinessat:http://justshortofmagic.com

Copyright2013byJustShortofMagic,LLC|WebsitebyThinkFarBeyond

Women Economic Empowerment Center

YWCa Launches Women-owned Businesses in alaska!

Have a great business idea? Women entrepreneurs can take classes at the YWCA Alaska to put their idea into action. Follow in these footsteps of these women…

1990:KimKovolGreen StarAnchorage,AK

1999:Diane Johnson AllstateInsuranceCompany Anchorage,AK

2002:RosaGarciaAlaskanHeat(Salsa)Anchorage,AK

2004:Tonia WinklerTonia’sBiscottiAnchorage,AK

2005: DeborahKrebsSitus ErgonomicsAnchorage,AK

2012:Eva PerryEva’sCupcakeryAnchorage,AK

2013: Eleanor Wirts Just Short of MagicFairbanks,AK

Eleanor gained confidence that she was going to be able to make informed decisions about how to start, run and operate her business.

Classes are offered throughout the year. Check out the summer schedule and class descriptions below. For more information visit: www.ywcaak.org

14 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

did you know...• Ofthe196countriesintheworldtodayonly20areledbywomen.

• Womenholdjust20percentofseatsinparliamentsglobally.

• IntheUnitedStates,only21oftheFortune500CEO’sarewomen.

YWCa alaska Women’s Leadership programs recognize 178 female leaders.

Forover20years,YWCAAlaskahashonoredwomenofachievement. The Women of Achievement Award Ceremony pays tribute to women who give of their time and energy to makeourworldabetterplace.Itrecognizesandhonorswomenwho have demonstrated qualities of leadership and excellence in their professional and personal endeavors as well as their contributions to the larger community. This annual program, inspiring to both women and men, encourages women and girls to develop into leaders in their community and professional roles.

Women’sLeadership

August2013–Nominationsopen,YWCAAlaskais inviting community members to nominate women throughout the state whose professional and volunteer worksupportsandcomplementsYWCAAlaska’smission:eliminating racism, empowering women. Please go to our website to nominate an amazing woman in our community: www.ywcaak.org

Join us at the YWCa and be a Volunteer at the 24th annual Women of achievement awards and Purse auction.

2010 WOMeN OF AcHievers

2012 WOMeN OF AcHievers

2011 WOMeN OF AcHievers

Women of Achievement

The Women of Achievement Award Ceremony pays tribute to women who give of their time and energy to make our world a better place.

YWCA • MAY 23, 2013 15

did you know...• Womeninthemilitaryarenowmorelikelytoberapedbyfellowsoldiersthantheyaretobekilledincombat.

• Oflastyear’s3,192sexualassaultsonly6%endedwithaconviction.

• Rapeisanoccupationalhazardofmilitaryservice.

(Thetakeawaymessagetothethousandsrapedinthemilitary.FromaSupremeCourtrulinginDecember2011on issuesofaddressingrapeinthemilitarydismissedthecase.(TheInvisibleWar))

2013 – aVoW is adopted by YWCa alaskaFebruary2013, YWCAAlaska’s Boardof Directorsunanimously voted to adopt theAlaskaVeteransOrganization forWomen

(A.V.O.W.)asapermanentprogramofYWCAAlaskaintheWomen’sLeadershipprogrammingarea.

Thereareover1.8millionwomenveteransintheUnitedStates.ThestateofAlaskahasthehighestnumberofwomenveteranspercapita.Ofthe8,500womenveteransinAlaska,lessthan1,700ofthemutilizeVAservices.A.V.O.W.’sgoalistoconnectwomenveterans to available resources and help fill in the gaps for those that are not currently available or utilized.

Personal storyThree days after Joselyn finished basic training in the Army, she arrived at Ft. Hood, Texas to join her unit for deployment

toAfghanistan.Uponarrival,shelearnedthatherunithadbeendeployed2monthsearlier.WhenshefinallyjoinedherunitinAfghanistan2weekslater,shewasoneoftwowomeninherunit.ComingfromasmalltowninMaine,thiswasJocelyn’sfirst time away from home and her first time dealing with the incredible heat and dryness of Afghanistan. She drank more water in the first week than she had in her whole life. One night after she went to the outdoor latrine, as she was walking back to her bunk, a fellow soldier raped her. She knew reporting the rape was not an option because the person who raped her was higher in rank and her supervisor. He told her he would say she came on to him and no one would believe her if she told on him. He also said he would make sure she was on every patrol outside the wire if she caused trouble. She spent the next eight months in the forward operating base trying to avoid being alone with the perpetrator and in fear of another assault. This was combined with the pressure of being deployed in a combat zone. Two members of her unit diedinIEDexplosionswhileonpatrolandsheexperiencednumerousmortarattacksontheirFOB.Shecouldn’tsleepandisolated herself from the other members of her unit.

After returning to the States and serving the rest of her enlistment, she got out of the military and went back to her community. She began to drink and became more depressed and isolated herself from friends and family. She felt no one could understand what she went through and would blame her for the assault. When she tried to talk with family and friendsaboutherexperiencesinthewar,severalpeoplesaidthatwomenweren’tincombatrolesandmenhaditmuchrougher than she did. Jocelyn attempted suicide six months after getting out of the military.

Women’sLeadership

AlaskaVeteran’sOrganizationforWomen

She knew reporting the rape was not an option because the person who raped her was higher in rank and her supervisor.

Women in the military are now more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than they are to be killed in combat.

Oflastyear’s3,192sexualassaultsonly6%endedwithaconviction.

Rapeisanoccupationalhazardofmilitaryservice.Thetakeawaymessage to the thousands raped in the military. From a Supreme CourtrulinginDecember2011onissuesofaddressingrapeinthemilitarydismissedthecase.(TheInvisibleWar)

for more information contact alaskawomenvets@gmail.com or call 907-644-9600

rAsMusON FOuNdAtiON creAtes FuNd tO BeNeFit AlAskAN WOMeN veterANs

2012 A.v.O.W. retreAt

2013 AvOW 3rd ANNuAl FuNdrAiser – Middle WAy cAFé

16 MAY 23, 2013 • YWCA

History of YWCAUSATimeline1858- ThefirstassociationintheU.S.,

Ladies Christian Association, was formedinNewYorkCity. 

1877- TheYWCAChicagoprovidesmedicalservices at the homes of the sick, becoming the forerunner of the VisitingNursesAssociation.

1889- ThefirstAfrican-AmericanYWCAbranch opened in Dayton, Ohio.

1890- ThefirstYWCAforNativeAmericanwomenopenedatHaworthInstitutein Chilocco, Oklahoma.

1894- TheUnitedStatesofAmerica,England,Sweden,andNorwaytogether created the World YWCA, whichtodayoperatesinover125countries. 

1906- TheYWCAwasthefirstorganizationto introduce the positive health concept and sex education in all health programming.

1919- TheYWCAheldtheInternationalConference of Women Physicians, the first gathering of medical women.

1920- Basedonitsworkwithwomenin industrial plants, the YWCA Convention voted to work for “an eight-hour/daylaw,prohibitionofnight work, and the right of labor to organize.”

1946- InterracialCharterwasadoptedbythe17thNationalYWCAConvention,establishing that “wherever there is injustice on the basis of race, whether in the community, the nation, or the world, our protest must be clear and our labor for its removal, vigorous and steady.”

1965- TheNationalBoardoftheYWCAcreatedtheOfficeofRacialJusticetolead the civil rights efforts.

1970- TheYWCANationalConvention,held in Houston, adopted the One Imperative:“Tothrustourcollectivepower towards the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary.

1972- YWCAestablishedENCORE,aneducation, exercise and support programforpost-mastectomypatients.

1989- ThefirstAlaskaYWCACreated,YWCAof Anchorage.

1992- TheYWCANationalDayofCommitmenttoEliminateRacismbegan in response to the beating of RodneyKing,anAfricanAmericanman, the acquittal of four white Los Angeles police officers accused of the crime, and the subsequent riots andunrestacrossthecountry. 

2005- YWCAofTrenton,N.J.andYWCAPrinceton,N.J.establishthe“StandAgainstRacism”campaign,whichspreadsto39stateswithoveraquarter million participants.

2011- YWCAofAnchorageexpandstocoverthe state, now YWCA Alaska.

2013- Todayover2millionpeopleparticipate in YWCA programs atmorethan1,300sitesacrosstheUnitedStates.Andisin125countries around the world.

As a YWCA volunteer, you receive beneficial andlife-enrichingexperiences.

2012 WOA - purse AuctiON vOluNteers

2012 WOA - purse AuctiON vOluNteers

2011 purse AuctiON vOluNteers

GetInvolved

help us eliminate racism and empower women!

1. Become a volunteer – (for more details see the website: www.ywcaak.org) Volunteershaveanenormousimpactonthehealthandwell-beingofallourcommunities.AsaYWCAvolunteer,you

are an important member of the YWCA family and act as a representative of our organization to the community at large. We promise our volunteers:

• Beneficialandlife-enrichingexperiences.

• Orientationandgeneraltrainingsessionsplusanyspecializedtrainingforspecificjobs.

• Opportunitiesforprofessionaldevelopmentandsocialinteractionwithothervolunteers.

• Anopportunitytoplayanimportantroleinimprovingthequalityofpeople’slivesinandaroundtheAnchoragearea

• Specificjobdescriptionsdetailingdutiesandresponsibilities.

• Fun!

Contact eryn Kahler at 644.9600 to set up a time to come in and discuss the Volunteer opportunities available. it’s easy to support the YWCa. Membership levels range from $50 and up ($25 for students)! You can make a donation online at: www.ywcaak.org. or send a check to: YWCa, 324 e. 5th ave., anchorage, aK 99501.

2. donate It’seasytosupporttheYWCA.Membershiplevelsrangefrom$50andup($25forstudents)!Youcanmakeadonation

onlineat:www.ywcaak.org.Orsendacheckto:YWCA,324E.5thAve.,Anchorage,AK99501.

“ThankyoufortheinspirationthattheAlaskanYWCAprovidesthewomenofAlaska.”–RobertSmith

“YWCAAlaskainspireswomenandgirlstolead,mentor,andhelpbuildajust,inclusivecommunity.”–JulieVaree

“TheYWCAistheonlyorganizationthatrecognizesissuesaffectingwomenacrosstheglobe,thentakesaction.Itmakesadifferenceinthelivesofwomeneveryday.”–CharlotteFox

“YWCAAlaskahaseffectivelyworkedtoeliminateracismandtoempowerwomenforover20years!”–JoMichalski

3. attend an event or Class YWCA sponsors events and offers classes throughout the year. The public is invited to attend. Visit our online

calendar for schedules and descriptions at www.ywcaak.org

June Class schedule

6-SenshidoSelfDefenseClass

13-BrassTacksBusinessBasics

20-IncomeGenerationClass

27-BrassTacksBusinessBasics