Ywca Of Minneapolis

THE MISSION OF YWCA MINNEAPOLIS IS ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.

HEALTH & WELLNESS: THREE MINNEAPOLIS LOCATIONS PROVIDED STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS FACILITIES, SWIMMING POOLS, GROUP FITNESS CLASSES AND FITNESS COACHING FOR 11,500+ MEMBERS IN 2020-2021. IN ADDITION, 375+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN CLASSES AND CLINICS ON CPR, FIRST AID, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS, SWIMMING INSTRUCTION, PERSONAL TRAINING ENDURANCE SPORTS, AND OTHER SPECIALTY TOPICS TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING. IN LIGHT OF THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC, YWCA ADJUSTED ITS CLASSES AND PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL FORMATS SO THAT MEMBERS COULD ATTEND TO THEIR WELL-BEING DURING STRESSFUL TIMES. THIS SWITCH TO VIRTUAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS EXTENDED TO OUR ANNUAL WOMEN'S TRIATHLON. THOUGH NORMALLY HELD IN-PERSON EVERY AUGUST FOR MORE THAN 1,400 WOMEN AND GIRLS, IN AUGUST 2020, MORE THAN 100 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN YWCA'S FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL TRI FEST - THE MOST FLEXIBLE, ACCESSIBLE TRIATHLON OPPORTUNITY IN OUR HISTORY. AT YWCA A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTS THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE ACROSS CULTURES, INCOME LEVELS AND AGE. HEALTH & FITNESS SCHOLARSHIPS: YWCA MINNEAPOLIS MAKES FITNESS ACCESSIBLE BY OFFERING FEE-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL COST OF A MEMBERSHIP. IN 2020-21, OVER 300 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS' FITNESS MEMBERSHIPS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE): HIGH-QUALITY NATIONALLY ACCREDITED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED AT FIVE YWCA CHILDREN'S CENTERS ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES. IN 2020-21, 400+ CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO 12 YEARS OLD WERE SERVED. EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS PARTNERED WITH FAMILIES TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. OUR UNIQUE PLAY-BASED, ANTI-BIAS CURRICULUM INCORPORATES VALUES OF DIVERSITY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCORPORATED INTO EVERY PART OF THE DAY PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILLS. OUR CENTERS HAD INTERMITTENT BRIEF COVID-19-RELATED CLOSURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT FOUR OF THE FIVE CENTERS WERE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THE FIFTH CENTER OPENED IN JULY 2021. OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES: FOR CHILDREN IN CARE FOR SIX OR MORE MONTHS IN 2020-21: 85 PERCENT OF CHILDREN DEMONSTRATED AGE-APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS, AND 87 PERCENT OF PRESCHOOLERS MET RIGOROUS EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS INDICATING SCHOOL READINESS. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE A CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA) - A FOUNDATIONAL POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL FOR PURSUING A CAREER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THIS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES A PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATHWAY FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANTS - ALL LIVE IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, 80 PERCENT IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR, MOST WILL BE WORKING TO ENTER OR RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND MANY ARE SINGLE MOTHERS.

GIRLS & YOUTH: FIVE YWCA MINNEAPOLIS OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME AND SUMMER PROGRAMS PREPARE TWIN CITIES YOUTH TO BE LEARNERS, LEADERS AND CREATORS OF CHANGE SO THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS USE RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS, POSITIVE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. IN 2020-21, 500+ YOUTH WERE SERVED IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AT 20 MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND TWO YWCA LOCATIONS MOSTLY VIRTUAL. PROVEN RESULTS: IN 2020-21, 100 PERCENT OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS STATED THEIR INTENTION TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

RACIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC POLICY: THE RACIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM ENGAGES, CONNECTS AND LEADS THE COMMUNITY IN ELIMINATING RACISM. CREATING SPACE FOR MEANINGFUL AND OPEN DIALOGUE ABOUT RACISM AND PRIVILEGE IS THE CRITICAL FIRST STEP TO BUILDING AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE MOTIVATED AND EMPOWERED PEOPLE THROUGH PUBLIC FORUMS, COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS TO UNDERSTAND RACISM AND PRIVILEGE AND TAKE ACTION TO END RACISM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHERE THEY WORK AND LIVE. IN OCTOBER 2020, 1,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 18TH ANNUAL IT'S TIME TO TALK: FORUMS ON RACETM. INSPIRED BY THE KEYNOTE PRESENTATION, ATTENDEES ENGAGED IN FACILITATED DIALOGUES ABOUT EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT THEIR TABLE, LEAVING THE EVENT INSPIRED. THROUGHOUT 2020-2021, 1450 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE IT'S TIME TO ACT!TM FORUM SERIES EMPOWERING PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN DEEPER CONVERSATIONS AROUND RACE, EQUITY, FAITH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND CREATE PLANS TO TAKE ACTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. YWCA MINNEAPOLIS BELIEVES EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY. GROUND-BREAKING, CULTURALLY COMPETENT ADVOCACY STRATEGIES MOBILIZED 2,000+ PEOPLE TO BECOME INFORMED, REGISTER TO VOTE, BECOME ELECTION JUDGES AND TAKE ACTION TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN 2020-21. YWCA'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY HAS BEEN TO IMPROVE EQUITY AND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND AFTERSCHOOL GIRLS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR ALL MINNESOTA CHILDREN. THROUGHOUT 2020-21, YWCA ADVOCATED FOR THIS AGENDA EDUCATING AND ORGANIZING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC TO TAKE ACTION.