Young Womens Christian Association Of Mankato

ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGINITY FOR ALL.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN 2021. THIS CONFERENCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO LEARN AND BUILD SKILLS AND VIRTUALLY NETWORK WITH OTHER AREA PROFESSIONALS. THIS CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON WOMEN BUILDING EACH OTHER UP.

IDENTIFY WITH THE CULTURES OF THOSE THEY SERVE, HAVING FIRSTHAND INSIGHT GUIDING THEIR CULTURALLY SENSITIVE APPROACH. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED WHENEVER POSSIBLE AS WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE IN TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, HONORING CULTURE AND HERITAGE, AND ENSURING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. PAT IS A LITERACY-BASED CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON THREE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION, DEVELOPMENT-CENTERED PARENTING, AND FAMILY WELL- BEING. EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS ARE WOVEN INTO ALL INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MEETING WITH FAMILIES. THE GOALS: - IMPROVED CHILD AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT - REDUCED RATES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - INCREASED SCHOOL READINESS - INCREASED PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S CARE AND EDUCATION - INCLUDING FAMILIES WHO HAVE RECENTLY SETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES IN BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES BY ENSURING THEIR FAMILIES ARE THRIVING IN A WAY THAT IS EQUITABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES AND ENSURING THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND READY TO LEARN UPON ENTRY INTO THE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUILD HABITS THAT LEAD TO A LIFETIME OF HEALTH. AT THE END OF EACH THREE- MONTH SESSION, THE GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN A GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K EVENT. THIS CELEBRATORY, NON-COMPETITIVE EVENT IS THE CULMINATING EXPERIENCE OF THE CURRICULUM. COMPLETING THE 5K GIVES THE GIRLS A TANGIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONFERENCE THAT COMES THROUGH ACCOMPLISHMENT, AS WELL AS A FRAMEWORK FOR SETTING AND ACHIEVING LIFE GOALS. CROSSING THE FINISH LINE IS A DEFINING MOMENT WHEN THE GIRLS REALIZE EVEN THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE. CAMP GOTR WAS LAUNCHED TO INCREASE OVERALL PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY AND PROVIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED GIRLS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT DURING NON-SCHOOL TIMES. THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE GIRLS IN 3RD THROUGH 5TH GRADE ACCESS TO QUALITY YOUTH PROGRAMMING, WHICH RESEARCH SHOWS IS IMPORTANT FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS: SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE AND SAFE SPACES FOR CHILDREN. IT WILL ALSO SERVE TO MAKE GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAMMING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO GIRLS WITHIN THE GREATER MANKATO AREA WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY NOT BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 10-WEEK SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM.

RACIAL JUSTICE & ADVOCACY PROGAMMING: IT'S TIME TO TALK WORKSHOPS ARE COMPRISED OF RURAL COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, EDUCATORS FROM VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO HOST THE ANNUAL IT'S TIME TO TALK (FORUMS ON RACE EVENT UTILIZING FACILITATORS EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY), THE RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMMING HAS 100 TRAINED FACILITATORS. IT'S TIME TO TALK: FORUMS ON RACE ARE IN THEIR FIFTH YEAR. AS OUR NATION, STATE, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THE CHALLENGE OF RACIAL EQUITY, AND THE YWCA MANKATO REMAINS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THIS VIRTUAL WORK.