onegreater los angeles

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

pg 2 Programs Mid-Year Review: Sexual Assault Crisis Services

WHAT’S INSIDE

pg 3 Programs Mid-Year Review: Child Development & Senior Engagement

Summer 2015

Welcome to ONE VOICE,

ONE MOVEMENT,

ONE VISION.

pg 4 Digital Learning Academy Update

pg 6 Meet Victor Abadia

Special Edition: Mid-Year Impact ReportThe YWCA Greater Los Angeles Programs team led by Sharon Shelton, Vice President Empowerment Services, works to provide much-needed, relevant programs and services to the community. We focus on breaking down barriers to self-reliance and strengthening communities and families. The following report is a mid-year review, looking back over the accomplishments within our four main programs: Workforce Development, Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Child Development and Senior Engagement.

Workforce Development: One goal of the program is to

provide tools needed to build work and leadership skills while assisting participants in securing new careers through teaching and training various skills. During the first half of 2015, we officially unveiled the Digital Learning Academy. In March 2015, the first group of students began studies in the new Digital Learning Academy program. In less than seven months, this first class of students will graduate with skills in graphic communications, print production, 3D printing and coding. They will have the potential to earn upwards of $60,000 per year upon completion of the academy. Additionally, we are excited to be working with various partners who plan to offer employment to students upon graduation.

pg 5 2015 Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon

pg 8 Save the Date: 2015 Rhapsody Ball

Supervisor Gloria Molina Community Empowerment Center Graduation

Mid-year impact report continued on page 2 and 3.

PAGE 2

Dear Friends of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles:

If you have ever

visited one of our

locations, you will

have witnessed a

dedicated team,

moving through

much-needed work with passion and precision.

Whether shaping and guiding the minds of

preschoolers, counseling a victim and creating a

safe place for healing, pouring into youth with

dedication to their future, or listening to life

stories of our seniors who are cared for, valued,

and respected, our team creates and encounters

life-changing moments every day. I only wish we

could capture all of these stories and share them

with you!

In this newsletter, we strive to share an

overview, a mid-year review of our YWCA

Greater Los Angeles programs, of this great and

necessary work. We want to give you a glimpse

and some highlights of where we have been thus

far in 2015. Please join with us and partner to

create a better tomorrow for our community.

Sincerely,

Faye WashingtonPresident and CEO YWCA Greater Los Angeles

PAGE 3

We create a safe spacThis accomplishment directly speaks to one of the YWCA

Hallmark Programs, Economic Empowerment. “Families cannot thrive on minimum wage thus opportunities for solid careers are important for individuals. With the Digital Learning Academy, we are training for the future and actively addressing the skills gap in today’s workforce. This academy not only educates and places students into careers but also addresses the employer’s needs,” expressed Faye Washington, President and CEO. Sexual Assault Crisis Services:

We provide comprehensive crisis intervention services 24 hours a day to survivors of sexual violence to help them recover and cope with the traumatic experience. Recently, we addressed the issue of sexual violence on college campuses. Expanding on a strong relationship with California State University Long Beach, we opened a fifth satellite office on the campus in 2015. Housed within the Women’s and Gender Equity Center at California State University Long Beach, the Campus Victim Advocate will provide services to individuals impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. This partnership was cemented by the award of a grant from the California Office of Emergency Services Campus Sexual Assault Program. The YWCA Greater Los Angeles and California State University Long Beach were one of only two recipients in the entire state. During the California State University Long Beach

President’s Commission on the Status of Women Research Colloquium April 2015, we were honored for these efforts. YWCA Greater Los Angeles Sexual Assault Crisis Services was also honored in April 2015 by the Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s office due to involvement with the Diversion Program and efforts to assist victims of domestic human sex trafficking. Child Development:

YWCA Greater Los Angeles provides quality early childhood services comprised of age appropriate, highscope curriculum which employs a ‘whole child’ approach to teach academic skills while enhancing self-esteem, discipline, and conceptual communication skills. Within the first sixth months of 2015, program staff worked to achieve a significant accomplishment. At our YWCA Greater Los Angeles six Child Development locations, services were provided to 300 children annually. The team has worked to increase that number by 100 children annually – now totaling 400 and meets the licensing capacity based on square footage. To obtain the additional slots, the team completed a stringent application process. This means more parents can go to school and work and be confident that their children are in a safe, nurturing environment. This year, 123 children are graduating from the various sites and will be transitioning to Kindergarten. Children who are entering Kindergarten scored high on their entrance exams to public school. The staff has been working to enhance the curriculum further and will incorporate the American Society for Quality’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math curriculum with new Desired Results Developmental Profile monitoring tools in the fall of 2015. Senior Engagement:

Our goal is to enhance seniors’ quality of life by promoting a healthier lifestyle, increasing socialization and decreasing isolation. The YWCA Greater Los Angeles staff strives to create a sense of community by providing

educational workshops, offering opportunities for exercise, and hosting socialization events. The Senior Engagement program has expanded its efforts to the Supervisor Gloria Molina Community Empowerment Center to offer life-enriching opportunities to seniors including affordable meals, educational trips, and social engagement opportunities. In May 2015, the Senior Engagement program was honored with a certificate from Los Angeles Unified School District for a fraud prevention course that was presented to seniors. Thus far in 2015, partnerships with the Alzheimer’s Association and San Gabriel Valley Interval Senior Services Case Management have further promoted the program’s mission and goals by providing educational seminars and additional assistance such as housing/utility assistance and home-delivered meals. Additionally, thousands of affordable lunches have been served at the various YWCA Greater Los Angeles Senior Engagement locations year to date.

Candis Simmons from YWCA Greater Los Angeles at California State University, Long Beach pictured

with students bringing awareness to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking on campus.

Mid-year impact report continued.

Sheetal Chib, Director Sexual Assault Crisis Services at YWCA Greater Los Angeles filmed by California State University, Long Beach about sexual assault services on campus. The segment will air towards the end of the month.

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

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On May 13, 2015, YWCA Greater Los Angeles held the 2015 Phenomenal Woman Awards

Luncheon, at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Bonnie Tiegel, Entertainment Tonight/Insider Senior Producer, received this year’s inaugural Phenomenal Woman Media Award; Congresswoman Maxine Waters received the 2015 Phenomenal Woman Legacy Award; and Supervisor Hilda Solis received the 2015 Phenomenal Woman of the Year award. Attendees also enjoyed listening to guest speaker, Dallas Fowler, Commissioner Delegate, City of Los Angeles.

Mistress of Ceremonies, Christine Devine, a veteran television news anchor/reporter producer at KTTV, kicked off the event sharing, “My mother taught me to care about everyone. All lives matter.” Former Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart introduced Bonnie Tiegel before she received the inaugural Phenomenal Woman Media Award. Tiegel, who has been a senior producer for 20 years and has received four Emmys for her work shared, “Thank you to the YWCA Greater Los Angeles for this amazing award and thank you for all of the work you do all year round to empower women. I feel very lucky to be in the business of telling stories of people and their humanity. Not only are we here to entertain, but we also have a responsibility to educate and give meaning to people’s lives through the stories that we tell. I’m very proud of the work that we’ve done to help bring awareness to the issues of human trafficking and anti-bullying, and hopefully one day we’ll be able to tell the story on how we helped end both.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters was presented with the 2015 Phenomenal

Woman Legacy Award. Representative Waters is a trailblazer especially in workforce development and providing access for all youth. She has been an active supporter of women’s rights and has promoted change and innovation.

Faye Washington presented the 2015 Phenomenal Woman of the Year award, “Few words can describe this day and our honoree. We celebrate pioneers and innovation. Supervisor Hilda Solis, may all the love, heartfelt gratitude in this room follow this award into your hands.”

Several notable supporters of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles joined the event including Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Los Angeles’ first lady, Amy Wakeland. Guests enjoyed a heartfelt presentation of digital artwork accomplished by the Digital Learning Academy’s first class. Keynote speaker at the awards luncheon was Dallas Fowler, Commissioner Delegate, City of Los Angeles. She shared, “Every innovation starts with inspiration. We celebrate women who dare to think for themselves. We must prepare our girls from a technology perspective for the future. I challenge each person to be a bridge for the next generation.”

The Phenomenal Woman Awards is a signature annual fundraising event of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles, drawing Southern California’s top executives to salute the accomplishments of women leaders in the Los Angeles community. The event was sponsored by Edison

International, JP Morgan Chase, Union Bank and Toyota. Elite corporate sponsors also included Southern California Gas, Xerox Corporation, US Bank, Arthur J. Gallagher and Jenkins/Gales & Martinez Inc.

YWCA Greater Los Angeles extends its deepest appreciation and thanks to all those who participated for your tremendous support of 2015 Phenomenal Woman Awards luncheon. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit YWCA Greater Los Angeles programs and services.

Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon Honors: Entertainment Tonight’s Bonnie Tiegel, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Supervisor Hilda Solis

“It is encouraging to see how

eager and willing these students

are to work. This dedication fuels

our team. These are real people

working for real, attainable

goals,” continues Carter. “This

makes us realize the magnitude of

the work we are doing.”

On May 2015, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles officially unveiled the Digital Learning Academy during a ribbon cutting ceremony and offered tours to attendees.

This innovative partnership between the YWCA and Xerox provides training, hands-on experience, certification, and employment placement to an underserved youth population while offering a quality, low-cost printing solution for businesses.

“The first cohort of Digital Learning Academy students have completed section one of training which focused on graphic communications. Students now possess a business understanding of the field of graphic communications; basic processes such as finishing, binding, and distribution; health and safety in the workplace for graphic workers; as well as an overview of various printable materials,” explained Tasha Carer, Director, Digital Learning Academy. “Unlike many training courses, the students, now into section two of the training, are working hands-on applying their knowledge.”

The program consists of four intensive courses over 24 weeks. The students meet regularly with a placement coordinator who helps identify their strengths to place them successfully in the technology workforce. Upon completion of the program, each student will graduate with a certificate of completion from Xerox and YWCA Greater Los Angeles.

Thus far, the print shop has printed several jobs. The price sheet is set and the internal YWCA Greater Los Angeles team is approaching companies for print business. This social enterprise continues to allow true hands-on experience for the students. Several companies have committed to hire a certain amount of students per year upon graduation.

Digital Learning Academy Update

L-R: Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Mayor of Hawthorne: Chris Brown, Bonnie Tiegel, Mary Hart,

Faye Washington, Christine Devine and Dallas Fowler

L-R: Lisa Cagnolatti, Faye Washington, Diane Watson

and Eleanor Beasley

To support the work of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles visit: www.ywcagla.org

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yWca greater los angeles Empowerment Centers & Satellite Offices

Faye Washington youth empowerment center1020 South Olive Street Los Angeles, CA 90015Contact: (213) 365-2991

supervisor gloria Molina community empowerment center7515 Pacific Blvd. Walnut Park, CA 90255Contact: (213) 516-3575

Union Pacific empowerment center 4315 Union Pacific Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90023Contact: (323) 415-6057

Digital Learning Academy Studio Club Empowerment Center 1215 Lodi Place Los Angeles, CA 90038Contact: (213) 516-3557

angeles Mesa empowerment center 2501 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008Contact: (323) 295-4288

compton empowerment center 1600 E. Compton Blvd. Compton, CA 90221 Contact: (310) 763-9117

South Bay Sexual Assault Crisis Services920 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, CA 90813Contact: (562) 590-6400

California State University Long Beach YWCA GLA Satellite OfficeWomen’s & Gender Equity Center (WGEC), Room LA1-102University Police Department Substation (UPD), Room USU-2391250 Bellflower Blvd.Long Beach, CA 90840-1201Contact: (562) 985-2668

Felicia Mahood Senior Center11338 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028Contact: (323) 295-4288

north valley Infant learning center 11133 Omelveny AveSan Fernando, CA 91340Contact: (818) 365-7344

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Meet Victor Abadia Los Angeles Job Corps Center Director

In 2012, Victor Abadia joined the Los Angeles Job Corps team as the Director of Administrative Services. In the beginning of May 2015, Victor became the Director for Corporate Compliance at the YWCA Greater Los Angeles and he is now the Los Angeles Job Corps Center Director. Victor brings 25 years of experience in the private and

public sector working as an educator, consultant, and leader, nationally and internationally. Victor completed graduate, undergraduate, and post-graduate studies in Engineering, Education and Organizational Leadership.

Why does the mission of the YWCA resonate with you personally? Throughout my career, I have worked to provide opportunities to empower the underrepresented and level the playing field. I have a profound understanding of human psychology and economically challenged populations, because of this, I spent much of my life as an educator.

Why are you committed to your work at YWCA Greater Los Angeles and why is it important from the community’s perspective? I believe that the work the YWCA does is not only important but vital. It is our responsibility as individuals and organizations to provide the tools and services that they need to succeed in life to overcome barriers. When they succeed - their families and our society does.

What is something interesting about you that others might not know? I am quite a reserved person so it may come as a shock to people that I have a black belt in Tae Kwando. I always give 110 percent in any activity. As the result, I was asked by the school to teach. I taught 6 year olds all the way to adults. I taught for several years and this is part of the reason that I feel an affinity toward education.

YWCA Greater Los Angeles’ Board of Directors and Executive Team gather in Washington DC for the 2015 YWCA USA Annual Conference & Women of Distinction Awards Gala. — (Board of Directors: Eleanor Beasley, Trisha Muse, Patricia Reed-Cunningham, Alva Adams Mason, Diedra Porche’, and Michelle Isenberg; Executive Team: Sharon Shelton and Ruth Hern)

Time Warner Cable’s Local Edition anchor interviews YWCA Greater Los Angeles President & CEO Faye Washington to discuss the Digital Learning Academy, the digital divide and the empowerment of women.

north valley empowerment center1200 North Maclay Avenue San Fernando, CA 91340Contact: (818) 365-6881

yWca greater los angeles at Osborne12059 Osborne Street Sylmar, CA 91331 Contact: (818) 896-3322

greater los angeles

YWCA Greater Los Angeles 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 empower lives! Visit ywcagla.org/membership for more information.

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

Officers:Lisa D. Cagnolatti Board Chairwoman

Alva P. Adams-Mason

Board Vice Chair

Patricia Reed-CunninghamBoard Secretary

Gerald M. Ford Board Treasurer

Elected Members:Eleanor Beasley

Margaret Leong CheccaMarianne Ellis

Dr. Annalisa EnrileMichelle Isenberg

Amanda J. LeeTrisha MuseNicole Osby

Diedra Porche’

Faye Washington President and CEO

YWCA Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors

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

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