Sunday, November 27, 2022 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 6 Moving women and families from surviving to thriving There is no doubt that the last couple of years of the COVID-19 pandemic have been filled with unforeseen challenges and injustices for our region and our neighbors. Through it all, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish has remained open, providing emergency shelter and housing to many in need, delivering meals to families facing food insecurity, supporting parents and students when classes moved online, assisting renters at risk of eviction and much more. “We simply could not have met the community’s needs without a dedicated, diverse and skilled network of staff, elected officials, funders, donors and community partners,” says Maria Chavez-Wilcox, YWCA Chief Executive Officer. As an organization built on a legacy of women helping women, YWCA has been at the forefront of advocating for women’s advancement for nearly 130 years. They provide services and advocacy to support stable homes and economic advancement, reduce violence and improve health, and promote racial equity and social justice. The COVID pandemic further exposed the systemic flaws that require collective, immediate attention. For example: • Domestic violence deaths in King County quadrupled since 2019. • Communities of color, particularly women of color, had the highest unemployment rate in 2020. • Over the past six years, rents in the Seattle Metro area have increased 57%, while minimum wage only increased by 24%. • Over the last year in Snohomish County, the number of unsheltered children (18 and younger) increased 111%. • Women in poorer areas of King County are dying 14 years sooner than those living roughly 10 miles away. While these statistics are a momentary snapshot of our regional adversities, it is clear that circumstances have been trending in the wrong direction. When anyone in the community is hurting, it affects us all. Racial and gender inequity have real-life consequences in Seattle and throughout King and Snohomish counties. Changing systems is long, hard work. But every single day that antiquated policies and systems remain in Since 1894, YWCA Seattle King Snohomish has been on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. From Everett to Auburn, we run a network of community-based, culturally relevant programming that supports 7,000 people each year. Join us: ywcaworks.org. place, our neighbors face avoidable perils. Now more than ever, local women and families face unprecedented challenges trying to access affordable housing; mental and physical health resources; and stable, living-wage careers. Earlier in 2022, YWCA unveiled a new strategic direction. “We are doubling down on our mission to eliminate racism and empower women,” says ChavezWilcox. “Meaning, we will leverage our professional expertise, personal commitment, and program experience to elevate our voice and increase our impact by advocating for just policies and equitable legislation.” YWCA’s new strategic direction reflects the commitment to move the community from surviving to thriving, both in the current moment of PROVIDED BY YWCA SEATTLE KING SNOHOMISH YWCA envisions a healthy and joy-filled community transformed by racial and gender equity, where women and girls of color have equal access to opportunity and resources to pursue their full potential, which elevates the entire community. crisis and looking towards the future. YWCA works every day to deliver the tools and resources women and families need to survive. However, as the needs of our community grow— trapping future generations in cycles of poverty and inequity — we must acknowledge that it’s time to do more. We cannot merely stand by and only offer our services —we must also address the systemic issues that allow for these daily injustices. It’s time to change the policies and systems that put people at risk and ensure those who are furthest from equity have the opportunity to thrive in life. “We’re working towards a future where systems and policies are actually designed to support every person in our community and there is equitable access to the resources necessary for a safe and healthy life,” says ChavezWilcox. “This is a future worth fighting for, one that is guided by courage rather than fear.”
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