Early Monday morning, March 27, volunteers, community members and state representatives gathered at the State Capitol to celebrate “YWCA Day on the Hill.” The day started with a rally at 10 a.m. followed by meetings with state legislators. The YWCA also hosted a special audience with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
Spearheaded by the YWCA Minneapolis, the nonprofit’s representatives from all over the state came to advance YWCA bills and its mission to eliminate racism and empower women across Minnesota.
Some of the state officials who spoke at the rally included Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep. Matt Norris (DFL-Blaine) and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis).
The focus of the event was on how the YWCA facilitates its mission, from child care and health services to youth programs and public policy work. This rally offered the YWCA representatives another opportunity to engage and inform the state legislature and community about all the services provided by the YWCA.
Shana Dukes, “Miss Minnesota Volunteer 2023,” spoke with the MSR alongside YWCA board member Kim Ford, about why she decided to show up for the day.
“Since I started my reign as Miss Minnesota Volunteer, I’ve been doing some work with the YWCA Minneapolis, and a little bit with YWCA St. Paul, to get free little libraries out to the early childhood center. So, I really thought this was a fun opportunity to come out and really see all the people at one time. We’re all moving towards this great mission all together.”
Ford, who was planning to meet with State Senator Scott Dibble later in the day, mentioned her excitement about the occasion. “This is my first time doing this, so I am just super excited to be part of it and learning the process and understanding how it works. And the energy that you feel is palpable. As individuals, we can actually help make change, and I think that’s fantastic.”
Former State Representative Jeff Hayden also spoke with the MSR about his involvement with the YWCA, and why he continues to work with the organization and lobby for important changes at the state level.
“When I was in the legislature, I carried [the YWCA’s] bills, especially the Minneapolis’ bill on workforce development, which trains people who want to be in early childhood [education]. It gets them on a path to get their accreditation and, hopefully, their bachelor’s degree.
“So, I carried that bill for them. I also carried their capital investment bills. When I got out of the legislature and decided to start lobbying for folks. They were the folks that called me.”
Asked how community members can get involved with pushing legislation, Hayden said, “I think that [community members should] call your legislators, make sure that they know that [YWCA bills and initiatives are] important to [the community].
“The YWCA Minneapolis is a Black woman-led organization of the YWCA. St. Paul is a Black woman-led organization,” said Hayden. “And so, not to say that others aren’t, but in particular if we’re really wanting to support our organizations, this is the time to do it.”
The MSR also spoke with CEO and President of the YWCA Minneapolis Shelley Carthen Watson. Watson offered insight on the reason for the YWCA’s Day on the Hill: “Our mission is eliminating racism, empowering women, and there was a real need for effort on the statewide basis for legislation or policy changes that would allow us to do that.
“We have a chance to make some real change [this year]; we wanted to make sure that we didn’t let that opportunity pass. This is the time that all the YWCAs, and all of these organizations that serve women and children and families, to really step up and be seen and be heard.”
YWCA Minneapolis Racial Justice and Public Policy Vice President Angela Myles explained to the MSR what policies the nonprofit is pushing for at the statehouse. “We have been part of a number of coalitions that are focused on all things related to our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, including child care, girls, and youth programming.
“Also, [we are pushing bills on] infrastructure for our buildings,” Myles continued. “Our buildings have been mainstays in the community that we live in, and so we want to ensure that we have spaces for people to continue to come to and to stay open.”
When asked how community members can get involved, Myles and Carthen Watson noted several ways. Myles said, “There are a number of opportunities. We have a volunteer hub where you can find out about any and all things that happen at the YWCA in Minneapolis, in particular. We have volunteers. We need volunteers. We cannot do any of this work on our own as employees.”
Watson added, “I tell people that whatever it is you like to do, we can use it. So, if you’re in human resources, we have a lot of parents in our early childhood operation who are looking to advance themselves, to find employment that’s more stable, that’s more sustainable or has more of a future.
“If you want to come review resumes, help people apply for jobs, do mock interviews. We do grants all the time when we’re trying to tell our stories to people. Whatever it is you like to do, we can find a place for you.”
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