Women in Business - Women of Achievement - 2016

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YWCA Kitsap grounded in its mission to help women Congratulations to our 2016 YWCA Women of Achievement honorees. Now in its 27th year, the Women of Achievement Awards have been given a bit of a makeover. There is now formal criteria that nominees must meet, and specific descriptions for each category. A YWCA of Kitsap County Woman of Achievement inspires others. She has achieved outstanding success in her field by breaking new ground or old barriers; showing vision, creativity and initiative; being a leader and a role model; and making an impact in Kitsap County. Our categories this year include Arts/Culture/Design, Business/ Finance, Community Champion, Education/Training/Development, Environmental Sustainability, Health/ Wellness, Nonprofit, Public Service, and a new category of Outstanding Workplace. Each of the winners are extraordinary women and each are delighted to help support YWCA of Kitsap County. Like the Women of Achievement Awards, the YWCA of Kitsap County has gone through its own makeover this past year. The result is that YWCA Kitsap County is now re-grounded in

YWCA Kitsap Executive Director Denise Frey its mission and identity as a YWCA. As I often remind YWCA staff and volunteers, “YWCA is not simply a social service organization. We are a social change organization.” Our mission, “To eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice,

freedom and dignity for all,” is our cornerstone. It guides our work, whether it be local, state, national or international. For more than 150 years, YWCA has been at the forefront of the most critical social movements — from civil rights to affordable housing and pay equity, to violence prevention and health care. YWCA is one of the top 25 charities in the United States, with total revenues of over $775 million. We are part of a national and international movement, serving more than 2 million in the United States and 25 million worldwide in 120 countries. And yet, YWCA remains each community’s best kept secret. The work of YWCA is often hidden and difficult to talk about. YWCA is the largest provider of domestic violence services and one of the largest providers of child care in the country and yet we’re still confused with the other “Y.” I often joke, “We’re the one without the pool.” YWCA works every day to eliminate racism and empower women. The work we do in the 220 local YWCA associations throughout the country informs our social policy agenda on the national level. Through advocacy

and local programming, we create real change for women, families and communities. Here in Kitsap County, YWCA “works to ensure the personal safety, rights, welfare and dignity of those who experience domestic violence while building partnerships and increasing community awareness to create positive social change.” Yes, that means we provide vital services to families caught in the cycle of domestic violence. But that also means that we work with others to change the world in which those families live. As we celebrate our 2016 YWCA Women of Achievement, I ask you to join us in our mission. Be a part of an organization with a proud history looking forward to an even stronger future. By supporting the YWCA, becoming involved as a volunteer or writing a check, you’ll be joining a national movement to “eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” You’ll be changing the lives of those who are the most vulnerable in Kitsap County —- and changing the world in which they live. — Denise Frey, executive director, YWCA of Kitsap County

Mom of two helped by YWCA Kitsap domestic violence programs By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

It happened on Father’s Day 2015. That was the day that Karen decided she’d had enough. Karen had lost custody of her baby when he was born because she and her boyfriend were struggling with drug addiction. That was “the bottom” for Karen, but not for her boyfriend. When she confronted him about his continued drug use, “He came at me and he hit me, split my head open and gave me a black eye.” Karen found temporary shelter at a homeless shelter and discovered she was pregnant again. She was able to move into the YWCA ALIVE shelter, where she made connections with a number of other YWCA programs that helped her begin the path to a better life. One thing was clear: Karen wanted

to get her son back and provide a home for him and the daughter she was now expecting. Her commitment meant routine drug testing, participating in drug rehabilitation treatment, weekly meetings with a social worker, attending AA meetings, and weekly support groups with other domestic violence survivors. The YWCA also helped her with her legal needs. She was able to get a protection order with the help of the legal advocates at the YWCA so she would have legal remedies if her abuser tried to contact her. “They went to court with me and they did everything possible to help me,” she said. And, when she went into labor much too early, the YWCA advocates were there to help her get to the hospital for an emergency C-Section. After she was

released from the hospital, she started hemorrhaging and had to be rushed back to the hospital for emergency surgery. The YWCA again stepped up to help and made sure she knew she was not alone. Four months later, Karen has been able to get an apartment with a Section 8 voucher through the YWCA and Bremerton Housing Authority. She and her children now live together. Her daughter is four months old and her son is 1. A case worker checks in frequently. Looking back, Karen said she knew her children’s father was abusive. “I ignored it, thinking one day he’d change,” she said. “And at that point, I didn’t think I was worth anything.” But as the verbal, mental and physical abuse continued, she decided to get out for her own sake and for her children.

“I didn’t want them growing up in an environment with all that yelling and screaming,” she said, noting that she had been in a similar environment as a child and teenager. She will finish her drug treatment in August and, by September, her CPS case will be finished. She plans to stay in her apartment until she can rent a small house on her own. And she is looking at possible career choices. She previously worked as a medical aide and administrative assistant. “I love working with children, the disabled and the elderly,” she said. “But because there’s now a record of my child being removed, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to do that again.” Ultimately, she wants to get off of SEE DV PROGRAMS, PAGE 3

A SUPPLEMENT OF THE BAINBRIDGE ISLAND REVIEW, BREMERTON PATRIOT, CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER, NORTH KITSAP HERALD, AND PORT ORCHARD INDEPENDENT


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