YWCA Princeton is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Today,October14 ,isNationalVoterRegistrationDeadline.AtYWCA Princeton,civicengagementisattheheartoftheworkthatwedo. Fromengagingwithourelectedofficialstoletterwritingcampaigns withtheparentsofourchildcarecenter,ourworkreliesonthe strengthofourcommunity th
Asweapproachtwoweeksofafederalgovernmentshutdown,we knowtheessentialservicesthatareontheballotthisyear.Weseeit everydayinourearlychildhoodclassroomsasourscholarship waitlistdoublesduetolackofparentalsubsidyavailability Inthe openseatsinourESLprogramsasstudentsbecomemorefearfulof beingdetainedbyICE
YWCAPrincetonremainssteadfastanddedicatedtoeliminating racism,empoweringwomen,andpromotingpeacejusticefreedom anddignityforallnomatterwhoisourgovernor.Wehopeyoujoinus inprotectingthecommitmentsofourmissionandthefutureweare committedto creating
Yoursinsolidarity, RoseWong,ChiefExecutiveOfficer
In this newsletter you can expect:
Week Without Violence Webinar
Tribute to Women Nominations
Voting Checklist
A Plea to Undecided Voters
Darlene’s Experience as a Poll Worker
YWCA Updates Across New Jersey
What are you waiting for? A plea to undecided voters.
TheNewJerseygubernatortialelectionhasmadenationalheadlinesandfor goodreason.Thiselectionhaseverythingyoucouldwant;cheatingscandals, fingerpointing,federalfeuxpas,andevenNJ’sbiggestdebate-TaylorHamvs. porkroll.Ifyouownadeviceconnectedtotheinternet,chancesareyou’ve alreadymetthemajorplayers.TotheundecidedNewJerseyvoters,whatareyou waitingfor?Whatinformationdoyouneedfromthecandidates(includingVic Kaplan,Libertariancandidate,andJoanneKuniansky,SocialistWorkersParty Candidate)tohelpmakeyourmakeyourdecision?
HereiswhatIdoknow,notvotingisnotanoption,thereisfartoomuchon theline.Healthcare,affordability,housing,andeducationareallontheballotthis year.WhileIhopethatyouareregistered,beingaregisteredvoterisnotenoughin thiselection.Iurgeyoutoresearchthecandidatesandtheirstancesonissues thatmattermosttoyou.Whileyou’reresearching,makesureyoulookatyour localrepresentativestoo.WeknowGovernorMurphy’stermisending,butthere arehundredsoftowncouncil,boardofeducation,andmayoralseatstobevoted onthisyearaswell.Visitywcaprinceton.org/gotvtolearnmoreaboutsomeofthe candidatesinyourareaandlearnyourvotingrights.
Votingisanactoflove.Loveforyourcountry,foryourneighbor,andmost importantlyforyourself.Votingboothshaveprivacycurtainsforareason! ElectionDayistheLASTdaytovote,earlyvotingbeginsonSaturdayOctober25 . Takeyourtimeandbringyourinformeddecisiontoyourpollingplace,I’llseeyou there.
-Brigitte,DirectorofMissionAdvancement
Why I serve as a Poll Worker,
Withourdemocracyfacingincreasingchallenges,safeguardingthe integrityofourelectoralprocesshasneverbeenmoreurgent.Ensuring thatelectionsarefree,fair,andaccessibletoallisnotjustanideal,itisa responsibility.Attheheartofthiseffortarepollworkers.Theindividuals whostaffpollingsites,assistvoters,andhelpkeeptheelectionprocess runningsmoothlyandtransparently.
Forthepastfiveyears,I’vehadtheprivilegeofservingasaboardworker duringbothlocalandnationalelectionsinNewJersey.It’salongday.I usuallywakeuparound5:00AMtoreporttomyassignedpollingsite,and Idon’tleaveuntilaround8:30atnight.ButIgenuinelylookforwardtoit everytime.There’ssomethingmeaningfulaboutshowingupforyour communityinsuchadirectandpersonalway.It’sworkIcaredeeply aboutandfeelsgoodtobeapartof.
Since2020,Ihaveworkedinseveralpivotallocalandfederalelections, includingthe2024presidentialelectionbetweenDonaldTrumpand KamalaHarris.Eachelectionhasdeepenedmyappreciationforthe democraticprocessandstrengthenedmyconnectiontothecommunityI serve.It’sanexperiencethathasshapedme,notjustasacivic participant,butasaneighbor,acolleague,andanadvocate.
Oneofthemostrewardingpartsofbeingapollworkeristhe camaraderie.Youworkalongsidepeoplefromalldifferentwalksoflife, differentages,backgrounds,andexperiences.Andforthatoneday,you areallworkingtogetherwiththesamegoal:tohelpeveryeligiblevoter casttheirballot.Theteamworkisinspiring.It’salsohumblingtoseeso manypeopleshowup,readytogivetheirtimeandenergytosomething biggerthanthemselves.Itremindsmethatdemocracydoesn’tjust happenautomatically.It’ssomethingweallcreatetogether.
Overtheyears,I’veseenrealimprovementsinvotingtechnologyand proceduresthatmaketheprocesssmootherandaccessible.Thanksto trainingandhands-onexperience,I’velearnedhowtoassistvoterswith confidence,compassion,andcare.Everytimesomeonewalksthrough thedoor,maybeunsure,nervous,orvotingforthefirsttime,Idomybest tomakesuretheyleavefeelingrespected,empowered,andproudto participate.
Beingapollworkerisn’tjustabouthelpingpeopletovote.It’salsoabout buildingtrust.Whenvotersarewelcomedbyfamiliar,localfacesatthe polls,itsendsamessagethatthesystembelongstoallofus.Fromwhere Istand,asapollworker,avoter,andacommunitymember,Icansaythis worktrulymatters.It’smeaningfulanditmakesadifference.
InmyroleasEquityCoordinatoratYWCAPrinceton,civicengagementis atthecoreofwhatIdo.Ibelieveincreatingopportunitiesforpeoplewho showup,speakup,andtakepartinshapingtheircommunities. Democracyisn’tsomethingweparticipateinonlyonElectionDay.It’sa year-roundcommitmentandbecomingapollworkerisoneofthemost directandimpactfulwaystosupportthatcommitment.Youdon’tneedto beanexpert;youjustneedtocare.
So,ifyouarelookingforameaningfulwaytogetinvolved,Iencourage youtoconsiderbecomingapollworker.Youwillgainvaluable experience,meetgreatpeople,andknowthatyou’replayingarolein strengtheningourdemocracy.
Ihopetoseeyouatthepolls, -DarleneNawuridam,EquityCoordinator
ClickthelinkbelowtolearnmoreandapplytobeaNewJerseypoll worker!
https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/pollworker.shtml
impactsofracialtrauma.Congratulations totheNorthernNewJerseyteam,we cannotwaittoseetheliveschanged throughthisinitiative!
LearnMore: https://ywcannjorg/news post
YWCA Union County’s Has a New Home
WearethrilledtocelebrateYWCAUnion Countyandtheopeningoftheirnew building!Sixyearsago,theylosttheir shelterandofficebuildinginadevastating fire.Today,theyarebackandbetterthan everbeforereadytohelpthewomenthey servewithopenarms Learnmoreabout
Week Without Violence Webinar
October 24 , 12 pm th
WeekWithoutViolenceisanannualYWCAUSAcampaigndedicatedto girls,andfamiliesbyraisingawareness,centeringsurvivors,andadvo theme,*SafeBeginnings:ProtectingMothers,NurturingFutures*,hig formothersandchildrentobuildhopeful,healthierfutures YWCAPri generationalimpactofviolence,theimportanceofearlychildhooded childhoodexperiences(ACEs) FeaturingpanelistsfromYounityandS featureinsightsfromStartStrongNJ,emphasizinghowearlyinterven supportcanbreakcyclesofviolenceandcreatestronger,saferbeginn Registernow!
https://us02webzoomus/meeting/register/8cDgurbSS0K2iVGnthn7f
