Cases - YWCA "challenges, actions, results"

I have been and advocate and provided service for the YWCA since ’99. During the time I've invested in the shelter, I noticed many opportunities for improvements. The environment needed cleaned up, better supplies, staff listened to better, and opportunities for the families improved.

The environment/surroundings needs sprucing up, redesign the children’s area from being perceived as a “storage/babysitting area” to a “Learning Center”. I interviewed, listened, and amplified voices of staff who feared presenting ideas to leadership due to some previously established culture of people not listening. We are working on establishing a budget, reaching out for sponsorship and fundraising to more organizations, and working on providing more choices and opportunities for the mothers and their children. The schedule and how the hours are created for the staff also was something that workers needed their voice amplified for. I proposed ideas on how to manage their time and schedule better to make positive impact, and assist families more by utilizing the afternoons and field trips better.

The “Learning Center” is being revitalized with a new layout, and a design team has gotten involved to build a better environment. We are also working on a program called “Adopt a Classroom” to improve the supplies for learning in the classroom. We have presented the ideas and thoughts to members of the staff, and teamed up with the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Art Museum, the Freedom Center, the Reds, and the Bengals. The schedule is being assessed, and talks of establishing a budget and filtering money for the Children’s Program is also in the works.

“Than you, simply thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to listen, ask questions, and genuinely care” …we are stunned at all you do for positive impact" – Ada Nance, Child Advocate, YWCA "Thank you for your leadership" John Pepper, former CEO of P&G and the Freedom Center, Disney Board member