after a long struggle, YWCA is back on solid ground
From 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at Sam’s Town Casino & Hotel in Shreveport, YWCA will host the second fund-raising event since its rebirth – the Women Who Care Share luncheon.
The YWCA of Northwest Louisiana owes its very existence to the hard work of its board of directors.
Young Women’s Christian Association of Northwest Louisiana was almost a part of Shreveport’s history, rather than its present or future.
Now 91 years old, the organization that boasts its dedication to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all, seemed doomed just six years ago.
“We had some issues in 2010,” said board member Vivian Andrews. “We had to close the YWCA that served Northwest Louisiana.”
The vote was to dissolve the YWCA, but some very strong, dedicated women said no.
“We said we were going to build it back up, and this was the result of it,” Andrews said. “Our programs, services and operations were discontinued in 2010. We maintained our nonprofit incorporated status, settled all financial obligations, reassessed our purpose and developed a strategic plan to continue our mission in the community of Northwest Louisiana.”
Current board president Rachel Scott has been with the YWCA in some capacity since 1984, and she has seen things go from good to bad and most recently back to good.
“I worked at the YWCA from 1984 to 2004,” Scott said. “I was director of the Family Violence Program.”
She left in 2004, but as the YWCA faced the struggles leading up to 2010, Scott found she could not stay uninvolved.
In May 2010, the YWCA board contracted with Judi Bishop, retired executive director of YWCA Fort Worth, to implement a turnaround plan; however, by June, sufficient funds had not been raised, and the board voted to close the organization.
“Right before it closed in 2010, I was asked to assist in the turnaround that was just not successful,” Scott said. “The issues were too serious.”
However, she joined the board of directors at that time.
By July, all programs ended, although the corporation remained intact.
In an effort to settle its debts, in January 2011, YWCA listed the building at 710 Travis St. with an asking price of $550,000. One month later, before the building could be sold, YWCA’s bank filed a foreclosure on the property.
Around the same time, Wiseman Ministries proved to be a blessing for the organization by entering into negotiations to purchase the property. The end result was a contract for $400,000, and in May of 2011, YWCA began the process of settling its debts.
“We sold our building on Travis Street and took care of our financial obligations and rebuilt the YWCA and had our first fund-raiser last year,” Andrews said. “We raised about $40,000.”
Over the next year, board members sorted through building contents and records, storing financial and grant records, as well as historical and significant documents and memorabilia.
YWCA of NWLA bylaws were revised, finalized negotiations and payment of debt took place and future planning.
Over the next three years, YWCA continued efforts to regain its footing.
In spring 2014, YWCA began programming again by partnering with Shreveport Mayor’s Women’s Commission and La. Women for Progress for Celebration of Women Week, sponsoring three events during the week.
In May 2014, YWCA received a $25,000 grant from the Beaird Foundation, and the following month, Bishop was hired as acting executive director and moved into new office space on Line Avenue. The same summer, Diane Hawes became the new finance director, and by September, new program plans had been developed and YWCA was applying for grants.
By the beginning of 2015, the board hired a counselor for HOPE Connections to provide services for homeless women and soon after hired a coordinator to develop a teen program.
After years of hard work, the local branch of the YWCA is back in full swing, opening a new location at 850-B Olive St.
“We have no outstanding debt and are in good standing financially,” Andrews said.
From that time through the years, the YWCA has been one of the community’s most respected organizations. Scott said it has been a challenge to convince grant programs to support them, but the organization is bringing in a new director that she feels will restore the community’s confidence.
“Belinda Roberson is very familiar with nonprofits and how they work,” Scott said. “She has an MBA and Ph.D. in business with experience in marketing, public relations and a strong financial background.”
Programs and services offered are for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, women’s health, job training, early child care and many others, as well as supporting national and international efforts that embraced the mission of the YWCA.
The YWCA’s three areas of focus are financial literacy, which develops economic empowerment for women; legal services for women; and empowerment programming for girls, teens and women.
“We have a teen leadership program that teaches young girls everything from social media safety to finance to fearless leadership. They have mentors and such as that,” Andrews said. “Then we also have the Dialogue on Race series, where the community comes together to talk about race. We also have counseling and support for women who go through trauma.”
Scott said targeting young women – ages 12 to 15 – is a good way to ensure they won’t need more serious help later in life.
“We are talking to them about how to be empowered and look at your life and see yourself as someone with value and purpose,” she said. “We want them to make choices for their futures, even when they don’t think they have a future.”
There is no age limit for women who can be helped by the organization.
“We also have help for senior women to help them understand Medicaid and Medicare, as well as those who are victims of crime or exploitation, whether it be physical or financial,” Andrews said.
It helps support the YWCA’s $300,000 budget.
“We get grants from the Community Foundation, United Way, the Grayson Foundation and the Beaird Foundation,” Scott said. “And also personal contributions, but the foundation money is what has allowed us to really start building programs and services for women.”
Other significant funding comes from the Crime Victims Assistance Fund. It is federal money that is funneled through the state.
“We wrote a grant to work with women who have been victims of really any type of crime and are experiencing trauma and need counseling,” Scott said. “We are able to do that free of charge, and that is usually something that costs money, and so people don’t seek counseling when they really need it.”
In addition to Scott and Andrews, the board consists of Vice President Kristen Bernard, Treasurer Marsha Millican, Secretary Erin McCarty, members Danielle Brown, Marilyn Joiner, Judy Lenert, Josephine Miles, Michelle Perkins, Vita Riner, Jean Ware and Felicia Williams.
To attend Women Who Care Share as a sponsor or guest or to donate an auction item, call 550-4417. For more about YWCA of Northwest Louisiana, visit www.kintera.org.
– Bonnie Culverhouse
