Changing patterns and perceptions.
“We really believe in breaking cycles, whether it?s the cycle of violence or the cycle of poverty. So we provide services that fall into four categories: family support, crisis intervention, careers and racial justice,” said Janis Harvey, chief executive officer of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, one of 300 in the country.
The $3 million-a-year organization?s family support program consists basically of two initiatives, Harvey said: a $150,000 United Way-funded outreach to help teen mothers hone transitional career, school and living skills, and another that provides custodial parents with classes ? and interim child care ? toward a general equivalency diploma and English language proficiency.
“We?re really delighted to have them as one of our partners,” said Penny Anderson, senior vice president for community impact for United Way of Central Maryland. “We?re particularly pleased with the multigenerational work they are doing [with teen mothers].”
Both programs ? each of which can handle up to 30 enrollees ? are sited at the nonprofit?s Odenton facility, but the 80-employee YWCA will send its career counselors almost anywhere at-risk clients designate in order to help with empowering skills acquisition.
“It?s very important for us to ensure that the women we work with ? whether in our safe houses or at the Odenton program ? have an opportunity to focus on career building,” Harvey said of the specialized training that touches some 50 enrollees a year.
In addition, according to the organization?s Web site, the YWCA?s crisis-intervention program offers a variety of trauma-related services, including around-the-clock hot lines for domestic violence and sexual assault, counseling, and a safe house for victims of domestic violence.
The nonprofit recently spearheaded a statewide race relations coordinating council, which, for 18 months, held sanctioned town hall meetings for Maryland communities concerned about hate crimes.
And it currently sponsors “discovery dinners,” repasts that bring people of diverse backgrounds together for dialogue about race relations.
“That?s part of [the YWCA] brand ? empowering women and eliminating racism,” said Harvey, who will oversee her organization?s first Coretta Scott King award in January. It goes to an individual and an organization that best exemplify the ideals of the wife of the slain civil rights leader.
At a glance
YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
1517 Ritchie Highway,
Arnold, MD 21021
410-626-7801; ywcaaac.org
