Celebrating International Women’s Day with YWCA Leaders
The YWCA movement is fueled by the determination, courage, and passion of women committed to the work of racial and gender equity. This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the YWCA movement by highlighting two of our local leaders - Kathleen Marker, CEO, and Rachel Grollmes, CSE Public Education Coordinator.
Last year, Kathleen Marker announced that she will retire from her position as CEO at the end of this month. After almost eight years as our fearless leader, we are honored to celebrate everything she accomplished in advancement of our mission to eliminate racism and empower women. In the last year alone, Kathleen oversaw a shelter expansion that will more than double our capacity to house survivors, the growth of our youth services program with the Top City Step Team, and introduction of a new and innovative program to address community violence in collaboration with key community stakeholders. But all this phenomenal work won’t stop Kathleen from filling in in the toddler classrooms during teacher breaks or spending time at the front desk, answering the phone and greeting clients and visitors.
Rachel Grollmes is one of our newest YWCA Northeast Kansas team members, joining us in June of 2023 as the Public Education Coordinator for the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment. She is originally from Topeka and graduated from Kansas State University in 2022. At YWCA, Rachel provides trainings, presentations, and resources to our partners in the community, including legal and law enforcement professionals. Within the YWCA network, Rachel is quickly making connections with colleagues throughout the country who are similarly committed to the work of supporting survivors and ending gender-based violence. In fact, she was recently named one of the members of the inaugural YWCA USA Emerging Leaders Program, a cohort of 44 young women, femmes, and nonbinary people across 30 YWCA local associations and YWCA USA, who have been selected for their desire to grow, learn, and foster meaningful relationships with fellow advocates.
Continue reading for some wisdom that our soon-to-be retired CEO and newest Emerging Leader have to offer for International Women’s Day.
What are some qualities of a good leader?
“A successful leader needs to be visionary, authentic, intentional, curious, willing to adapt and accept failure and be a good listener.” -Kathleen
Who is your favorite women’s history maker?
“Dorothy Height was an African-American civil rights and women's rights activist. She focused on the issues of African-American women, including unemployment, illiteracy, and voter awareness. In 1967, as a national board member of YWCA, she advocated for and put into action work around fair housing. She urged women to speak to real estate boards, mortgage companies, banks, and other lending agencies to implement existing fair housing laws and worked for the passage of laws in communities where none existed. In 1990 she was one of the founders that formed the African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom.” -Kathleen
Photo: Kathleen’s open door policy applies to YWCA team members of all ages!
What makes you feel powerful?
“Collective action makes me feel powerful. The time I have felt the most empowered is when I led chants at our Annual "Week Without Violence" March & Rally last Fall. There's nothing like hearing a crowd of people proudly shout ‘this is what a feminist looks like.’” -Rachel
What do you believe will helps us achieve gender equity?
“Communication creates our reality. Therefore the things we say are just as important as the things we do. I believe standing against rape culture - derogatory jokes, "boys will be boys," "locker room talk" - is vital to achieve gender equity. We may tend to brush off this behavior when we encounter it so that we can keep moving forward, but we cannot allow it. When someone thinks making a sexist or transphobic joke is okay, they may think it's also okay to physically assault someone. We all have a part to play in ending gender-based violence. It starts with us!” -Rachel
Photo: Rachel (front) with fellow CSE advocates at the Week Without Violence rally, October 2023.
How would you encourage others to celebrate Women's History Month?
“First, thank the women in your life who have changed you for the better and tell them why. Second, research something you're curious about regarding women's history.” -Rachel
“Lift up a woman who is making history today and shine a light on her. Even it's just telling her how much you admire her for the work she does.” -Kathleen
What are some challenges you have faced as a leader?
“Being in a leadership role for almost five decades, I've had many challenges. Misogyny in the 80s and 90s in a career path that was dominated by men meant I had to work harder and smarter. I learned that dumbing myself down so a male boss could feel less threatened was exhausting. So, I stopped doing that and just grew a tougher shell and learned to navigate not always being valued for what I brought to the workplace.” -Kathleen
Photo: Kathleen at the 2023 YWCA USA Conference, accepting the Association Award for Excellence in Advocacy.
What does the YWCA mission mean to you?
“Eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
When I read the YWCA mission and allow myself to sit with it, I can feel its power. To me, it feels like a rally cry, relentless and unwavering.” -Rachel
Photo: Rachel (left) with YWCA Volunteer Coordinator Alex Williams at a community event.