Our Values
YWCAs have three signature platforms that support our mission: YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Our Priorities
The signature platforms are focus areas of YWCA’s collective mission impact work and include: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls and health and safety of women and girls. Achieving the signature outcomes in these three platform areas is done in a combination of individual or systems intervention, including direct services and programs, as well as issue education, advocacy and public policy.
Racial Justice & Civil Rights: YWCA increases the equal protection and equal opportunities of color.
Empowerment & Economic Advancement of Women and Girls: YWCA increases economic opportunities for women and girls of color.
Health & Safety of Women & Girls: YWCA improves health and safety of women and girls of color.
YWCA has long understood that all women cannot be empowered unless we address the issue of racism. This is why racial justice remains a significant priority in all of our programs. Racial justice is at the core of our work, because women of color and Native women are often the most marginalized, and the least access to resources. Racial justice work is more than a programmatic intervention, it is a guiding philosophy and practice that is incorporated into all of the work that we do.
Our fight for women is a fight for women of color, immigrant women, and Native American women. Further, YWCA has a broad and expansive view of gender justice that includes the experiences of LGBTQ+ people and those targeted because of their gender identity or perceived gender identity. At the core of the YWCA’s work is the recognition that all women, or all people, are not treated equally.
Our 2021-22 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President, Kaitlyn Sester (Evergy)
Vice President, Gina Millsap (Library Consultant/Executive Coach)
Secretary, Megan Schwerdt Williams (Schwerdt Contract Interiors)
Treasurer, Liz Steffen (Envista Credit Union)
Governance Chair, Paige Blevins (Security Benefit)
Board Members
Graciela Berumen (Kansas State University)
Cassie Weatherwax-Brack (Hill’s Pet Nutrition)
Ariane Davis (Ariane Davis Services, LLC)
Angela Lewis (Shawnee County)
Mallory Lutz (Little Government Relations)
Jaclyn Mullins (MCP Group)
Donna Rae Pearson (Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library)
Tara James-Wallace (Lighthouse TCO)
Lakeisha Williams (Bartlett & West)
Our Commitment
Your journey is our journey. We are supportive partners, eager and willing to be part of the journey and we consider the needs and viewpoints of all YWCA stakeholders.
We’ve got each other’s back. We share knowledge, life skills and guidance for those we serve through a supportive, organizational approach in a safe, nurturing environment. We value diversity and inclusion, approaching our relationships with dignity and respect.
Committed to community engagement and awareness, we are a visionary agency that builds relationships through collaboration and education.
Agile and adaptable, we are a resource that transforms unique challenges into opportunities.