FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 30, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Masterton, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer
E-MAIL: heathermasterton@ywcagp.org CELL: 585-687-8319
Glendale and Pasadena, CA – YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley, two trailblazing gender equity and racial justice organizations in their communities, are officially joining forces. “In a year where women and girls were disproportionately impacted by the global pandemic, we understood the importance of streamlining operations and programming to address the unprecedented
demand for our services,” said Valerie Merritt, Board President of YWCA Glendale. “Together, we bring over 211 years of experience in advancing YWCA USA’s bold mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.” YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley will become a subsidiary of YWCA Glendale, and as the parent organization, YWCA Glendale has changed its name to YWCA Glendale and Pasadena. The two organizations will have fully integrated leadership, operations, and programming under Tara Peterson, Chief Executive Officer.
“I am excited to lead this next chapter in YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena’s history. This past year has posed many challenges and widening inequities in our communities – but it has equally presented many opportunities for creative and strategic collaboration to meet the needs of women and children. I look forward to working with community and government leaders in Pasadena to ensure the YWCA has a seat at the table in moving gender and racial equity work forward,” said Tara Peterson, CEO, YWCA Glendale
and Pasadena.
Since 2020, YWCA Glendale and YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley have jointly produced girls’ empowerment programs such as Camp Rosie: Girls on the Rise summer camp, Girls’ Circle afterschool program, and TechGYRLS’ STEAM workshops and a tutoring and mentorship program. These joint programs have served close to 200 girls from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, and surrounding
communities over the past year. YWCA Glendale’s Domestic Violence programs (serving survivors throughout Los Angeles County), Girls’ Empowerment, and Racial Justice programs will continue to operate from the Glendale location. YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley’s Girls’ Empowerment programs will continue to operate in Pasadena and its signature Women for Racial Justice Breakfast will continue
to be held each Fall. “The demand for our programs and services has never been greater,” said Angeline Chen, Board
President of YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley. “By joining forces in a long-term partnership, we will expand the reach and impact of our critical gender equity and racial justice work in Glendale, Pasadena, and beyond.”
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About YWCA Glendale: YWCA Glendale’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Their programs include a 24/7 Crisis Hotline, a 16-bed Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter, a Domestic Violence Community Services Center that provides case management, legal services, adult and child counseling, trauma informedchildcare, and housing navigation support, a Violence Prevention Education and Outreach Program, a Girls Empowerment Program that offers after school programming, summer camp and STEAM education workshops and mentorship, and the Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale. For more information, please visit: www.ywcagp.org.
About YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley: YWCA Pasadena’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. They undertake this mission by empowering girls to achieve their academic goals and by fighting racism in the Pasadena community. Their programs include a Girls Empowerment Program that offers after school programming, a summer camp and STEAM education workshops and mentorship, racial justice workshops, and the Women for Racial Justice Breakfast.