our voice
ywca metropolitan chicago
www.ywcachicago.org
fall/winter 2008
program highlights
YWCA helps single mother achieve goals
Imagine if you were four months pregnant
supporting your six-year old daughter and
you had just lost your job. Where would
you turn? What would you do? Faced with
exactly this situation, 27 year-old Kanika
Mohammad turned to the Economic
Empowerment Institute staff at the YWCA
Parks Francis Center.
five-months pregnant. Her reply was,
“Because my coach said I could!”
Cynthia was not going to let Kanika’s
pregnancy prevent her from achieving her
goals. At her encouragement, Kanika
applied for a job with the Chicago
Christian Industrial League and was
offered a position as an accounting clerk.
“When I came to the YWCA, I had
recently been laid off and was being
evicted from my apartment. My car was
about to be repossessed. My daughter’s
tuition was behind, and I was four-months
pregnant. The YWCA staff motivated me
to start looking for a job. They gave me
leads on job fairs and openings and
motivated me to go back to school so I
would have a better opportunity to find a
job,” said Kanika.
Kanika’s coach, Cynthia Young, helped
her map out her goals and break down
barriers that stood in her way. After a
few weeks of receiving coaching
services, Kanika’s mother asked her why
she was trying to get a job when she was
“When I met with Kanika I saw a strong
young woman that really wanted to change
her life, not only for herself but for her
children. I felt it was important for her to
understand that she could overcome any
obstacle that stood in her way. All she needed
were the tools and support to get back on her
feet, and I am so proud of her early
achievements in our program,” said Cynthia.
Kanika explained that some of her biggest
obstacles have been her financial situation
and the birth of her two children.
“I have always put my children ahead of my
own needs which sometimes meant working
a full-time job in addition to taking on a
second job, which stopped me from going
to school in the evenings,” she said.
Economic Empowerment Institute client Kanika
Mohammad and her family visit the YWCA Parks
Francis Center
Today, Kanika says her goals are to complete
her college education and earn her bachelor’s
degree in accounting. She would like to
pursue a career as a forensic accountant.
Most importantly, she would like to provide a
stable environment for her children so they
can accomplish their life goals.
continued on page 2
Public speaking with professor Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow
Professor Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow, Founding General Manager of WYCC-TV/PBS and Distinguished Professor
Emeritus of Wright College in Chicago, is an author, public speaker and award-winning educator and
broadcaster. She has published her nonfiction stories and essays in anthologies, magazines, newspapers
and online magazines. Her story The Revolving Door is published in Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's
Soul. Visit Elynne at http://lookaroundme.blogspot.com.
Dear Elynne,
My boss recently asked me to speak on behalf
of my organization at a seminar to more than
200 people. I have never been a fan of public
speaking and get nervous even speaking in
small groups. Can you please share some
tips or suggestions for how I can prepare and
present without letting my nerves show?
A poll was taken of the American public
asking people to identify their major fears. In
the results, death was #2 and public speaking
was #1. People feared public speaking over
death! So you are not alone being afraid.
Public speaking is an experience that results
in the creation of a public/professional self,
more confidence, poise and personal pride.
The first goal is to practice. This is
required to gain confidence. You must learn
your speech. Do not memorize it word for
word because in doing that you might
forget one word and then blank on the
entire speech. Rather, learn the concepts
you want to present. Extemporaneous
speaking is your goal. You must never read
your speech.
Eye contact is the second goal. Work the
room with your eye contact making sure
you look at everyone. Practice this in
rehearsal. Do not speak into a mirror.
Rather, set up objects in back of the room
and look at them as you will eventually
look at your audience during the speech.
The third goal encompasses the
performance skills you must use such as
volume and projection, poise, effective use
of gestures and the elimination of vocal
pauses such as “um,” “ah” and “like.”
Your audience needs to hear you. Project
your voice toward the back of the room.
Poise involves showing the public self
before an audience and keeping your inner
continued on page 2
Inside...
>> Advocate helps the YWCA offer survivors opportunities
for creative expression, healing
>> We ask, “If you could offer advice to the
president-elect, what would it be?”
YWCA helps single mother, continued from front page
“Two of my biggest accomplishments have
been my children. My six year-old is in
second grade and currently works on third
grade math and reading. My newborn is a
thriving and healthy baby. My third
accomplishment was the ability to bring
myself up from rock bottom and
re-establish myself without needing
anyone’s financial assistance,” said Kanika.
After completing her time at the YWCA’s
Economic Empowerment Institute, Kanika
hopes to secure a sense of financial
stability so that she can not only keep her
head above water, but have a savings
account and establish a career path rather
than just working at a job. Recently, Kanika
earned a full-time job with ABJ Community
Services as their staff accountant.
“At the YWCA, I do not feel like someone
is pushing me into a direction that they
feel is right. They allow you to make
decisions and choices that you want to do.
They are your backbone. The YWCA has
helped me to access resources that I would
not normally have access to,” said Kanika.
The YWCA Parks Francis Center’s Economic Empowerment Institute currently
works with 24 clients between the ages of
18 to 40 earning between $10,000 and
$30,000. The staff at Parks Francis know
there is more work to do. To learn how
you can get involved with Aspire. Believe.
Thrive. The Campaign for the Model
YWCA to help clients like Kanika, please
visit our campaign website at www.modelywca.org. Together we can continue to
make a difference.
Public Speaking with Elynne, continued from front page
fears and nervous habits private. Remember that an audience sees only what you
allow them to see. While your private self
is nervous, your public self can look
confident and poised.
Keep gestures natural. Do not overuse
hand movements.
Vocal pauses should be silent. Swallow
them as you are about to say them.
These performance skills will not only get
you through public speaking experiences,
but also will help you in your personal and
professional lives to demonstrate the best
of yourself.
YW women on the move
In her own
words
We asked three YW
women, “If you could
offer advice to the
president-elect, what
would it be?”
“I would advise
the presidentelect to make a
real effort to have
equal representation of women
and men in all of
his appointments
while in office.
Women need greater representation
in Washington.”
Abby McIntosh, YWCA Intern
“I would advise
the President to
surround himself
with intelligent
and loyal people
that are committed to creating
positive change
for America.
Given the current circumstances,
finding a solution for the war and
improving our economic conditions
should be a priority.”
Tanisha Pleasant, YWCA supporter,
Event Services Manager, University of
Chicago
Rachel Caidor has been promoted to Coordinator of Crisis Services.
Rachel has been a member of the Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline staff for
seven years.
Delia Coleman was promoted to Government Relations Officer.
Previously, Delia served the YWCA as the Manager of Board Relations
and Advocacy Programs.
Joanna Grabenhofer has been promoted to CCAP Specialist II at the
YWCA’s West Suburban Center. Her previous position was CCAP
Specialist I.
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“I would tell the
President to keep
an open mind
and continue to
grow. Do not
become so
engulfed by ego,
power and bad
politics that you cannot see the truth
or what is best for the people.”
Jessica Hercule, YWCA volunteer,
student Miami of Ohio University
Tonya Gross has been named Community Technology Center
Coordinator at our Parks Francis Center. Tonya was previously a
member of the YWCA’s Talent, Performance and Leadership team.
Our Voice, the newsletter of YWCA
Metropolitan Chicago, is published
three times a year.
Simone Travis-Tate will now serve as the YWCA’s Empowerment
Coach at the Parks Francis Center. Simone held a previous position as
Client Relations Specialist.
Write to us at:
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
360 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60601
E-mail: ourvoice@ywcachicago.org
or call 312.762.2723
Advocate helps the YWCA offer survivors
creative expression, healing and support
Art therapy is a creative process that helps
survivors of assault cope with their experience. Jean Cozier, survivor of sexual
assault and founder of the Judith Dawn
Memorial Fund, believes that art allows
survivors to heal, empower themselves
and articulate their feelings through
creative expression.
Jean serves as a vocal advocate for sexual
assault programs. She became
interested in partnering with the YWCA
after a colleague suggested she get to
know the organization. She was impressed
with the YWCA’s variety of therapy
“
When you are
violated at a young
age, it kills something
inside you. Creating
art helps you recover
pieces of you that
were destroyed.
“
programs, including art therapy. The
YWCA’s art therapy program is based on
the belief that healing from a traumatic
event can occur more quickly when the
creative process is used.
thing inside you. Creating art helps you
recover pieces of you that were
destroyed,” she explained.
Jean, along with the YWCA, co-sponsored
Inside Out, which was created to give
survivors of interpersonal violence a space
to express themselves and educate the
community. The art exhibit consisted of
more than twenty paintings and mixed
media messages by six artists.
Guests enjoy the art collection at Inside Out event.
“I’ve been working with programs like the
YW’s for the past 10 years. Art therapy is
a tool. Children can draw what they can’t
talk about but it is harder for adults. My
programs have a strong emphasis on
helping adults,” Jean said.
The Judith Dawn Memorial Foundation
provides financial support to rape and sexual abuse survivors who wish to pursue the
creative arts as a means of healing,
empowerment and self-expression. Jean
started the organization in memory of her
cousin, Judith. The organization has been
successful in distributing awards to more
than thirty survivors, totaling over
$50,000.
“Creativity is in you early. When you are
violated at a young age, it kills some-
“I saw women trying to grow beyond a
survivors group and move toward an artist
cooperative. When I
learned about an
event the YWCA
was sponsoring, I
was interested in
helping,” said Jean.
“I love the YW
mission. If you heal
women and
children that have
Artwork on display.
been abused, that
goes toward the YWCA’s mission
to empower women.”
For more information about the YWCA’s
Sexual Violence and Support Services
programs, visit us at www.ywcachicago.org.
advocacy in action
New racial justice and activism
associate director brings mission to life
By Vickie Sides
Many important organizations have been
developed to address the needs of people
in crisis, and the work of these
organizations is vital and valuable.
However, the most effective organizations
understand the work to serve people in
crisis must be done concurrently with the
work to determine what conditions exist
or fail to exist.
When I first stepped through the front
doors of the YWCA some eleven years
ago, what I remember most is the mission
and vision of the organization prominently
displayed above the receptionist at the
front desk. This public pronouncement of
the mission and values that guide the work
of the organization impacted my decision
to become a part of the YWCA as much as
anything else.
I have always understood that the very
same conditions of inequality that serve
to justify and perpetuate violence against
women, are the very same conditions of
inequality that advance thinking and
practices that value human beings
disparately based on race, ethnicity,
culture and religion, among other things.
As we move forward to create new
programming in the Center for Racial
Justice and Activism, we will do so by
interrogating disparities and focusing on
systemic change to create a more just and
equitable society. In our first year, our
goals include: forming an Advisory
Council to the Center, launching the
Racial Justice Scholars program,
expanding our current curriculum for a
broader audience, developing an online
racial justice training curriculum,
identifying effective assessment
tools for our products, creating a library of racial justice
resources, and producing the YWCA’s
annual Day of Commitment to Eliminate
Racism event.
I look forward to working with all of our
internal and external constituencies in
achieving our goals.
Vickie Sides was recently featured in
Windy City Times as the YWCA’s new
Associate Director of Racial Justice
and Activism. To view the article,
please visit our press room at
www.ywcachicago.org.
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events at the ywca
NEW GROUND
BREAKING
YWCA’s 36th annual Leader Luncheon event a success
On Thursday, October 23, 2008, YWCA
Metropolitan Chicago celebrated the
ground-breaking professional and
personal accomplishments of local
women at their annual Leader Luncheon
event. The YWCA honored five
outstanding women of achievement for
their accomplishments in their individual
fields. More than 1,100 guests attended
this year’s Leader Luncheon.
Congratulations to the following women
for their Outstanding Women of Achievement Awards: Mary Dillon, Business
Award; Dr. Funmi Olopade, Racial
Justice Award; Chinwe Onyeagoro,
Promise Award; Lori Healey, Community
Leadership Award; and Alpana Singh,
Arts and Culture Award.
1
2
3
4
1- (Top left to right) Chinwe Onyeagoro,
Dr. Funmi Olopade, Mary Dillon,
Lori Healey, Alpana Singh.
2- (Left ro right) Dorri McWhorter, Elsa Lynch
and Yasmin Bates-Brown served as the 2008
Leader Luncheon Co-Chairs.
3- Alpana Singh accepts her award and
speaks about her career.
4- (Left) Dr. Funmi Olopade accepts her
award from (Right) Emilia DiMenco
of Harris Bank.
Happy Holidays
from the YWCA!
TechGYRLS teach
brothers computer
skills
This summer the TechGYRLS
had a unique opportunity to
teach their brothers about some
of the projects they worked on
over the summer. The girls
enjoyed showing their brothers
how to use the logic puzzles,
build robots and animate
weather projects.
TechGyrls students help their brothers build robots.
TechGYRLS
participate in the
CyberCamp
The TechGYRLS participated in
the CyberCamp Summer Reading Challenge, which encouraged girls to read and submit
virtual book reports customized
in Microsoft Word.
Kendron Stoklosa, winner of the summer reading
challenge, teaches her brother computer skills.
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Kendron Stoklosa, age 10, won
the summer reading challenge.
She submitted three reports
complete with animation and
integrated photos of the book covers. Congratulations, Kendron!
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
would like to thank you for your
support this year. With your help,
we have opened our first new
Model YWCA, provided a more
holistic approach to serving our
communities, and empowered
women to become economically
self-sufficient. We couldn’t have
done it without our dedicated
volunteers and donors, and we
are so grateful for your time, talent
and resources. We hope you
have a wonderful holiday season.
To learn more about how you
can make an end-of-year gift to
the YWCA, please visit
our website at
www.ywcachicago.org.