Tag Archives: News & Events

You make the holidays feel more like home

Every year, generous volunteers Adopt a YWCA Family to make sure everyone in the shelters has a beautiful season of peace and joy.

Also included are families involved in support group and LiNC life skills classes.

Clients with the courage to walk away from domestic violence often have little time to think about anything other than safety. They do their best to make the holidays special for their children, but funds can be sparse.

When you give to a child through the Adopt-a-Family program, you allow moms to focus on healing. Your compassion makes a safe, temporary shelter feel more like home.

Holiday deadlines*

  1. By Thursday, Nov. 21: Request a family.
  2. During the week of Thanksgiving: You will receive the family’s wish lists so you can begin shopping.
  3. Shop for list items or gift cards (usually about $75/person).
  4. Friday, Dec. 13: Drop off the unwrapped gifts at the YWCA, 213 S. First Ave.

    *We will continue taking applicants until all families are spoken for. Later requests will have custom deadline schedules.

After you sign up, YWCA staff members match a family to your budget and family size preference and provide sizes, favorite color, and a couple of wish list items for each family member

If you have any questions about the program, please call the office, 509-525-2570.

Domestic Violence Action Month (DVAM)

October is a time to reflect on the seriousness of intimate partner abuse and break the silence about violence. Check out October events below and get ideas for taking action.


Image asks what steps can be taken to prevent domestic violence? Oct 23-31 is the YWCA Week Without Violence. Saturday, Oct. 26 join us at Dayton's Flour Mill Park for a Community Prevention and Wellness Fair. Pick up your DV Awareness ribbon and learn more about services available in Columbia County

< Saturday, Oct. 26, 11am-1pm:
Join YWCA Columbia County at Dayton’s Flour Mill Park for the Community Prevention and Wellness Fair


Candlelight tribute 6:30pm at the YWCA

  • Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. at YWCA Walla Walla
Group of people walking with candles around the block of the YWCA shelter.

Walkers at 2023 gathering


Meet at noon, Heritage Park: Take Steps to Stop Domestic Violence

Thursday, Oct. 24, Noon: Meet at Heritage Park downtown and Take Steps to Stop Domestic Violence.

Passerby stops to add flowers to a domestic violence memorial, a brief narrative with two shoes on top to represent a life lost.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, we’ll remember lives lost in 2023 in Washington State.

Each year we remember the women, men, and children whose lives were lost to domestic violence in the previous year during the YWCA Week Without Violence. Meet us at Heritage Park at noon, and we’ll walk to the County Court House remembering these losses along the way.

Get in the spirit by wearing purple, the color of domestic violence awareness. Or make a sign to carry with an anti-DV message (the links here might give you inspiration).

A  group, most wearing purple and some holding signs, stand in front of the courthouse listening to inspiring words about stopping domestic violence.

Join a discussion group

DV IN BOOKS AND MOVIES


Social media is teeming with talk about domestic violence, thanks to the recent movie based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel It Ends With Us.

YWCA staff members are wondering if there is community interest in a YWCA-hosted discussion of the book or film. If you are interested, please let us know by October 19 so we can include you in our plans. We can have Advocates on hand to address myths and facts about intimate partner violence and join us to discuss Hoover’s and the film’s depiction.

If you’d prefer a nonfiction exploration of the topic, journalist Rachel Louise Snyder’s No Visible Bruises is the YWCA Board fall book club pick.


Self-care Saturday

Saturday, Oct.26

Download the Tiny Survival Guide from the Trauma Stewardship Institute for some self-care ideas to get you started.

Are stress and trauma causing or depleting your mental energy? The Trauma Stewardship Institute has a tip sheet for decision fatigue and cognitive overload.

Download Coloring Pages from the National Network to end Domestic Violence (like Dogs Against Domestic Violence or Sloths for Safety) and enjoy the mental health benefits of coloring, which can be a lot like meditation. Post your masterpiece on Instagram to share a positive message with your followers.

Advocate: ‘We are stronger together’

Advocate Alisha Gonzales stands by YWCA medallion outside front doors

After a 17-year career in various healthcare positions, Alisha Gonzales was ready for a change.

“After the years of COVID-19, it felt like time to try a new route, to figure out what I was truly passionate about and go for it,” she said.

She always knew she wanted to help women and children, and a neighbor suggested she apply at the YWCA as an advocate.

After a few inquiries, she said, “I was finally given the opportunity to interview!” Soon after, she joyfully accepted a job offer, grateful for a journey that, she said, “landed me here at the YWCA with all these amazing people!”

Though happily married to her best friend with whom she shares four children, ages 12 through 17, previous life experiences gave her a heart for struggling families.

ADVOCACY MATTERS
“I believe this work is important because we are helping people in some of their darkest hours; we are helping people when they feel like their world is crumbling.”
It’s important to Alisha to show survivors they are not alone, that they are loved, wanted, and cared about.

“For someone like me, who has been in some really hard situations, it feels like a blessing to help others through the same things, no matter how big or small their needs are.”

Most of all, she said, “I feel like we are stronger together and when we are loving each other through the pain.”

Campus support role for YWCA advocate

Smiling advocate standing in the Walla Walla Courthouse law library where the YWCA provides assistance with protection orders

KAREN ANGEL always knew she wanted a job helping people, which is why she studied psychology at Washington State University.

She was hired as a YWCA Advocate partway through her degree, which has included many relevant classes like Violence Toward Women, Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents, and Families in Poverty.

“When I first began my job with the YWCA, I was super excited to help women who felt alone.” Karen loved the idea of helping families and guiding survivors to light and hope.
She’s done crisis work responding to sexual assaults at the hospital and handling domestic violence calls. She represents the YWCA at the county protection order clinic and accompanies clients to hearings.

“Working in the shelter for the past two years, I have noticed that some kids come into our shelter in distress and frustrated because of the situation they were living in,” she said. “Of course it’s reflected in their behavior.”

Coursework about poverty, she said, “allowed me to truly see the struggles that low-income families go through and how much it impacts not just the parents but the kids as well. Sometimes those struggles go on for generations.”

THE BEST FEELING
“I love to see when a woman who has been put down or gaslighted finds their purpose again,” Karen said. “Watching them fly from our shelter to their own home – with a job and empowered – is the best feeling in the world.”

Now in her new role, she continues her work in the shelter and also spends half her time as an advocate at Whitman providing free, confidential support to anyone experiencing assault or intimate partner violence.

While these YWCA services can be provided on campus, an assault will not be reported to college officials unless the survivor wishes.

And those times when abuse is reported, Karen offers support throughout the investigation process. She understands how traumatic an assault can be and that it has the potential to disrupt a student’s education.

“What happened to them was not their fault,” Karen said. “I want to encourage them to continue with their careers and move on from an awful experience.”

Child advocacy: Your support empowers young lives

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) succeed when they center on kids’ needs


WHEN A CHILD is being abused, the No. 1 priority is that child’s safety and well-being.

Children are vulnerable,and they may lack the vocabulary and power to speak for themselves.
In her new role at the YWCA, Leslie Bumgardner, Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator, is helping make sure those kids have a voice.

“I’m excited about bringing a team together,” Leslie said, “getting everyone who’s committed to what’s best for children around a table regularly.”

The ultimate goal is to have a fully accredited Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a process that will take time.

Meanwhile, Leslie is looking forward to strengthening partnerships between team members.
Those partnerships are vital because children respond best in a protective environment where they feel safe and can tell their stories – just once – to the people who can help stop the abuse and provide needed support. That’s the essence of a CAC.

WHY MDTs MATTER
A key component of the CAC model is the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Leslie has been meeting with Child Protective Service investigators, law enforcement personnel, counselors, advocates, and other expert professionals to prepare for improved collaboration among these entities.

“We can do better for kids when we put them at the center of the process,” Leslie said.
When efforts are not well coordinated, the independent process of each agency involved can lead to unnecessary and repetitive interviews that re-victimize a child, forcing them to relive the trauma over and over.

The CAC model is designed to transform the process. As MDT members gather and share information about a child’s case, they smooth the way for that child to begin healing, receive justice, and experience trust.

ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN
“Coordinated, child-centered responses have been found to accelerate the healing process for kids. We’re so grateful to everyone who encouraged the YWCA to lead this work,” said Executive Director Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin.

By next year, YWCA Advocates specially trained in child advocacy will join MDTs collaborating to provide better outcomes and support for children and families.

“Everyone is working hard to do their best for children,” Leslie said, “and I can’t wait to build a team that pulls together all the folks already working passionately for young victims of violence and sexual abuse.”

Family ties bind YWCA wedding tradition

Two photos inside purple border: On left is the bride and groom recessing and the other is the bride with her uncle, grandmother, and younger sister.

Friday, June 14, was a day filled with love, memories, and tradition as Brianna and Joaquin celebrated their wedding where Brianna’s grandmother and great-aunt tied the knot more than 50 years earlier.

Brianna’s great-aunt Norma and great-uncle Frank exchanged vows in the YWCA reception room in 1972, and her grandparents, Mary and Merle, followed a few months later, on June 29, 1973.

This connection to her family’s past made the choice of venue particularly special for Brianna.

“When we were trying to find places to have the wedding, we weren’t sure where to start because I don’t belong to a church, and all the venues around here were larger than we needed and so expensive,” Brianna shared. “Then my grandma Mary mentioned the YWCA since she and her sister had gotten married there, so we checked it out and thought it was a great idea.”

BACK IN THE DAY
In the early 1970s before ending domestic violence became a big part of the YWCA mission, the building was a safe, affordable place where young women could rent rooms while they attended college or were starting their careers. The reception room, like today, was used for YWCA programs as well as a variety of other community events.

“My great-aunt Norma’s wedding was in December, and my grandma’s was in June like ours, but at 8 pm.”

Since the building wasn’t yet air conditioned, an evening wedding may have an attempt to beat the heat. “My grandma told me her wedding day was so hot that the cake started to slide,” Brianna recalled with a smile.

Carrying on her family’s tradition was deeply meaningful to Brianna.

“I’m very close to my grandma on my mom’s side of the family,” Brianna said, “so I’m happy I get to share this with her.”

Although some beloved family members were missing, including her great-aunt Norma and grandfather Merle, who both passed away in 2022, their presence was felt.

Brianna’s great-uncle Frank attended the wedding, and her uncle Michael walked her down the aisle.

ENDURING LOVE
The Bahm Torrez wedding at the YWCA wasn’t just a celebration of love between two people but a beautiful testament to enduring family bonds and traditions that span generations.

It felt very cool to continue my family’s YWCA wedding tradition,” Brianna said. “It will always be something interesting I can tell people about our wedding day.”

Need a room for a meeting or party?

Whether you’re planning a simple meeting with snacks or a family reunion with far-flung participants joining by Zoom, the YWCA kitchen and reception room may have what you need.

Learn more about rates and what’s available by calling 509-525-2570 or emailing the office manager, Karla, at kcastillo@ywcaww.org.

Lana leads caring team of Advocates

Our new Director of Client Services, Lana Bushman, has always found satisfaction in helping people grow, heal and flourish, especially women and children who can’t advocate for themselves.
Being a survivor herself, she said, makes it easier for her to comprehend all that they are going through when dealing with domestic violence (DV) or sexual assault (SA).

IMMEDIATE GOALS
“My goal for the next three months,” said Lana, “is setting up a strong program of support groups for DV and SA survivors.”

In the next six months to a year, she plans awareness campaigns to educate community members, including teens, about DV, also called intimate partner violence (IPV), and to encourage people to promote social change.

WHAT IS DV
DV is a complex concept, she said. It isn’t a matter of anger management. It’s a pattern of behavior that one person uses to gain power and control over the other.

It can result in injury, harm, deprivation, or even death. It may involve physical or sexual assault, but it can also be emotional or psychological, including isolation from friends and family, emotional abuse, or financial control.

Awareness matters. Domestic violence awareness can help identify abuse if it happens to you or someone close to you. Awareness can provide information that can be life saving for victims and their families, such as hotlines, shelters, counseling, and legal aid.

Your YWCA support keeps these services available in our community and makes it possible to increase survivor awareness.

Numbers to know

  • One out of five high school students is being sexually and/or physically abused by a dating partner.
  • One million women and 371,000 men are being stalked right now.
  • More than three women are killed by their partners every day.

Sponsorship: More than logos

When organizations sponsor a YWCA event, you might be surprised how deep the support goes.

Providence St. Mary Medical Center regularly goes above and beyond financial support.
“We know when we contribute to YWCA, through sponsorship of an event, bringing a hot meal to the shelter, or other ways,” said Emily Volland, Providence Communication Director, “that people will be served, hope will be shared, our community will be positively im-
pacted, and the team at YWCA will be faithful stewards of gifts given.”

Banner Bank too went beyond a sponsorship, offering a financial literacy class for YWCA clients. Danni Schack, who works in mortgage loans and customer service at Banner, was one of the instructors. “I had personal experience as a single mom making it on my own, so this is near and dear to my heart.”

The class was excited to learn how credit scores work, said YWCA Outreach Coordinator Celia Guardado. “Low credit scores can limit your rental options and make it harder to buy a house or car.”

“Meeting these women made a big impact on me,” Danni said. “It moved me to help sponsor a family at Christmas, and I’ve just joined the 2024 YWCA board.”

When you see that a favorite organization supports YWCA Walla Walla, invite them to share why the mission matters to them. And let them know how much you appreciate their care for families who need a safe new start.

Believe party 2024 fueled hope

The engines were roaring at this year’s YWCA Believe Party as we came together to “Fuel Hope, Drive Change.”

Board President Becky Kettner opened the evening by sharing how meeting a survivor at a previous Believe Party inspired her to go “all in” on the YWCA mission, setting the tone for an evening focused on empowerment and action.

Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin, YWCA Executive Director, continued the momentum with opening remarks that echoed the event’s “motor” theme. She emphasized how something as simple as transportation can be a powerful tool for survivor independence. Pointing out that abusers often use the lack of access to a car as a weapon of control, she applauded our donors for “putting survivors in the driver’s seat” through their support of YWCA’s critical services.

The Believe Party’s live auction, led by dynamic auctioneer Derek Wood and MC Jim Wilson, both gentlemen who shared their personal reasons for supporting the YWCA cause, shifted into high gear as an anonymous donor pledged to match several auction packages, as well as the first $11,000 of “Heartstrings” donations.

Guests enjoyed food by local chef Marty Bray, while the Motor Co’s newly air conditioned space and large presentation screens kept guests comfortable and helped convey the event’s message. One screen featured a revolving slideshow of survivor quotes and the impact of donor gifts in 2023, while the other played video testimonials and highlighted live auction packages.

Thanks to your generosity, we crossed the finish line, meeting our fall fundraising goal of $82,000. Together, we are fueling hope and driving change for survivors in our community.

Tickets on sale now . 
Fuel hope, drive change: BELIEVE 2024.
Image is dark orange, midcentury car with a license plate that says HOPE.
 Thursday, Sept. 19 | 6 – 9 pm at The Motor Co | 64 E. Rose Street | $95/ticket
Your mission: Making a difference. Learn more at 509.525.2570

Dinner by A Chef’s Creation • 2 drinks • Silent Auction packages • Live Auction with one-of-a-kind experiences • Wine & Dine Wall

Dinner by A Chef’s Creation • 2 drinks • Silent Auction packages • Live Auction with one-of-a-kind experiences • Wine & Dine Wall

Your mission: Making a difference.

The annual YWCA Believe party gathers some of our closest supporters to celebrate all we can make happen when we work together for women and families. Your compassionate support puts domestic violence survivors in the drivers seat.

Along the way we enjoy good company, good food, and good wine in one of Walla Walla’s most exciting venues, The Motor Co!

Silent and Live Auctions with unforgettable experiences and the Wine & Dine Wall truly put the fun in fundraising!

25th Leadership Luncheon celebrated hope

Mary Lynne and Linda stand by a display of orange, silver, and white balloons with a large lighted numeral 25.
Guests captured luncheon memories by the 25th anniversary lobby display.

YWCA Walla Walla was honored to have a wonderful speaker at the 2024 luncheon, the leader of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 17 years and the current strategic advisor, Nan Stoops.

She shared stories from her work with domestic violence survivors. While many might consider that work discouraging, Nan approaches it with the hope of a baseball fan whose team rarely wins, and the resilience of a dandelion, that bright splash of yellow that gardeners find all but impossible to destroy.

Her message of hope stirred record-setting giving and positions YWCA Walla Walla to bring hope to women and families experiencing abuse and violence.


Luncheon sponsors

Anonymous, Banner Bank, Coffey Communications,
Providence St. Mary Medical Center, and the YWCA Leadership Circle

Whitman College

McDonald Zaring Insurance and Eastgate Lions Club

In addition, goods and services were provided by Lane Printing & Design, Seven Hills Winery, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, and Marcus Whitman Hotel.

PHOTO CREDIT: Center for Humanitarian Engagement

Suzanne talks animatedly with her table guests. In the background, board president Becky steps up to the podium.
Table captains like Suzanne gathered friends and
YWCA supporters who made the luncheon such a success.