YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee

This past week, Nashville Banner profiled the Survivors First program, a partnership between the Davidson County District Attorney's Office and and YWCA. Thank you Steven Hale for sharing this important look at domestic abuse and how we’re working together to tackle these challenging community problems. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eb5UsPWh

We are THRILLED to announce YWCA will be the beneficiary of the 25th annual Purity Dairy Moosic City Dairy Dash! We're looking for sponsors AND runners! Mark your calendars for April 12, 2025 and learn more about this fun, family event that benefits our Weaver Domestic Violence Center, celebrating its 25th year serving survivors of domestic abuse. https://bit.ly/4fiNrKB

We will honor the history of Native peoples in Tennessee and acknowledge the challenges they face today at our next Stand Against Injustice webinar. Join us on?Thursday, Nov. 21 at 12:00 PM CST for, "From Ancestral Lands to Advocacy: Honoring Native Voices in Tennessee." This conversation is especially timely during the Thanksgiving season, a time when the narrative often overlooks?the real history of Native peoples. Our distinguished panelists will discuss the rich but often hidden history of Indigenous communities in Tennessee and the ongoing advocacy efforts to support Native voices today. Panelists include Dr. Michelle Brown, a Cherokee Nation citizen and Professor at University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Albert Bender, a Cherokee activist, historian, and Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Coalition; Loraine Segovia-Paz , Executive Director of?NASHVILLE AREA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION and?involved in the?renaming of Cumberland Park; and Native artist Trenton Wheeler. Don't miss this important conversation as we reflect on the past and move toward a more inclusive future. We're thankful to the #NissanFoundation, The Harnisch Foundation, and AllianceBernstein for supporting this social justice initiative.? Register for this FREE webinar here: https://bit.ly/4fvg9Ym

YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee hosted our 32nd Academy for Women of Achievement (AWA) celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Music City Center. The event, attended by more than 400 supporters, including more than 35 previous AWA honorees, recognized seven extraordinary women and one organization for their commitment to empowering women and improving Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Proceeds from the event support YWCA’s programs and services, including the Weaver Domestic Violence Center, Girls Inc., AMEND Together, the Family Learning Center and Dress for Success Nashville. 2024 AWA honorees are: ·???????Ivanetta Davis Samuels – Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Meharry Medical College ·???????Michele Johnson – Executive Director and Co-Founder, Tennessee Justice Center ·???????Rita Johnson-Mills – Independent Director and Regional President, CINQCARE ·???????Sylvia Rapoport – Founding President of Centennial Park Conservancy, District Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit ·???????The Honorable Emily J. Reynolds – Vice Chair, Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), former Secretary of the U.S. Senate and Corporate Board Member ·???????Amanda Weeks-Geveden, CWS – Senior Wealth Advisor and Senior Vice President, 1834, a division of Old National Bank ·???????Evette White – CEO/Executive Director, Leadership Nashville Corporate honoree: Ingram Industries Since its inception in 1992, the AWA has honored 198 women and 35 organizations for their exceptional contributions. This year’s theme, “It All Starts With a Seed,” emphasized the YWCA’s belief in the power of ideas to inspire transformative change, a principle that has been at the heart of the Academy for over three decades. Check out our Facebook page and website for more on this inspiring event! https://lnkd.in/e4YUPTma

Thank you Pivot Point International for this important addition to your Social Awareness Guide library. We couldn't be more thrilled to have you showcase our Shear Haven training on your website. It's especially meaningful to have this education shared during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Shear Haven initiative, co-founded by Susanne Shepherd Post, is so important to our mission of educating the beauty industry on the signs of abuse, providing the resources available to help, and ending domestic violence. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #PivotPoint #DVEducation #EndDVNow #DVAM #SALONSAct

How can we continue making progress in the fight against domestic violence? In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re reflecting on the strides made over the past decade and looking ahead to what more can be done. Join us on Thurs., Oct. 17 when we’ll reflect on the 10-year journey since the 2013 Nashville-Davidson County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment Report. Our panelists include mental health professional and survivor Mandii B., Assistant District Attorney Christina Johnson, YWCA’s Daffany Baker, and Diane Lance, Director of the Metro Office of Family Safety. Together, we’ll explore how mental health support, restorative justice, and community-driven approaches - including the Survivors First Initiative and Abbie’s Safe Home - can prevent domestic violence and better support survivors. Don’t miss this important conversation as we continue to build a safer and more resilient Nashville. Register for this FREE webinar, made possible with support from #NissanFoundation, The Harnisch Foundation, and AllianceBernstein, here: https://bit.ly/4eCZeTK

This past weekend, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee was honored to take part in the 20th anniversary Meet Us at the Bridge. This annual event is hosted by the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence and marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a time to remember those we have lost to domestic violence and recognize the individuals and organizations working hard to end the epidemic. We were honored to receive the Outstanding Service Provider Award for our Weaver Domestic Violence Center and incredible leadership team of Daffany Baker, Sandra Dominguez, and Tara Morgan. This team works tirelessly to keep women, children, and their pets safe and help them heal from the visible and invisible wounds of domestic abuse. We are honored to do this work with so many community and government partners, including Metro Nashville Office of Family Safety, The Mary Parrish Center, Agape Morning Star, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, You Have The Power, Inc., Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and so many other incredible advocates and supporters. If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of shelter or support from domestic violence, call our 24-Hour Crisis & Support Helpline 800-334-4628 or text 615-983-5170. #DVAM #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #EndDVNow

Last night, members of YWCA Nashville’s Fulcrum Society gathered in the gracious home of Mary Wester, a steadfast supporter of our mission. More than two dozen philanthropic women came together for an evening that was more than just conversation. It was a meeting of minds and hearts dedicated to empowering women, strengthening our community, and addressing domestic violence on a global scale. Susanne Shepherd Post, co-founder of our Shear Haven initiative, shared the remarkable journey that began with a local idea and has now gained national momentum. What started as a domestic violence training initiative for the beauty industry has evolved into legislation passed in Tennessee and poised to make a difference across the country. The evening was a beautiful reminder of the power of women coming together to make meaningful change—one story, one step, one voice at a time. Learn more about our Shear Haven initiative and the Fulcrum Society at our website: https://lnkd.in/gZZDV6c #FulcrumSociety #ShearHaven #ShearHavenTraining #WomenHelpingWomen #WomenEmpoweringWomen #EndDVNow #DVAwarenessMonth #enddomesticviolence

We are honored to have gathered such a powerful community at the Stand Against Injustice Community Rally and Advocacy Fair this week. Thank you to our incredible advocacy partners who stand with us in the fight to eliminate racism and empower women:?? American Muslim Advisory Council, The Equity Alliance, AWAKE, The Metro Office of Family Safety, Tennessee Justice Center, Mashup, Black Mental Health Village, League of Women Voters. We also extend our gratitude to Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Vice Mayor Angie Henderson, and Council Members Kyonzte Toombs,Esq.,MBA,CHC and Brenda Gadd, J. D. for attending and showing your commitment to peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Your presence alongside our passionate community members strengthens the movement! Katina Beard with Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center shared a powerful keynote address on racism and its impact on the health of our community. Special thanks to our longtime partner, the Metro Human Relations Commission, and our presenting sponsor, The Harnisch Foundation, for making this event possible. We appreciate Metro Nashville Council for recognizing racism as a public health crisis and look forward to welcoming more partners into this important work. A heartfelt shoutout to the talented singers and music majors from Fisk University, whose performances inspired and uplifted the crowd. And congratulations to our past board chair Rita P. Mitchell for receiving the Carrie Hull Award for Service. Together, we will continue to fight for a more just and equitable future! #StandAgainstInjustice #YWCA #RacialJustice #CommunityPower #EmpowerWomen #EliminateRacism #MetroCouncilNash

Stand with YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee tomorrow, Thursday, the 26th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm to discuss how Nashville can Stand Against Injustice and become united. Historic Courthouse Downtown 1 Public Sq Nashville, TN 37201 #ywcanashville #standagainstinjustice #NashvilleUnited