Rise and Shine

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the YWCA’s Rise and Shine Breakfast. Never having attended one, I didn’t know what to expect, but I definitely didn’t expect the magnitude of the event. There were hundreds of women and men in attendance, and all of us were treated to an inspirational program on what the YWCA does for our community.

The YWCA’s mission statement reads, “The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” I did know that the YWCA was over 100 years old, but I didn’t know that it was international, with a presence in 106 countries. The World YWCA was founded in 1894!

In Salt Lake City, the YWCA offers a domestic violence shelter, a children’s advocacy program, a residential self-sufficiency program, wellness education services, services to immigrants and refugees, and many other services directly benefitting women and their children. With apologies to the Village People, it’s probably not “fun” to stay at the YWCA, but for most of the women who stay in the domestic violence shelter or participate in the residential self-sufficiency program, it is life-changing.

Before the presentation, Executive Director Anne approached me and congratulated me on all the wonderful work that Soroptimist is doing here in Salt Lake. “We are sister organizations.” she told me. I agree – we are one in improving the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world. My congratulations to the YWCA for a wonderful event.