CEO Update - Spring 2022
Welcome to the 2022 Spring/Summer edition of Contact. I’m thankful that you are joining us as we continue our work to advance gender equity.
One of the first things we accomplished in 2022 was making public our new Vision and Mission statements. These statements are the result of many deep conversations and multiple rounds of thoughtful editing. We asked for help from all levels of staff, management and our Board, as well as our wider community, to ensure that we were capturing the heart of our work and communicating it precisely.
I am grateful that so many people shared their opinions, insights and hopes and came together to contribute. Most importantly, this work enables us to align our energy and take meaningful steps to realize our new vision and mission.
Vision: We boldly envision a just and equitable world for women, families and allies.
Mission: We advance gender equity alongside women, families, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people through advocacy and integrated services that help support personal, collective and economic wellbeing.
This year marks a major milestone for YWCA Metro Vancouver – 125 years of serving the community. In 1897, the world and this region looked very different, but some things have persisted. There was, and still is, systemic oppression that affects women and others who face marginalization. While we still work to provide resources like housing, child care, support groups, employment and mentorship, we are also focusing on changing the systems themselves.
For that reason, we have been adding extra energy to our advocacy work. In this issue, you will read about how we are recognizing and celebrating diverse women with the Reserved for Her championed by Scotiabank campaign, as well as our anniversary campaign called Rewrite Feminism, which updates time worn feminist sayings to be more inclusive. We also provide an update on our equity, diversity and inclusion work and highlight new employment programs, housing and Marguerite Ford, a trailblazer and Legacy Circle member.
While we have started 2022 with much on our collective plates, we are also spending time reflecting. As part of our 125th anniversary, we will work to acknowledge our role in Canada's colonial history and the generational impacts this continues to have on Indigenous peoples. We know that without decolonization – changes to our structures, policies, programs and practices, as well as changes to our larger societal systems – there can be no reconciliation. In our 125th year, we will continue to focus on equity, inclusion and reconciliation.
With that, I hope you enjoy this edition of Contact. Please reach out to me if you have questions or comments, and thank you for supporting the work of the YWCA.
Michelle Sing
YWCA Metro Vancouver Interim CEO
