Libby Kyles, Chief executive officer of the YWCA of Asheville and WNC, reflects on the state of race in Asheville in 2019.
Tag: YWCA
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Collaborative community effort tackles rising health inequities
From 2010 to 2018, “Our black infant mortality rate has increased from 11.7 to 15.1 deaths for every 1,000 babies born,” Hannah Legerton told Buncombe County commissioners on Dec. 3. That means that black babies in Buncombe County are four times as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies. And since infant mortality is a leading indicator of population health, health officials say, those numbers bode poorly for the wellbeing of African American county residents. Collaborative efforts are seeking to address the underlying issues driving inequities in health outcomes.
YWCA launches 2019 diabetes wellness and prevention program
On Jan. 16, more than 40 participants embarked on a 30-week-long diabetes wellness and prevention program that promotes nutrition education and fitness to cope with and prevent Type 2 diabetes. Since its inception in 2012, the Asheville YWCA’s diabetes program has served at least 500 people. While many participants have been diagnosed by a doctor […]
Letter: Mission Health deal reveals community lesson
“The we-know-what-is-best bubble forms when officials lose touch with their own institution’s stated goals and with the community’s pulse.”
County approves GE incentives, launches new early childhood ed initiatives
Though breaking news about new Wanda Greene indictments made it hard for elected officials and members of the public to focus on anything else, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved $685,000 in incentives for a planned local investment by GE Aviation and announced two new early childhood education initiatives during its meeting on June 5.
Nonprofits compete for city, county grant funding
Local nonprofits compete for city and county grant funding every year. Xpress looks at the funding programs available and what nonprofits must do to be considered.
Letter: YWCA offers worthwhile program to manage diabetes
“Please call the YWCA for more information about how to sign on. You will not regret it in taking charge of your overall health.”
Tuesday History: YWCA’s 75th anniversary celebration
“[F]or roughly half a century, two YWCAs operated in Asheville, operating the program that is the YWCA. And during all these years parallel programs were operating in our city,” says Thelma Caldwell, in her 1981 speech at the YWCA’s annual meeting.
Tuesday History: Controversy surrounds the merger of YWCA’s two branches, 1970
On October 24, 1970, Virginia Bailey, president of the Asheville YWCA, shared with the Asheville Citizen the most common complaint the organization received following the announcement: “‘We want our white Y; it is as important to us as the South French Broad branch is to the blacks.’”
Tuesday History: Thelma Caldwell calls out the YWCA’s shortcomings
In 1965, Thelma Caldwell became the Executive Director of the Central YWCA in Asheville: the first African-American in the South to hold the position.
Tuesday History: Eleanor Roosevelt’s 1956 visit to Asheville
In 1956, Eleanor Roosevelt announced a planned trip to Asheville to speak on the U.N.’s behalf. Her visit to Asheville, however, depended upon the city’s willingness to have an integrated audience.
Tuesday History: The YWCA of Asheville’s 1930s integration attempts
The Asheville YWCA’s African American division, the Phyllis Wheatley branch, began as an informal weekly meeting of women who worked to support and aid each other in finding employment opportunities. It officially opened in 1921.
Tactics for change: YWCA schedules a month of Stand Against Racism events
YWCA associations across the country are holding Stand Against Racism events during April. Asheville’s Stand events, united by the theme of “Women of Color Leading Change,” run throughout April, culminating with the campaign’s multiday signature event, Stand Against Racism, which takes place April 27-30.
Asheville professionals help mothers birth healthy babies
Maternal and child health experts in Asheville offer prenatal care, education and assistance as first steps toward improving the health of infants. As disparities range across race and socioeconomic status, doctors and agencies strive to relieve the obstacles for healthy pregnancies.
Stand Against Racism
As the former director of racial and social justice at the YWCA in Baton Rouge, Roberta Madden has spent her professional career trying to eliminate racism and empower women. Since retiring to Black Mountain in fall 2009, she’s continued to champion these causes. Over the last six years she and group of volunteers have brought […]
Laurey’s closes its doors
Longtime downtown favorite Laurey’s Café is closing effective immediately.
The great divide: Issues of race, justice, opportunity discussed at YWCA election forum
The final question asked of Asheville’s two mayoral and five city council candidates did not focus on the usual inquires raised during this municipal election. It wasn’t about the economy. It wasn’t about jobs. It wasn’t about the police department — though it certainly touched on all of those topics. And it had nothing to do with the Asheville Art Museum. (Photo by Max Cooper)
Locals take a ‘Stand Against Racism’
Events continue in Asheville this week with the aim of raising awareness about racism. (photo by Max Cooper)
With love: YWCA MotherLove program helps pregnant and parenting teens, seeks mentors
At 14 years old, Svetlana Contreras found out her life was about to become more complicated than any homework assignment she could ever receive as a student at A.C. Reynolds high school: She was going to be a mother. But for Contreras, she had help taking on these new responsibilities when she signed up for the Asheville YWCA’s MotherLove program. (Photo of MotherLove director Tangela Bowman, top, and Svetlana Contreras)
YWCA Asheville picks Beth Maczka to be new director
Beth Maczka, with 26 years experience in such nonprofits as The Community Foundation of WNC and the Affordable Housing Coalition of Asheville, has been named the YWCA’s new executive director.
Health disparities and race: presentation explores case studies and solutions
Sharon West reads from one of many case studies about health disparities and race in the United States. On Friday, April 27, she gave a presentation about health disparities as it related to race. The event was part of YWCA’s Stand Against Racism. (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)