Community

YWCA Pasadena’s Empowerment Program Girls Lend a Hand

PASADENA JOURNAL — “Women helping women” sums up the efforts of the girls from YWCA Pasadena’s Girls Empowerment After-School Programs.

Published

5 years ago

February 28, 2019

Oakland Post

By The Pasadena Journal

“Women helping women” sums up the efforts of the girls from YWCA Pasadena’s Girls Empowerment After-School Programs on two consecutive Tuesdays this month.

This army of 15 teen-aged girls busily ﬁlled treat-bags and folded and wrapped blankets for the 100 care packages destined for women who are being treated for cancer. The effort was in service of the Foundation for Living Beauty, an organization that has provided supportive services to women along their cancer journey since 2005.

The Foundation for Living Beauty distributes between 150 – 200 bags each year, free of charge. These Wellness Kits are an important part of Living Beauty’s services for women with cancer. “Chemotherapy can be a very taxing journey, and our Wellness Kits are ﬁlled with wonderful products to help keep women comfortable while receiving treatment,” says Ariana Barnett, Assistant Director at the Foundation for Living Beauty, “We want women to know they are loved and supported as they go through this challenging time.” The kits are made up of donated items from supporters such as organic body butter from ellovi, lip balm from Weleda, a cap to keep their heads warm from Craft’d with Love, a soft ﬂeece blanket made by the Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Youth Group, CBD products from Budberry, other items like fuzzy socks, ginger candy, a Chemo Companion Guide, a note from a Living Beauty, and the bag itself from The Dollar Fund.

“It was fun,” said Gabriela, a YWCA participant, “I love doing this kind of thing for other people.”

The effort was coordinated by friend of the YWCA Pasadena, Raquel London, a cancer “thriver” and former client of the Foundation. She shared some of her involvement with the Foundation for Living Beauty and what the kits meant to her. Of the girls’ volunteer work Ms. London said, “You touched me right at the center of my heart. [It] makes me so happy you are young leaders that are willing to help others.”

The YWCA’s Girls Empowerment After-School Program is a free multi-disciplinary After-School Program for girls ages 10-14. Registration is open from October-May. Activities include science experiments, robotics, 3D- Printing and Design, painting, drawing, screen-printing, conﬂict resolution, discussion, and volunteer work. You can find more information on the program at the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley’s Website at bit.ly/GEAP2018.

“Our girls not only practice empowering themselves, but also practice empowering others around them,” says Jomie Liu, a Program Coordinator for the Girls Empowerment Programs, “By volunteering and taking the time to create care packages for women ﬁ ghting cancer, the girls are given the opportunity to create positive change in their community and are shown that their actions can make a difference.”

About the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley: The YWCA acts via a wide range of programs that strive towards the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women and girls in Pasadena and throughout the Foothill Valley. Learn more and donate to the programs of the YWCA at www.ywca-pasadena.org. (626) 296-8433. The YWCA is located at 50 N. Hill Avenue, Suite 301, Pasadena, CA 91106.

This article originally appeared in the Pasadena Journal.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.