YWCA Kalamazoo

05/31/2026

Some voices don’t just speak truth they protect it, carry it, and pass it forward.

This AAPI Awareness Month, we honor Haunani-Kay Trask, Native Hawaiian activist, scholar, poet, and fierce advocate for sovereignty and cultural preservation.

Through her scholarship and organizing, Trask challenged the ongoing impacts of colonialism in Hawaiʻi, calling attention to land rights, environmental justice, and the protection of Native identity. She brought together academic rigor and lived experience, reminding the world that culture is not separate from land it is rooted in it.

Her words, whether spoken or written, carried both resistance and vision. She pushed for a future where Native Hawaiian voices lead, histories are reclaimed, and self-determination is realized.

“We are not just victims; we are survivors. We are resilient, we are strong, and we will continue to fight.”

As we reflect on her legacy, we’re reminded that the work of justice is also the work of remembering, protecting, and honoring the stories that shape us.

05/27/2026

Our mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We join this case as a plaintiff because we believe that race, gender, and immigration status should NEVER determine whether you get to be safe. At YWCA Kalamazoo, we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the communities we serve.

Read more at https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/freedom-network-usa/

05/27/2026

Some people don’t just witness history they help shape it, building bridges where others see barriers.

This AAPI Awareness Month, we honor Richard Aoki (November 20, 1938 – March 15, 2009), a Japanese American activist, educator, and community organizer whose life was rooted in solidarity and collective power.

From his early childhood in U.S. incarceration camps during World War II to his leadership in movements for racial and economic justice, Richard’s experiences shaped a deep commitment to challenging injustice. In Oakland and Berkeley, he stood alongside Black activists as a founding member of the Black Panther Party, emphasizing community self-defense and political education.

Richard also played a pivotal role in the rise of the Asian American movement, helping to build the Asian American Political Alliance and contributing to the historic Third World Liberation Front strikes efforts that led to the creation of the first Ethnic Studies programs in the country.

His work reminds us that movements are strongest when they are united across communities, grounded in shared struggle and purpose.

“The struggle for freedom, justice and equality transcends racial and ethnic barriers… if you have the chance to help it, do it.”

As we reflect on his legacy, we’re invited to consider what it means to show up for justice, for community, and for one another.

05/20/2026

Some lives remind us that solidarity is something we practice day by day, choice by choice.

This AAPI Awareness Month, we honor Yuri Kochiyama (May 19, 1921 – June 1, 2014), a Japanese American activist whose life was shaped by injustice and defined by connection.

From surviving the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to standing alongside Black liberation movements in Harlem, Yuri built bridges across communities. She believed deeply in collective struggle, showing up for civil rights, political prisoners, nuclear disarmament, and reparations.

Her story is one of transformation of finding identity, building community, and choosing courage even in the face of fear. She reminds us that justice work is not isolated; it is shared.

“Life is not what you alone make it… we are all part of one another.”

As we reflect on her legacy, may we continue the work of showing up for one another across differences, across histories, and toward a more just future.

05/13/2026

This AAPI Awareness Month, we honor Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (October 7, 1897 – 1966), a Chinese American activist, scholar, and community leader whose life bridged advocacy, education, and service.

At just sixteen, Lee rode on horseback in the 1912 New York City women’s suffrage parade, becoming a visible symbol of the movement. Yet despite her leadership, discriminatory laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act denied her the right to vote—laying bare the inequities within the fight for suffrage.

Undeterred, Lee continued to advocate for women’s rights, education, and civic engagement. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics becoming the first Chinese woman in the United States to do so and later led community initiatives in New York’s Chinatown, expanding access to education, resources, and opportunity.

Her life reminds us that progress is often uneven and that expanding rights must include those too often left at the margins.

“The fundamental principle of democracy is equality of opportunity… the feminists want nothing more than the equality of opportunity for women to prove their merits and what they are best suited to do"

As we reflect on her legacy, we’re invited to continue the work of building a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

05/11/2026

⭐️ We are honored to share that three of our YWCA Kalamazoo team members will be presenting at the Women Veterans Conference, hosted by Veteran 1st, on June 9!

⭐️ Sherry Brockway and Lindsey King from our survivor services team will discuss intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and their root causes; our CEO, Susan Rosas, will share the resources YWCA Kalamazoo offers to help survivors heal.

📅 The Women Veterans Conference will take place June 8 -10 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, offering women veterans and their supporters a space for community connection, resource navigation, whole-health practices, and a gala celebration.

➡➡Visit veteran1st.org for more info!

05/08/2026

Caring for children and families is both a responsibility and a calling rooted in purpose and gratitude.

We are proud to honor Dr. Kathy Jackson as a 2026 Women of Achievement awardee. A pediatrician and Medical Director at Family Health Center, she has spent more than two decades caring for generations of families while leading with compassion, consistency, and deep community connection.

From advancing pediatric care to mentoring youth and supporting community initiatives, Dr. Jackson’s impact reflects a lifelong commitment to service grounded in faith and purpose.

Join us in celebrating her impact and the collective work of this year’s honorees at the Women of Achievement Awards Celebration on May 21.

Tickets are closing Monday. http://qrco.de/WOA26

Secure your seat now before they sell out.

05/07/2026

Equity and transformation begin with leadership rooted in community, accountability, and vision.

We are proud to honor Stacey Randolph Ledbetter as our 2026 Dorothy I. Height Award recipient. As Executive Director of the Frederick Douglass Community Association, her leadership has guided the transformation of “The New Douglass,” expanding partnerships, strengthening community spaces, and preserving a legacy rooted in service and connection.

With a career spanning public safety, equity work, and community leadership, Stacey continues to advance racial healing and create spaces where community can thrive.

Join us in celebrating her impact and the collective work of this year’s honorees at the Women of Achievement Awards Celebration on May 21.

Tickets are almost gone. http://qrco.de/WOA26

Secure your seat now before they sell out.

05/05/2026

Kalamazoo County Commission to vote on Child Care Millage to strengthen support for young children, families, and providers.

One-click Action Alert to email your County Commissioner https://www.votervoice.net/KZCF/campaigns/136455/respond

Wednesday, May 6th the County Commission is scheduled to vote on a child care millage that would create a long-term public funding source to strengthen child care and early learning support for Kalamazoo County families with young children. The bottom line is, this is a labor issue that neither the state nor federal government is willing to tackle - parents can’t afford to pay and teachers can’t afford to stay.

The 0.5 millage proposes to address the following:
• Increase wages for child care providers;
• Lower the cost of child care for working families;
• Provide financial support for providers who care for children from low income families, and
• improve outreach and navigation for programs and services for children 0-5 in Kalamazoo County.

A 0.5 millage is expected to generate $6.3 million in the first year. This is about $50 a year for a home with a taxable value of $100k/market rate of $200k. More info here.

The proposed resolution also emphasizes that sustained community input must remain central to this work, especially from families and communities most impacted by barriers to affordable, accessible, and quality child care. If approved by voters, the funding would support a community-informed approach to investing in young children and caregivers across Kalamazoo County.

The full resolution can be viewed on the County website: https://kalamazoocomi.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2589/files/attachment/38156%23:~:text=Authorizing%20Placement%20of%20a%20Child%20Care%20(Early-,Learning,-)%20Millage%20on%20the%20August%204,%202026%20ballot_Corp

Join Kalamazoo County providers and advocates in putting child care on the local ballot this summer!Child care and early childhood supports for our youngest Kalamazoo County residents are very important. These supports help infants and toddlers with...

05/05/2026

Consistency, compassion, and community care can create lasting impact.

We are proud to honor First United Methodist Church as our 2026 Volunteer Award recipient. Since 2019, Donna Dunyak, Pat Elzerman, Christina Stamper, and Sally Stevens, before her passing, have been a powerful force behind YWCA Kalamazoo’s In Kind Giving Program, contributing more than 1,680 hours of service.

Their dedication helped build a thoughtful donation system rooted in dignity, ensuring every item shared by our community reaches those who need it most. From supporting our transitional housing program to helping create a nature based playground for children, their service continues to strengthen the lives of the families we serve.

Join us in celebrating their impact and the collective work of this year’s honorees at the Women of Achievement Awards Celebration on May 21.

Tickets are available now. http://qrco.de/WOA26

Reserve your seat and be part of the celebration.