YWCA NorthEastern NY

YWCA NorthEastern NY 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline:
518-374-3386

Dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women
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YWCA NENY is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA achieves this mission through comprehensive domestic violence support services, racial equality initiatives, affordable housing, early learning education, and more.

YWCA NENY NEW BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ANN CIANCIA ✨We're thrilled to announce one of our newest board members, Ann Cianc...
06/01/2026

YWCA NENY NEW BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ANN CIANCIA ✨

We're thrilled to announce one of our newest board members, Ann Ciancia!

Ann is the Title IX Coordinator and Director of Equal Opportunity at Union College. She leads campus initiatives to combat discrimination, harassment, and sexual and gender-based misconduct. Ann works closely with student organizations, departments on campus, and the YWCA to host events bringing awareness and educating about sexual misconduct. In her role, she oversees the Title IX process for all members of the college campus. Ann was also the 2026 Empowerment Award winner at our 43rd Annual Empowerment Awards Gala.

Prior to her current role, Ann served as the Director of Contracts and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator at Utica University. In this capacity, she oversaw institutional compliance, risk mitigation, and legal affairs. She was an Adjunct Lecturer of Management and taught undergraduate courses in Sports Law, Business Law, and Criminal Justice.

Last year, Ann presented at the first ever Swiftposium, at the University of Melbourne, Australia, an academic conference focused on Taylor Swift. Ann highlighted the global significance of the movement and discussed Swift’s defamation lawsuit about sexual assault, which resulted in the symbolic dollar.

Ann received her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 2021 while concurrently completing her MBA from Utica University. Her research on femicide (violence against women) in Latin America was published by Syracuse College of Law Journal for Global Rights and Organizations.

Ann received her bachelor's degrees in Health Studies, Philosophy, and Spanish from Utica University in 2018. During her tenure at Utica, she served as the first two-term student government president where she held events during sexual assault awareness month with the YWCA of Mohawk Valley and It’s on Us.

Through her undergraduate and graduate experiences in combination with being a survivor of sexual assault, Ann knew she wanted to dedicate her career to advocating and empowering those in need.

We are so excited to have you, Ann! Thank you for all you do! 🧡

On the last day of , we'd like to recognize the specific barriers women face when seeking treatment for their mental he...
05/31/2026

On the last day of , we'd like to recognize the specific barriers women face when seeking treatment for their mental health and wellbeing. These key barriers include but are not limited to:

- Economic barriers – lack of insurance/cost (including premiums and copays)
- Lack of awareness about mental health issues, treatment options, and available services
- Stigma associated with mental illness
- Lack of time/related support (time off work, child care, transportation)
- Lack of appropriate intervention strategies including integration of mental health and primary health care services

These obstacles can make it seem extremely hard for women to seek the treatment they need. Together, we can help with these hindrances by providing appropriate support and resources. We can help stop the stigma.

*Source: psychiatry.org

Are you looking for a simple yet powerful way to recenter yourself? Whether it be in times of high stress or just lookin...
05/30/2026

Are you looking for a simple yet powerful way to recenter yourself? Whether it be in times of high stress or just looking for a moment of peace, box breathing can be a great tool to use to help get you back in the present moment.

Box breathing, (or square breathing), is a deep breathing technique that helps slow down your breathing by distracting your mind by counting to four. It calms the nervous system and decreases stress in your body. It is a simple tool you can do anywhere and can lead to relaxation, a clearer mind, and a calmer body.

Now that you know what it is, here's how to do it:

1. With one hand on your chest and one on your stomach, breathe in slowly for a count of four as you feel the air enter your lungs.
2. Hold your breath for four seconds, avoiding inhaling or exhaling.
3. Exhale slowly out of your mouth for four seconds.
4. Hold for four seconds, and then repeat.

Thirty seconds of box breathing can help you feel more relaxed and in control. Working this quick and easy practice into your day can help lessen anxiety and regain focus. It's okay to stop and take a breath in today's fast-paced world. 💚

*Source: webmd.com/balance/what-is-box-breathing

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YWCA NENY? - FARRAH'S WING BOUTIQUE!Something very special just opened up at our Palmer Avenue locat...
05/29/2026

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YWCA NENY? - FARRAH'S WING BOUTIQUE!

Something very special just opened up at our Palmer Avenue location -- a labor of love that began with a concept from our Assistant Shelter Director and Coordinator of Economic Empowerment and STRIVE, Farrah Foreman. There are clothes, shoes and accessories for all genders and ages from casual to professional, as well as a food pantry and hygiene items.

When asked about what this means to Farrah, she said "Farrah’s Wing Boutique means so much more than clothing or donations to me-- it is a love letter to the community. It represents care, dignity, empowerment, and creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and valued. Every item shared is rooted in compassion and a reminder that the community deserves kindness, hope, and support during difficult times."

This love letter to the community could not have happened without Farrah and our dedicated Counseling team. To them, Farrah's Wing represents opportunity and freedom and will make a huge impact by providing a space for our clients and their families. Helping create the boutique was rewarding for our team members as they saw the work come to life every day. The goal is to provides a warm, safe, and empowering place for folks to come shop and connect with. The Counseling team worked very hard to thoughtfully create this warm space and they are extremely excited to share it with the community!

As comes to a close, we also want to take a moment to shout out our amazing Counseling department. These individuals works tirelessly, day in and day out to make sure their clients' needs are met. We are so grateful for everything they do for our organization and our community of survivors and their families. Thank you, Counseling!

Reminder: Join Parents of Murdered Children & Other Survivors (POMC) and YWCA NENY for the Annual Ceremony of Remembranc...
05/29/2026

Reminder: Join Parents of Murdered Children & Other Survivors (POMC) and YWCA NENY for the Annual Ceremony of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, taking place next Friday, June 5th at 12pm in the Central Park Rose Garden.

Let's unite to honor the memories of those who have tragically lost their lives to violence in our community. Your presence is a powerful way to show support, share space, and pay tribute to their lives.

Connection reminds us that wellness is not a solo journey. When we connect with our communities, we can find a sense of ...
05/28/2026

Connection reminds us that wellness is not a solo journey. When we connect with our communities, we can find a sense of belonging that is vital to our mental wellness. There are countless ways to get involved in our community, try these ideas to get involved!

What’s your favorite way to connect with those around you?

*Source: NYS Office of Mental Health

Mabel Ping Hua Lee was a Chinese-American women's rights activist and minister who campaigned for women's suffrage in th...
05/27/2026

Mabel Ping Hua Lee was a Chinese-American women's rights activist and minister who campaigned for women's suffrage in the United States who empowered the Chinese-American community to support the women's right to vote.

Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, a Federal law that prevented Chinese immigrants from citizenship from 1882 to 1943, Mabel was not able to vote, but she and other Chinese members of the suffragist movement continued to advocate for women's voting rights, even though they themselves could not vote.

Mabel Lee devoted her life to serving the Chinese community. She was a trailblazer and a selfless advocate for women's rights. This , YWCA NENY celebrates the Asian-American Pacific Islander community and all of their accomplishments.

What is The 1888 Collective?Looking to become part of something special with a common goal of eliminating racism and emp...
05/26/2026

What is The 1888 Collective?

Looking to become part of something special with a common goal of eliminating racism and empowering women? Look no further than our 1888 Collective, a group of amazing folks who stand in solidarity with our community through monthly giving.

The 1888 Collective is dedicated to making our community a better and safer place for all, and you can be part of that change today by visiting https://www.ywca-neny.org/monthly-giving/ today! 🧡

Today, we honor and remember those who have served our country. It is a day to stop, reflect and have awareness for mili...
05/25/2026

Today, we honor and remember those who have served our country. It is a day to stop, reflect and have awareness for military members who have passed. We thank them for their service and their lasting impact.

DID YOU KNOW...There are still disparities in the mental health world surrounding how women of all backgrounds are treat...
05/24/2026

DID YOU KNOW...

There are still disparities in the mental health world surrounding how women of all backgrounds are treated when seeking care for their wellbeing. Physicians are more likely to diagnose depression in women compared with men, even when both
genders have identical symptoms or similar scores on standardized measures of depression. According to verywellmind.com, there are several factors that may play a role in this, including differences in hormones, socialization, social roles, coping mechanisms, and life stress.

Other gender specific barriers for treatment:

Women are more likely to seek help from and disclose mental health problems to their primary health care physician; men are more likely to seek out a mental health specialist.
• Women are less likely than men to disclose problems with alcohol use to their health care provider.
• Women are reluctant to disclose a history of violent victimization unless physicians ask about it directly.
• Women are more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications than men.

We can work together to stop the stigma of mental health disorders and bridging the gender gap for care received. This , make sure you are taking care of yourself and checking in on those around you. You never know who might need the support.

*Source: Psychiatry.org

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44 Washington Avenue
Schenectady, NY
12305

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+15183743394

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