Telegram Covers Domestic Violence Breakfast
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Webster Five Cents Savings Bank human resources manager Virginia C. McDonald knows firsthand about the impact that domestic violence can have in the workplace.
In October 2007, a 44-year-old vice-president at the bank was murdered by her estranged husband, while two of her three children slept in their home.
Read the full article, click here.
Dance to Make Moves
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“This is a unique and innovative fundraiser bringing people together for a fun evening, to celebrate a united front to address domestic violence,” said Ginger Navickas, director of domestic violence services for the YWCA of Central Massachusetts and manager of the Battered Women’s Resources program.
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Telegram features ‘On the Job’ with Lead Aquatics Instructor
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(Q:) It’s summer and people are getting out to pools, ponds and the shore. What should a child know about swimming before getting in the water?
(A:) “I believe it’s important that all children be given swim lessons for safety reasons. Not only is it great exercise and a lot of fun. Everyone should know how to swim. It’s just mandatory, and I think that having lessons will teach the strokes.”
Read the entire interview, click here.
Erskine Awards honor six women leaders
The YWCA of Central Massachusetts recognized six women today with its annual Katharine F. Erskine Awards, celebrating women who have shown leadership in a range of fields.
The recipients and the categories for which they were recognized are: arts and humanities — Iris J. Cotto, a children’s librarian at the Worcester Public Library; education — Mary Meade-Montaque, a quadrant manager in the Worcester public schools; medicine and science — Joanne Nicholson, a specialist in parental medical illness; community/social services and government — Lynne Tolman, president of the Major Taylor Association board of directors and a Telegram & Gazette copy editor; and business and law — Ann Tripp, chief investment officer at The Hanover Insurance Group and president of one of its subsidiaries. Sylvia Parol, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, received a Spirit of Leadership award, which the YWCA board awards intermittently.
Each recipient spoke and mentioned people to whom they were grateful. Ms. Cotto, who has been at the library 30 years and who was described as a mentor to immigrant families, teenage mothers and the homeless, said the Erskine awards are “a confirmation of the value and the worth of supporting others.” Ms. Cotto dedicated her award to Robert A. Caldwell, a popular Worcester librarian who died of cancer in 2007.
Ms. Meade-Montaque, a past recipient of the prestigious national Milken Educator Award and past president of the YWCA, said she was glad to work with the organization on issues of racial justice and equality. “We are not there yet, but we have come a long way together,” she said.
Ms. Nicholson encouraged her listeners to reconsider their view of women with mental illness. “For some reason, women who are mothers with mental illness are a niche,” she said. They aren’t a small corner of the population, she added, “They are the population.” Ms. Tolman, who was recognized for her efforts to preserve the memory of Major Taylor, a world cycling champion from Worcester, noted that it wasn’t her idea to put a statue of him at the library, and she was initially skeptical it could happen when Greg Root of Worcester called her with the idea. The statue, the only one recognizing a black person in Worcester, was dedicated in 2008. “People understand the value of reflecting our diversity — showing some of all of us — in some of our best-loved, best-used gathering places,” Ms. Tolman said.
Ms. Tripp, who is president of Hanover subsidiary Opus Investment Management, the company that re-invigorated the CitySquare project, said she was grateful for the chance to serve with nonprofits such as the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the YWCA, for the team at Hanover that nominated her, and for her daughter, who contributed to that nomination.
Ms. Parol was recognized for developing a leadership program for high schools girls for the YWCA while she was working there as part of a co-op program with Bancroft School. Now a freshman at WPI, Ms. Parol has continued her work with the program.
The Erskine Awards are named for a two-time president of the YWCA whose connection to the organization began in the early 1900s. Her grandson, Matthew Erskine, said today that Mrs. Erskine never wanted anything named for her when she was alive, but he believes she would be pleased by the awards, which began in 1994. -Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Five Women Recognized
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Five women whose professional accomplishments have made life better for their community, especially women and girls, will receive the YWCA’s Katharine F. Erskine Award during the 18th annual Tribute to Women on May 3 at Mechanics Hall.
The recipients and categories in which they are being honored are Iris J. Cotto, Arts & Humanities; Ann K. Tripp, Business & Law; Lynne Tolman, Community/Social Service & Government; Mary Meade-Montaque, Education; and Joanne Nicholson, Medicine & Science.
To read more, please click here.
Abused finding help as reports rise
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As a young girl, Abby and her sisters would often see their father physically and verbally abuse their mother. Later on when their mother had moved out and started a new life, Abby was sexually abused by one of her mother’s boyfriends.
Seven years ago, Abby, which is not her real name, fell in love with a man who convinced her that he would be good to her and help take care of her daughter by another man. But, not long into the relationship, the demeaning verbal abuse, rape and threats to kill her began. She was 7 months’ pregnant with the man’s son when he began to beat her.
For the full story, please click here.
Standing tall after 125 years
March 13, 2011
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“Wear black and white and a touch of persimmon,” urges the flyer for the YWCA Central Massachusetts 125th Anniversary Gala at Mechanics Hall. The perfect wardrobe combination for an agency with a mission to eliminate racism, elevate women, and — like the perennial persimmon tree — gives more year after year.
An agency for women that started in 1885 — and hired a “physical culture instructor” a year later to teach the “art of standing, walking and sitting” — the YWCA has maintained long-term staying power while ramping up child care, fitness and crisis services in response to changing societal needs.
For the full story, please click here.
Need for women’s services aired
Febuary 13, 2011
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The message in the packed conference room at City Hall Wednesday night was loud and clear — domestic violence is on the rise since the economic downturn and there is not enough affordable housing or shelters in the area to help women in need.
It was the first of three hearings held this year by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to gather information on issues facing women.
For the full story, please click here.
Mass Alliance on Teen Pregnancy Recognize Young Parents Program Director
Mass Alliance on Teen Pregnancy recognized the YWCA Young Parents Program Director Helen Rinaldi with the Mildred Reid Award at its annual Teen Pregnancy Institute Statewide Conference on Wednesday, November 17, 2010.
Mildred Reid, a longtime member of the Alliance’s Board of Directors, was a dedicated youth worker who spent many years working with pregnant and parenting teens at several community-based agencies. In her memory, the Board of Directors established this award to honor individuals who, like Mildred, have shown dedication and excellence in their work with pregnant and parenting teens.
The Alliance’s annual Teen Pregnancy Institute features workshops, panels, and speakers for professionals working in teen parent services, teen pregnancy prevention, family planning, education, and early childhood education. The Alliance’s Teen Pregnancy Institute is the only conference in New England focused on issues related to teen pregnancy and parenting.
Moving bystanders to action is domestic violence challenge
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Most people are not victims or perpetrators of domestic violence, according to Sarah McMahon, a professor at Rutgers University, the keynote speaker at Daybreak’s annual domestic violence awareness breakfast yesterday. Many are bystanders. Ms. McMahon challenged the community to take a stand against domestic violence by becoming “active” bystanders. “By definition, a bystander sees an event but doesn’t do anything about it,” Ms. McMahon said. “We all have to be engaged and active bystanders.”
For the full story, please click here.
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