Tucson’s YWCA Moves Community Upward

The lobby of YWCA of Tucson (YW) was festive in mid-December, with a large Christmas tree and upbeat volunteers. One offers coffee before ringing Tana Kelch to let her know: “A Jamie is here to see you.”

Kelch, the Sales & Marketing Manager and previous proprietor of Bohemia: An Artisans Emporium, comes out smiling. There’s a spring to her step as she approaches, saying there are so many things to share about the YW as the 96-year-old non-profit organization (established locally in 1917) does a lot. A LOT. And many plans are in the works.

The lobby is going to be the most immediate beneficiary of upcoming evolutions. Currently, a nook café is situated by the front door and offers a minimalist menu of select treats and beverages, with its coffee  supplied by Bisbee Coffee Roasters. While presently only a few tables and chairs are in place, “we will have seating for 20 once everything is to spec,” emails Liane Hernandez, Community Life Director/Executive Chef. “We want to create an environment where people can meet and hang out,” Kelch explains.

In the lobby space across from the café, a boutique – The Galleria Art and Gifts – will be born in early February. “We will be offering a wonderful mix of YW merchandise and small works and crafts by local artists that embrace our mission,” Kelch says.

The YW’s vision, as posted on the website, is to create “a community of change makers who are working to build a world without racism, where women are empowered and where everyone enjoys peace, justice, freedom and dignity.” The ideals are mighty and the missions lofty, but the YW seems to be pulling it off through its many programs – by way of an 11-women staff and a team of dedicated volunteers.

In addition to the café and future boutique, the YW is working on building out its kitchen in order to offer a catering program. “It’s the brainchild of Kelly (Fryer, the Executive Director),” Kelch shares. “The purpose is to become more sustainable by creating income to fund our programs.” Hernandez further explains that the organization will offer catering through its “YWorks Catering program, which is under development now and we plan on hiring our first cohort of young women in August 2014.”

A woman peruses clothing options in Your Sister’s Closet.
photo courtesy YWCA Tucson

It is pretty incredible how many programs the YW funds and several spaces in the 17,000 square foot building, located on Bonita Avenue in Downtown’s west-side Menlo Park, offer numerous stories of how the organization helps prepare women to enter, or re-enter, the work force.

As we move north of the lobby to explore Your Sister’s Closet, Kelch points out The Galleria – which features exhibits that rotate quarterly and highlights artists who connect to the YW’s missions. “The YW is incredibly lucky to be able to work with Erma Duran and Amy Zuckerman to curate our Galleria,” Hernandez says via email. “Erma is responsible to selecting the artists and pieces for each show.” On display through Jan. 15 is Amy Zuckerman’s gorgeous and heart-wrenching black and white photography. Opening on Feb. 6 is a joint exhibit of Western photography by Mia Larocque and Louise L. Serpa; the boutique’s grand opening will be held the same day.

Kelch checks in with the volunteers at Your Sister’s Closet, making sure it is a good time for a tour. The objective of Your Sister’s Closet is to provide women, who have completed the Skills for Successful Employment program, with a week’s worth of career clothing. The monthly program is a four-day intensive that includes computer training and employment skills workshops, offered for $25 – with scholarships available.

Dorothy Miller, a YW volunteer for over five years, welcomes us with a sweet, warm countenance. There are three rooms, and the first feels like a wealthy woman’s walk-in closet – with its classy wood shelves, a full-length mirror and gorgeous lighting.

“I try to treat them like princesses,” Miller says with genuine affection. “I’m their fashion coordinator; outfits complete with shoes and, of course, purses!” Miller and Kelch list a few of the clothing donors: J. Jill, Burlington Coat Factory, Twice As Nice. Arlene Oliver, another YW volunteer for over five years, chimes in: “Brighton donates a bunch, and Dillard’s.”

In the middle room, there are over ten racks of perfectly professional, stylish attire. In the back, we find the work room where, as Miller explains, “we sort though the donations. If we can’t use the donations, we give the clothing to Twice As Nice or Big Brothers/Big Sisters.”

“It is fun, we love doing it,” enthuses Oliver. “Each woman goes out with three to four outfits and we try to mix and match. We send out some very happy people.”

To date, YW has styled 26,000 women with business wear. Skills for Successful Employment offers a deeper meaning beyond work clothes and pertinent jobs skills – such as resume building, developing job search strategies and becoming proficient with computer programs – it’s about improving women’s lives and giving them the tools, and thereby the self-esteem, to succeed.

Oliver shares a poignant memory. “One gal was here trying on clothes, looked in the mirror, and tears streamed down her face. She said, ‘I’ve never seen that person.’ When they go looking for a job, they look good and feel good and get the confidence to get a job.”

Kelch and I meander to the Wolslager Foundation Learning Center, where a portion of the job skills training takes place. There we find volunteer Richard Griffith busily setting up computers. “We recently received 30 new computers, donated by (Pima County’s) One-Stop (Career Centers),” Kelch says.

“Is this the graveyard over here,” she asks Griffith, referring to a collection of computer towers along the wall. “Yes, those are beyond the hill,” Griffith replies.

In the room, which can be rented out for classes and is utilized by a volunteer group that offers GED tutoring on Saturdays, are about 15 workstations. The space also hosts the Mi Carrera Desarrollo Profesional. Griffith, a 60-year-old single father to a 6-year-old son explains that the name translates to my professional career development.

“The thing about the Y, it is in a primarily Hispanic neighborhood. This place was a bit more formal and not as friendly to the neighborhood, but that is changing,” Griffith says. “This is where it’s at!”

While the large, beautiful and fairly new building – which the organization moved into in 2007 – may not be very well-known to the general public, dedicated efforts have been underway to change that. In addition to the aforementioned offerings, the non-profit also hosts a YW Speaks speaker series in order to facilitate community conversations that encourage a more civil society. There’s also the Women’s Wellness Network and The Happy Organization for children, both of which aim to create healthy lives – mentally, emotionally and physically.

There’s a palpable energy, and it pragmatically exudes a confidence in purpose and a peace that aligns with serving a greater aspiration, which really resides with basic respect.

As YW volunteer Richard Griffith openly shares: “This is the first place in my life I’ve done work that I really love. I went through drug treatment and I’ve gone full circle. I respect this place. Respect comes from knowing it is doing a good thing, and it’s for the people.”

YWCA Tucson, located at 525 N. Bonita Ave. and YWCATucson.org, would appreciate clothing donations on Mondays, fiscal donations and volunteers always, and a wish list of supplies is detailed on the website. Visit YW’s online events calendar to see what’s coming up next. Call (520) 884-7810 with other inquiries.

Category: Arts, Community, DOWNTOWN / UNIVERSITY / 4TH AVE, Events