In this edition of Us!...
“The time is always right to do what is right: You can start right away by treating people with dignity.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Take care of yourself and let’s take care of one another!
Happy reading!
Dr. Lisa Williams
Senior Vice President, Strategy, Equity & Innovation
A Brighter Future: How the Y is Taking Action with ENOUGH Act Funding
We’re thrilled to share that Governor Wes Moore has awarded the Y in Central Maryland a $300,000 grant through the ENOUGH Act, a program dedicated to ending childhood poverty. With this funding, the Y will work hand-in-hand with families and community partners in the Greater Waverly area to develop a neighborhood action plan aimed at tackling poverty, promoting economic opportunities, and creating lasting change for generations to come—work that is core to the Y’s mission of building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.
UPCOMING TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Women’s Leadership Resource Network
Workshop Series #2
February 19, 2025
10:00am - 11:30am
Virtual
The Women's Leadership Resource Network (WLRN) is excited to present a series of empowering workshops designed to foster connection, visibility, and growth within our community. This series will focus on key areas essential for personal and professional development:
- Increasing Visibility & Awareness: Amplify your presence and build recognition
- Social Awareness: Cultivating a deeper understanding of dynamics, inclusivity, and the importance of diverse perspectives.
- Personal Awareness: Strengthening self-awareness and emotional intelligence to navigate professional challenges with confidence.
- Building Community: Creating supportive networks, cultivating meaningful relationships, and empowering each other as women in the workplace.
- Relationship Building: Tools for establishing strong, authentic connections with colleagues and mentors to foster collaboration and growth.
We want to develop stronger connections with one another, enhance self-awareness, and gain valuable tools to thrive individually and collectively in the workplace.
We invite you to join us on this journey of growth, connection, and empowerment! Simply accept the calendar invite that went out to all Y associates.
Speakers: Diara Jackson, Lauren Githua, Ramona Dowdell
Emerging Leaders Resource Network
Understanding Neurodiversity
February 26, 2025
12:30 - 2:30pm
Virtual
The age of three is when most American children begin preschool, but for families with children with disabilities, this step can come with a host of obstacles.
Join the Emerging Leaders Resource Network for a discussion and viewing of "Forget Me Not: Inclusion in the Classroom", a documentary that intimately focuses on one family's trials as they navigate a system that is not set up for inclusive education. Simply accept the calendar invite that will soon go out to all Y associates.
Questions? Please contact Lisa Williams, Marwa Ibrahim, Celina Fitch, or Megan Spencer.
African American Resource Network
We Wear Black National Event
February 28, 2025
2:00pm
Virtual
On behalf of the Y-USA National African American Resource Network (AARN), we invite you to unite with us for We Wear Black on Friday February 28, 2025. We wear black in unity with those who are working daily to fight injustice, prejudice, and inequity.
Join Ys across the country to ensure those who come after us have greater opportunity to thrive.
Identifying and Engaging Resistance to Inclusion, Belonging, and Equitable Access
March 27, 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
Y Associate Engagement Center
1506 Joh Ave., Baltimore, MD 21227
In the context of equitable access, resistance is not always overt or conscious decisions that team members are making. Often folks are unaware that they are engaging in resistance in this context.
This session is designed to explore what resistance can look like, how leaders might create conditions that engender awareness, and how leaders might create conditions that normalize active engagement, thereby reducing the opportunities for passive resistance.
Register in Dayforce
GOOD VIBES
Y ASSOCIATE SHOUT OUTS
We have more great Y Associate Shout Outs today. We organize them around our four core operating principles: cleanliness, engagement, inclusion and safety. Of course, many of the Shout Outs could fit under multiple operating principles, and that’s a good thing! These are stories about pitching in, reaching out, showing initiative, being a great colleague, and going the extra mile: all of which are hallmarks of Y associates and our organizational culture.
Click the blue "Shout Out" icon above to read about Michelle Coleman, Jazmine Hull, Stacie Jones, Kimmie Kim, Angelica Smoot, Christina Stewart, Devon Wilborne, Carol Beecher, Joleen Thorne, Antonio Cuffia and Lindsay Mszanski.
If you have a colleague you'd like to "Shout Out", simply click below to fill out the nomination form.
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Us! associate enewsletter is published monthly and we need to hear from you! Share your stories, what’s new in your Y world, and what you are proud of. We want to know and we want to share your news!
The next Us! enewsletter will be published on March 20th. The submission deadline is Friday, March 14th.
PAYROLL, RECRUITMENT, BENEFITS, AND RISK
GET PAID!
| Pay Period | Pay Date |
|---|---|
| January 28 - February 8 | February 18, 2025 |
| February 9 - 22 | March 4, 2025 |
| February 23 - March 8 | March 18, 2025 |
ASSOCIATE REFERRAL PROGRAM
If you know someone who may be a qualified candidate for an in-demand position at the Y, such as educators and instructors, please encourage them to apply. If your referred person is hired, you can potentially earn a $150 - $500 referral bonus!
WHY RISK IT?
The Y's Risk Management Team has created a monthly newsletter to highlight key risk reduction practices, reviews and reminders. This serves as an excellent quick reference for high priority risk awareness in our Y programs, centers and sites.