Centering Survivors
YWCA’s 2022 Week Without Violence campaign: Centering Survivors, focuses on how today’s issues and headlines are impacting victims and survivors of violence.
Supreme Court decisions, state legislation, and a rising wave of hate and violence have created a chilling landscape for survivors. From gun violence and mass shootings to reproductive health restrictions, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and police violence, some of our nation’s most contentious issues directly impact the safety and well-being of survivors in unique and especially harmful ways. Too often these impacts are unknown, overlooked, or actively ignored — leaving many survivors of violence unsupported in their efforts to find safety, healing, and pathways forward, free from further violence.
As our nation heads to the polls in November amidst the increasingly contentious rhetoric and political division surrounding abortion bans, “don’t say gay” laws, access to firearms, and more, voters will decide the outcomes of more than 7,000 local, state, and federal offices. To ensure the voices and needs of all survivors are addressed, it is critical that we center survivors in these discussions and in our voter education and GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts. By raising awareness of the ways polarizing issues impact survivors, we can bridge divides and build support among voters, candidates, and policymakers for the services and solutions survivors need.
Join us from October 17-22, 2022 as we raise awareness, elevate survivor voices, talk with policymakers, and more with a common goal: centering survivors so that together, we can end violence.
Check out and share event flyers!
Join YWCA & Community Partners for a Week of Advocacy, Art, & Activities that Rally Communities & Inspire Change.
We are also excited to partner our Race for Education event with Week Without Violence!
Relive the amazing energy felt during YWCA’s 2021 Week Without Violence featuring the restoration of a commissioned street art installation, student art contest, music, games, food, community partners & more.
Block Event & Race for Education
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 11-3pm
300 Block, King Street, Pottstown, PA
Join YWCA for the restoration of our inspiring Street Art Installation,
Poetry, Youth Art Contest, Family Activities, Food & more!
Block Event
Restoring the street art installation originally created by local artists Drew Montemayor, Erin, and NaFeesah Shah.
Are you or someone you know interested in painting or volunteering between Oct. 17th – 21st? For volunteering details contact us at Advancement@ywcatricountyarea.org!
Join YW for a Week Without Violence
Act now to become a sponsor or vendor!
Your participation in YWCA Tri-County Area’s Week Without Violence helps lift the voices and needs of survivors of violence.
Participating builds a community that supports survivors. Volunteering helps YW mobilize, engage and create change. Sponsorships & contributions help YW deliver year-round quality programming that centers the community’s most pressing needs.
Events are rain or shine!
Street Art Restoration & Painting
Thursday, October 20 – Friday October 21 | 10 AM – 4 PM
315 King St. Pottstown
tinyurl.com/YWArt2022
Race For Education
Saturday, October 22 | 9 AM – 10:30 AM
tinyurl.com/YWRFE2022
WWV Block Event
Saturday, October 22 |11 AM – 3 PM
315 King St. Pottstown
tinyurl.com/WWV2022
Download our participation Form Here!
QUESTIONS:
Advancement@YWCATriCountyArea.org
Sharon.Soper@YWCATriCountyArea.org
Elise.Chesson@YWCATriCountyArea.org
Advocacy
To get involved in advancing YWCA’s Advocacy Priorities
Contact: Advocacy@ywcatricountyarea.org
Legislative priorities include for WWV include: Declaring racism a public health crisis (S. Res. 172/H.R. 344).
When we envision a world without violence, we begin to build a path to creating that world. Help us raise awareness about gender-based violence, support survivors, and forge a peaceful community.
- Volunteer at our Block Event!
- Get your Free Tickets
- Sign up to Paint!
- Participate in Race for Education!
Join YWCA Tri-County Area for our first All Abilities- Race For Education!
This 1 mile race can be completed & recorded in your own time between Oct. 17-22 or you can join us on Oct. 22 at 10am at the Pottstown Riverside Park Pavilion.
6th Annual Youth Art Contest Details
Week Without Violence is an annual movement where YWCA organizations across the country come together to raise awareness about the devastating effects of violence against girls and women around the globe.
Here at YW3CA we not only want to encourage students to focus on larger, country and world-wide issues, but also invite them to raise awareness and advocate for prejudicial-violence that is happening in their very own communities. We are using this week to raise awareness of the need to combat hate, violence, bigotry and racism that still exists and leads to violence in our communities.
We challenge the youth of today – talk about the social injustices you see around you – in your community and nationally. This year specifically we are encouraging participating students to focus artwork on three distinct themes: Eliminating Racism / Empowering women / Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom & Dignity for All.
How can you create a piece of art focuses on eliminating racism? Perhaps you choose to learn more about the structures that perpetuate racism across our country. Maybe you choose you to highlight a trailblazing change-maker advocating for racial and social justice in our communities every day.
Maybe you will create a piece of art that focus on Empowering Women. How can you highlight the trailblazing women that have made way for a more equitable world for all genders?
At YW3CA, our mission: Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for All is woven into every aspect of our day-to-day operations. How can your art encourage others to recognize that all people deserve to be treated equally?
Your artwork should use large lettering, few words, heavy lines and strong colors. Be sure to read all the Rules before entering, taking careful consideration to the submission guidelines and dates. Your artwork will be judged based on the following criteria: THEME, CREATIVITY, NEATNESS, ORIGINALITY, VISUAL EFFECTIVENESS.
Download flyer & return to Kristy.Garner@ywcatricountyarea.org
– Open to 5th – 12th grade students in the Tri-County Area.
– All artwork must be created horizontally (landscape) and be no larger than 8.5”x11” in size.
– Students may use crayon, watercolor, poster paint, colored pencils, markers or ink. Please do not attach or glue materials that may smear, crack or chip.
– Students must create original artwork; computer generated art and photography will be permitted as long as the piece does not incorporate branded art from other sources. Reproduction of popular cartoon characters or three-dimensional work will be disqualified.
– Students must submit individual, independent work.
– Students must submit a 3-4 sentence statement describing their work and why they chose to create the piece they did.
– Only original artwork will be accepted. Any artwork submitted will not be returned.
Download flyer & return to Kristy.Garner@ywcatricountyarea.org
If students cannot mail original artwork in a flat envelope to the address below, students may submit a high resolution photograph.
Please mail or drop-off artwork to:
YWCA Tri-County Area,
Attn: Kristy Garner
315 King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
Submissions deadline is Monday, October 10th, 2022.
A 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winner will be selected from each age category: 5th—8th and 9th—12th. Winners will be announced & prizes will be awarded at the YW3CA Artist Reception, Monday December 5. All participants & their families are invited to attend.
ARTWORK WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND WILL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF YW3CA AND MAY BE REPRODUCED.
In addition, top winners will have their artwork reproduced and included in our custom YW3CA stationary gift set.
Art Contest Contact: Kristy.Garner@ywcatricountyarea.org
Check out our Youth Art Contest 2021 Winners!
Help YW3CA bring this project to life!
We invite others to join YWCA as collaborative partners in this community building and outreach opportunity centered around YWCA’s Week Without Violence.
- Connect with legislators, businesses & individuals interested in sponsoring YWCA’s #WWV
- Follow YWCA on social media & promote our campaigns
- Invite youth in grades 5 – 12 from the Tri-County Area to participate in a #WWV themed art contest led by Youth Empowerment Program
- Join us on Saturday October 22nd for Race for Education & Block Event. Bring your friends, colleagues & family