Advocacy Committee
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities.
What sets YWCA Northeast Kansas apart from many other nonprofits is our commitment to comprehensive social services, combined with our dedication to creating a more just world through advocacy and community education. We carry on this long tradition of social action and advocacy to advance our mission — and you are a crucial part of this work
Interested in joining? Do you represent an organization that should partner with YWCA? Contact us today!
The YWCA Advocacy Committee is made up of members with professional, lived, and volunteer experience in our policy priority areas. Members coordinate advocacy efforts with like-minded organizations at the local, state, and national level to amplify our message, and increase the reach of our efforts.
Policy Priorities ↘
Adopted November 2023
Health Care
YWCA Northeast Kansas is committed to supporting access to affordable, sustainable, and quality health care for women, children, people of color, and survivors of gender-based violence. We support policies that increase access to contraception and abortion, reduce healthcare coverage gaps, address maternal health disparities, and improve mental health parity for all.
Economic Security
YWCA Northeast Kansas recognizes that economic security is a key component of women’s empowerment and ability to thrive in our community. We support policies that reduce the gender pay gap, provide safe and affordable housing, create work environments free from discrimination and harassment, and support working families with equitable paid leave policies and affordable childcare programs.
Gender-Based Violence
As the largest network of domestic and sexual violence service providers in the United States, YWCA works for practical solutions to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and eradicate all forms of gender-based violence. We support policies and efforts that improve law enforcement responses, stabilize and increase funding for service providers, and require trainings for relevant professionals.
Click here to read the annual report from the Topeka Mayor’s Task Force Against Domestic Violence.
Racial Justice
Confronting racism and racial inequities requires a broad and coordinated response. We recognize and acknowledge the intersection of race and gender identities and will work to advance policies that advance equity, safety, and racial justice for women and girls of color across justice, education, health, and other systems with documented racial disparities.
Voting Rights
The right to vote is central to the mission of YWCA, and women and girls are disproportionately affected by policies that make it more difficult to vote or actively seek to suppress the vote. We support policies that increase access to voting including early voting, promote open and transparent government at all levels, create fair apportionment and redistricting, and maintain the integrity of elections.
YWCA Northeast Kansas is part of the YWCA USA network.
At the federal level, we partner with sister YWCAs across the nation to raise our voices for change. Click below to learn more about advocacy efforts led by YWCA USA.
When We Say “Women and Girls”…
YWCA programs, services, and advocacy efforts center marginalized genders including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.