YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley Week Without Violence Scheduled for October 12 – 17, 2015

The YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley is proud to announce this year’s calendar of events for the Week Without Violence, scheduled to run from October 12th to October 17th. Each year in October, YWCAs nationwide partner with community advocates, local leaders, and the general public to educate and motivate people to work towards ending violence, wherever it occurs. The YWCA Pasadena’s Week Without Violence events will take place throughout the city of Pasadena and surrounding areas, and are open to the public.

To address and prevent violence in our community, the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley has teamed up with the following community partners: Day One, Peace Over Violence, Planned Parenthood, UNICEF, Pasadena Pride Center, ChapCare, Yoga High, ClaretyMind, Massage Envy, and Senator Carol Liu’s office to host a variety of events that promote peace and provide a safe environment during the Week Without Violence.

On Monday, October 12th at 7:00 am, the YWCA-Pasadena kicks off the week with the 13th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. This year, the YWCA honors Stella Murga, Executive Director of Adelante Youth Alliance with the 2015 Racial Justice Award. Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, will also be keynote speaker at the event. Individual tickets are $60 each, tables of ten are $600. To attend, reserve your seats at www.ywca.org/wrjb2015.

On Tuesday, October 13th, from 10:00 to 11:00 am Peace Over Violence, in partnership with Wells Fargo, will host a Banking 101: Financial Literacy workshop for survivors of domestic violence. This educational workshop will help survivors find empowerment by learning the tips and tools to manage their finances, as well as educate the community about the cycle of violence and dynamics of financial abuse. The workshop will be held at the Peace Over Violence location: 892 N. Fair Oaks Ave, Suite D, in Pasadena. For more info, or to RSVP, please call Alice Corona at Peace Over Violence at (626) 584-6191. The workshop is free to attend.

On Wednesday, October 14th, Planned Parenthood Pasadena will host a “Yes Means Yes” consent workshop for youth from 3:30 – 5:30 pm at the YWCA Pasadena location: 1015 N. Lake Ave, Suite 105, Pasadena. Immediately following at 6:00 pm, a special film screening of “Not My Life,” hosted by UNICEF, will be presented at the same location. Filmed on five continents over four years, this film brings to life the realities of human trafficking through the stories of the survivors. A follow-up discussion will be led by Cambria Findley-Grubb, Global Citizenship Fellow for the US Fund for UNICEF. To RSVP, please call the YWCA Pasadena at (626) 296-8433, or email Jessica Kubel at jkubel@ywca-pasadena.org. Both are free to the public to attend.

Also on October 14th, Day One Pasadena will be hosting a photo, voice, and video project for the public to capture the unheard voices of violence that our local youth have experienced. The PhotoVoice Project will take place at 4:00 pm at their location at 175 N. Euclid Ave in Pasadena, and will be guided by the following questions: What do you see in your neighborhood? What do you experience in your neighborhood? What is your vision for this community? Day One will also include a “speed-dating” style conversation with elected officials and community leaders. This includes five tables with five different topics such as Fights, Gun Violence, Gangs, and Safety. Students will rotate tables every 10 minutes to ask questions and talk about their concerns in the community with the elected official or community leaders. Music and food will be provided at this event.

Additionally on October 14th, San Gabriel High School’s Students Together Organizing Peace (STOP) Club will be hosting a lunchtime rally addressing the impacts of domestic violence and honoring lives lost to violence. The rally will include speakers and performances. STOP Club is a project of Peace Over Violence.

On Thursday, October 15th, the YWCA Pasadena is proud to host a Self-Care & Relaxation Workshop for Women. This special day of relaxation feature Yoga, Meditation, and Massage Therapy for women who have survived violence committed against them. This FREE workshop runs from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and will be held at the YWCA Pasadena location at 1015 N. Lake Ave, suite 205, in Pasadena. Yoga lessons are hosted by Bethany Eanes of Yoga High, meditation instruction led by Clare Angami of ClaretyMind, and chair massages offered by Massage Envy, courtesy of Kaitlyn Adams. Space is limited, and reservations must be made by calling the YWCA at (626) 296-8433, or by emailing Jessica Kubel at jkubel@ywca-pasadena.org.

Friday, October 16th features the YWCA Pasadena’s Candlelight Vigil, in collaboration with Day One Pasadena and Peace Over Violence. This event takes place in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Free and open to the public, the vigil will take place at Day One Pasadena from 5:00 – 6:30 pm and will honor the women, men and families who have been silenced by their batterers as well as those who have broken their silence to take a stance against domestic violence. Guest speakers, Survivors, and Family Violence educators will address the crowd, share their stories, and connect communities working to eliminate the issue of intimate partner violence. LED no-flames candles will be available to those attending, as well as art supplies to make posters, postcards, and luminary bags to share the message that such violence must be stopped. For more details, call the YWCA Pasadena at (626) 296-8433.

Also on October 16th, John Muir High School’s Students Together Organizing Peace (STOP) Club will be hosting a Peace Day on campus. During lunchtime, they will address the impacts of domestic violence and provide opportunities for students to create tie-dye shirts and share messages of peace and hope. The event will include speakers and performances. STOP Club is a project of Peace Over Violence.

On Saturday, October 17th, from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, the San Gabriel Valley Pride “Fall In Love With Pride” Festival will take place at Memorial Park in Pasadena, located at 30 N. Raymond Ave. Show your support and love for our LGBTQ community at this year’s Pride Festival. For more information, please call the Pasadena Pride Center at (626) 578-5772.

For more information about how you can participate in any of the Week Without Violence activities, please contact Cinthya Martinez at (626) 296-8433 or cmartinez@ywca-pasadena.org.

About the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley

The YWCA acts via a wide range of programs that strive towards the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women in Pasadena and the surrounding areas. Learn more about how you can become involved with the YWCA at www.ywca-pasadena.org. (626) 296-8433. The YWCA is located at 1015 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 205, Pasadena.