Verdugo Views: YWCA answers an important ‘call to action’
World War I was underway when the national YWCA joined a lobbying effort to persuade the U.S. government to form a female military corp.
One was finally founded — the Women’s Auxiliary Corps, WACS — but not until 1942, during World War II.
Ever since then, the national YWCA has been on the forefront of supporting female veterans.
So, with Veterans Day approaching, let’s fast-forward to current times.
Now, female military vets and their families receive many services from YWCAs across the country, including emergency housing, healthcare, career training and counseling. Military women who are victims of sexual assault also receive support, as noted on the national YWCA website.
The website highlights several Ys across the United States that focus on military needs.
Here’s what they have to say about Glendale’s Y:
“YWCA Glendale, in collaboration with the Glendale Mayor and Glendale’s chair of the Commission on the Status of Women have come together to form a Veteran’s Coalition of people and agencies that address female veterans’ issues through: advocacy, the enhancement of current programs and services, and community initiatives.’’
A few months ago, I contacted Michelle Roberts, executive director of the Glendale YWCA, to find out more about this topic. She put me in touch with Lisa Raggio, then the senior director of community services, development and communications, and a key organizer for the Glendale Y’s “Focus on Female Veterans.”
Raggio explained via email that it all started in mid-2012 when she attended a Glendale Healthier Community Coalition meeting and heard then Mayor Frank Quintero put out a “call to action” to remember our veterans.
When Raggio spoke with Quintero later that same day, he recommended that the YWCA consider developing support services for local female veterans. He thought they could use support from a well-known reputable women’s organization, such as the YWCA.
Raggio went right to work. Her research uncovered some startling statistics: Female veterans are highly likely to experience unemployment; they are four times more likely than their civilian counterparts to become homeless; and they are at a high risk of sexual assault, harassment and domestic violence.
She identified the top three challenges facing local female vets: access to child care while they train or work, finding funding for class supplies that the GI Bill doesn’t cover and limited access to benefits. Other issues include difficulties with transportation, housing and lack of culturally competent social services.
Under Raggio’s direction, the YWCA moved to address these issues in multiple ways.
Now, three years later, a new female veteran outreach coordinator, Megan Rodriguez, is continuing the work begun by Raggio. This last spring, Rodriguez organized a conference to educate veterans.
The conference provided financial information on budgeting, savings, retirement and also on dressing for the workplace.
Leaders also taught coping and stress-relief skills. Another topic was conflict management and how to approach a veteran who is in an unhealthy situation.
Rodriguez recently emailed me this startling statistic: “Twenty-two veterans commit suicide a day. Therefore, it is up to us to make sure that we recognize behaviors and are trained to handle situations.”
The conference received a great response and organizations want to partner with the Y, Rodriquez said. “There is potential for this to grow,” she added.’
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Readers Write:
Don Meyers emailed this memory: “As a youngster, riding in my folks’ car up and down Canada Boulevard, we would often see a woman sitting in an area amongst some trees about 25 or 30 feet from the street. The area where she sat apparently used to be a home. As I remember, the property was on a corner on the west side of Canada Boulevard., several blocks south of the intersection of Country Club Drive.
“I have a vague recollection that her husband was a judge and had passed away at some point. I understand that her home had burned down and that she refused to leave the property. She somehow cobbled together some sort of living quarters on the home site and sat there every day, looking out at the traffic going by on Canada Boulevard. It seems like the city of Glendale allowed her to stay there. I don’t know if she had sanitary facilities, water or electricity.
“Maybe she was receiving help from a neighbor. As I recall, the woman stayed on the property for six or seven years, possibly many more. I always wondered what she did when it rained. How did she protect herself?’’
Meyers would like to hear from other readers who remember this woman.
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KATHERINE YAMADA can be reached at katherineyamada@gmail.com or by mail at Verdugo Views, c/o News-Press, 202 W. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please include your name, address and phone number.
