Youth Career Mentoring Kickoff Event - Friday, June 27, 2014

The YWCA Pasadena is proud to be a part of the Youth Career Mentoring project, in collaboration with Senator Carol Liu's office and Women At Work.  The program offers job readiness and professional skills training to young women ages 14 – 21.  This is a unique opportunity for high school and community college age youth who are eager to learn skills that will help them prepare for college and career.  Senator Liu’s office has coordinated with over 25 professional career women in the Pasadena area and all were recently honored by Senator Liu’s office for their achievements in their community and career field. 

We invite you to attend the Kickoff Event to this program, hosted at the YWCA Pasadena this Friday, June 27^th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  Participants will get the chance to meet local professional women and explore the types of careers they are looking for, and what fields of profession might interest them.  Refreshments will be provided at the event as well. 

Please RSVP as soon as possible to jkubel@ywca-pasadena.org, or call 626-296-8433 for more details.

Registration Now Open for Girls Empowerment Summer Camp

Registration is now open for the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley's Girl’s Empowerment Summer Camp!  Camp runs from June 30th to August 8th, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and is held at the YWCA location at 1015 N. Lake Ave, Suite 205, in Pasadena.

The Girls Empowerment Summer Camp focuses on developing confidence, improving self-esteem, identifying ambitions, learning new skills, and empowering girls to dream big. Throughout the summer, participants will chart the course to reach their goals and realize their full potential through a series of empowerment workshops, community service projects, college tours, and cultural excursions – all while honing their academic and technological skills. This summer's activities include a scavenger hunt, cooking classes, beach trips, business tours, and life skills lessons such as money management, healthy living, and relationship building.

Fridays start at the Huntington Gardens & Library for hands-on experience with the master gardener at the Huntington Ranch, and include garden-to-table cooking lessons with local chefs. Senior high school girls will practice interacting in a professional setting and learn public speaking skills in a specially-designed docent training for one of the Huntington's art exhibits.

With the guidance of our new Summer Camp Director, Taos Glickman, girls enrolled in the summer camp program will develop the tools necessary to prepare for higher education and career aspirations as they navigate their path to adulthood. Taos has extensive experience working with middle school and high school age youth from diverse cultural backgrounds in a summer camp setting. She received a MA from Cal State Los Angeles, and has a triple major Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Amherst College. Taos has worked with youth and parents on topics involving gender empowerment, racial justice, bullying, and college transition issues.

Registration is taking place now through June 20th. The full session registration fee of $795 includes all camp fees, field trips, activities, snacks, lunch, and a camp t-shirt. Weekly registration is also available for $150 per week. There is a $35 non-refundable deposit upon registration that goes towards total camp fees. Click here to register online today!
 
Please fill out this registration form and return to the YWCA to secure your spot for this year's summer camp session. All forms can be returned by email at shamilton@ywca-pasadena.org, or by fax at 626.296.8434.

Scholarship opportunities are available, but numbers are limited. Please call the YWCA at 626-296-8433 for additional information.

 

The YWCA would like to thank its generous supporters and sponsors: Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Rotary Club of Pasadena.

3rd Annual Women's Leadership & Networking Day a Success!

On Friday, May 2, 2014, the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley hosted its 3rd Annual Women’s Leadership and Networking Day. This day-long inspirational conference was held at Twin Palms Restaurant and Lounge in Pasadena. The Women’s Leadership and Networking Day provided the opportunity to hear from seven unique women who have followed their passions and utilized their strengths to reach their professional goals.

This event, produced by the YWCA’s Women’s Leadership & Networking Day committee, was chaired by Paula Stamp and Kelsey Szamet. This event served as a means of sharing wisdom and advice to empower women in their careers and personal life, as well as an opportunity to make professional connections with other women in a variety of fields.

“The energy in the room was palpable as 100 women came together to share, inspire and empower each other,” said Sharalyn Hamilton, Executive Director.

The event brought together over 100 women of all ages and stages of their professional lives: career women, retired women, young professionals, and students. Guests attending were able to network and share personal stories and insight about their varied career fields and future goals.




Thank you to our amazing guest speakers: Ursula Hyman, Rosemarie Pilpa, Melody Godfred, Phlunte Riddle, Michele Martinez, and Lilli Cloud.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our committed sponsors: PCL Construction, Gruen Associates, The Law Office of Angeline Chen, Salted Stone, Carmen Vargas & Christopher Garrido, Ellen’s Silkscreening, Pasadena Magazine, and Business Life Magazine.  Special thanks to Cam Sanders, our event photographer. 

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight- Lilli Cloud

Lilli Cloud is a born marketing evangelist and skilled executive-level professional communicator.
She intuitively connects to subjects and issues that are meaningful to her target audience and
then presents these in a way that matters to them.

She runs bluefeet (www.yourbluefeet.com), a creative company that works with leaders to identify
and communicate what makes them or their companies extraordinary through executive and
corporate branding and thought leadership. Her work includes career marketing and presentation
coaching for C-level, senior executives and luminaries.

She was formerly a VP at both FleishmanHillard International Communications and PainePR
(now Citizen Paine). Her career spans communications both internal and external, domestic and
international, corporate and agency.

Ms. Cloud will be speaking this Friday, May 2nd at the YWCA's annual Women's Leadership and Networking Day. Her talk, entitled "Who's Telling Your Story?' will be on how to use stories effectively to create new business opportunities. To register please go to ywca.org/wlnd2014

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight- Michele Martinez

Michele and several other prominent women will be speaking on her journey into politics at the YWCA's 3rd Annual Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 2nd at Twin Palms Restaurant and Lounge in Pasadena. Register today at www.ywca.org/wlnd2014!

Michele Martinez’s passion for public service stems from her strong commitment to serving her community.  As one of the youngest to serve on the City Council, Michele brings new and positive energy to the City of Santa Ana.  Michele was elected to the City Council in November of 2006 and was re-elected for a second term in 2010.

Michele’s priorities on the council include economic development, public health and safety and active transportation. Michele understands the importance of having a thriving economic base to support job creation and a healthy and safe community. Furthermore, she is a strong supporter of local businesses and the critical role they play in education, our neighborhood preservation, and the economic development of the City. Michele currently chairs the Finance, Economic Development & Technology City Council Committee and serves on the following City Council Committees: Development & Transportation, Public Safety, Legislative, and the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee.

Michele also represents the City of Santa Ana on several regional boards; she currently serves on the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the nation's largest metropolitan planning organization representing six counties, 189 cities and more than 19 million residents.  SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to encourage a more sustainable Southern California.  She is an at-large member for the California League of Cities Orange County Division and also represents the Orange County Division on the League of California Cities, Transportation, Communication and Public Works Policy Committee. Michele is a board member for the Orange County Waste Management Commission, representing City Selection Committee for the 1^st District. She is also the City’s representative on Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG), a joint powers authority established to monitor, analyze and provide Orange County's technical and policy recommendations on all SCAG plans and programs.  Michele also represents the City on the Transportation Corridor Agencies Committee (TCA).  TCA are two joint powers authorities formed by the California legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct, and operate Orange County's toll roads. TCA consists of two local government agencies: the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency which oversees the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road and the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency which runs both the Foothill Toll Road and the Eastern Toll Road.

Lastly, she is a board member with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO); a leadership organization of the nation's more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed Latino public officials in the United States. Michele also recently became a board member for the Southern California Latino Policy Center, a non-partisan, policy education and research organization created to provide local Latino elected officials from LA County, Orange County and the Inland Empire with resources, research and professional development opportunities designed to help those officials create the most effective and impactful policies for Latino families and all communities.

Michele is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton where she earned a B.A. degree in Criminal Justice. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health at Cal State Fullerton. Michele is the Director of Alliance for a Healthy Orange County and enjoys spending her free time cycling and living a healthy life style.

What is Women's Leadership and Networking Day?

Women’s Leadership and Networking Day         May 2, 2014

Being Your Best Self: Courage to Follow your Strengths and Passions

The YWCA Pasadena Foothill Valley is all about empowering women. On May 2nd, seven powerful women will spend the day empowering you!  Sharing stories, experience and wisdom - woman to woman.

At the Women’s Leadership and Networking Day, you will have to opportunity to hear from seven unique women who have followed their passions and capitalized on their strengths to reach their professional goals.  Susanne Whatley of KPCC 89.3 FM will guide us through the day and our six speakers will share some of the wisdom and expertise they've gained along the way.  Interspersed throughout the day are opportunities for networking and making personal and professional connections with other women in a variety of fields.  The conference culminates with a cocktail mixer that gives you the opportunity to deepen the connections you've made. Our gracious sponsors have provided giveaways and raffle items to add to the fun.  Breakfast and lunch are provided.

Who Would be Interested?

This event offers something for all women.  The seasoned professional will find inspiration and keys to prolonged professional growth and success.  The business owner or consultant will be able to connect with potential clients or networks.  The student and young professional will be surrounded by women who possess the experience and knowledge that may help in her next career step. Retired women have the opportunity give back to the next generation of women while being inspired by the energy and creativity in the room.   It is a sharing of wisdom and tools that can empower women in their careers and personal life, as well as an opportunity to be in the company of women.

More about the speakers and their presentations:

Susanne Whatley,  a news anchor at KPCC and host of "Healthline", a weekly cable interview show will facilitate our day.

Ursula Hyman, a retired partner of Latham and Watkins LLP.  Ms. Hyman’s primary passion is bringing dignity to others.  She serves on the board of FVO Solutions, Inc.; LA Regional Council of St. Vincent de Paul and the Board of St. Francis Medical Center.  She will speak on “Finding Your Passion.”

Rosemarie Pilpa, a Technology Specialist in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.  Ms. Pilpa’s passion led to her involvement in prosecution of patents related to biochemical and biotechnology.  She will share her journey “From Lab Work to Law.”

Melody Godfred, the founder of Write In Color, Inc. creating powerful and personalized brands for individuals and businesses.  Ms Godfred was a litigation attorney at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro. She is also a novelist.  Ms. Godfred will present, “Living in Color: How to Build Your Personal Brand.”

Phlunte Riddle, known throughout Pasadena for her 29 years with the Pasadena Police Department.  Lt. Riddle was the first African-American female promoted to the rank within the Pasadena Police Department.  She has now launched her own consulting company specializing in organizational development.  She will speak on “Emotional Intelligence Leadership.”

Michelle Martinez, Councilwoman for the city of Santa Ana and board member of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the Southern California Latino Policy Center.  Ms. Martinez will share how her passion for public service led to her “Journey into Politics” at a time when we are seeing fewer and fewer females running for public office.

Lilli Cloud, founder of Bluefeet, a creative company that works with leaders to identify and communicate what makes them or their companies extraordinary.  Ms. Cloud is a self-proclaimed marketing evangelist who will help you learn how to use stories effectively to create new business opportunities in her presentation, “Who’s Telling Your Story?”

“I am always excited when women come together to empower women.  I am particularly excited about this diverse panel of speakers who have taken courageous steps to follow their passion in the development of their careers and becoming their best selves.”
- Sharalyn Hamilton, Executive Director
YWCA Pasadena

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight- Phlunte Riddle

Phlunte’ launched her own consulting company, Phlunte’ Riddle Group in January 2013.  She is a motivational speaker and specializes in organizational development, with an emphasis on Emotional Intelligence Leadership.

Her mission is to bridge the communication gap between multiple generations.  Through emotional intelligence and the skill sets provided, organizations can achieve their goals by imparting leadership methods for optimal organizational success. 

She is the past interim Executive Director of the YWCA, Pasadena Chapter.

Phlunte’ is also an adjunct professor at Biola University and the University of Phoenix.    

Phlunte’ Riddle retired from the Pasadena Police Department in December 2012.  In her 29 years with the police department, she served the community in numerous capacities.

Three years prior to retirement, she served as the Adjutant to the Chief of Police and Public Information Officer for the department. Other assignments as a lieutenant included field service area commander, community relations, and traffic section.  As a sergeant, she worked detectives, vice narcotics, and as a police officer she was assigned throughout the organization as a patrol officer, undercover drug officer, background investigator, detective investigating robberies, sex crimes, and homicides.  .  

Retired Lieutenant Riddle was the first African American female promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1998 within the History of the Pasadena Police Department.

Phlunte’ is currently a Psychology doctoral student at Phillips Graduate Institute.   She holds a BS degree in public administration from the University of La Verne and a MA degree in organizational leadership from Woodbury University.  She is also a graduate of California Command College and a graduate from the FBI National Academy in Quantico Va. 

Phlunte’ Riddle has received numerous awards and recognition over her years of service.  

Phlunte’ has been married for 35-years and is blessed with three adult sons. 

If you would like to hear Phlunte speak on “Emotional Intelligence in Leadership” at our Women's Leadership and Networking day on May 2nd, please register at www.ywca.org/wlnd2014