Reflections from YWCA National Conference with Executive Directors
Gery Paredes Vásquez (YWCA Madison), Margaret Mitchell (YWCA USA), Valarie Kaur, and Monique Lasarre (YWCA Berkely/Oakland) at YWCA National Conference
Gery Paredes Vásquez (YWCA Madison) with Valarie Kaur (Revolutionary Love Project, Author of See No Stranger and The Sage Warrior)
Debbie Esparza (YWCA Metro Phoenix) with Gery Paredes Vásquez (YWCA Madison)
Beloved community,
We welcome this spring season with deep gratitude for the intergenerational nature of our national and global network of YWCA local associations.
I recently returned from a national meeting with YWCA executive directors from across the country to share what is important to each of us to shape our collective way forward. We started our time together with a powerful message of unity and purpose from our beloved national CEO, Margaret Mitchell, centering us in the ongoing stewardship of the legacy and guidance of our timeless mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all."
“We’ve been here before. We’ve survived generations of oppression, political hostility, economic scarcity, gender backlash, cultural backlash, and WE can survive this moment too. Because we are not just reacting; we are reimagining. We are not just enduring; we must be about rebuilding.”
At this national meeting, I had the honor of introducing Valarie Kaur, whom I cherish as a precious sister in movement-building, and with whom we have collaborated multiple times as YWCA Madison via the Revolutionary Love project.
Valarie invited us to envision a beloved ancestor, reminding us that this ancestor could also be someone we admire in movement building, a sacred place, an animal, or even a plant. She invited us to feel their supportive presence on our backs. Then, she continued to invite us to envision a child who fills us with joy in front of us. She asked us to notice what emerges in our hearts with both these presences, she reminded us that we are the bridge between the legacy of our beloved ancestors and the future of the children we love in our lives. This was the powerful grounding we needed to understand how vital it is that in these often difficult times, we don’t obey in advance but instead courageously hold our posts with love at the center.
Our hearts and spirits know that beyond this moment, this is the legacy we are meant to steward and practice every day, remembering the visionary and courageous legacy of movement ancestors, such as our beloved Dorothy Height, who fifty-five years ago, grounded our YWCA network in the one imperative: “to eliminate racism by all means necessary” (which years later gave birth to our current mission).
Another inspirational leader was Debbie Esparza from YWCA Metro Phoenix. Debbie used the metaphor of a broken pot to describe this moment in our lives, meaning that the systems that held us in place have fallen, making us feel vulnerable and exposed in many ways. Despite this moment appearing particularly fragile, Debbie reminded us that the systems that are falling were already limiting our dreams and possibilities. Building on the metaphor of a broken pot, we are called to reimagine and rebuild broken pieces in beautiful and creative reconfigurations that will transcend the limitations of its original shape. I love how this beautiful metaphor illustrates the invitation from our beloved Margaret to meet this moment, rebuilding and reimagining ourselves and our work, and not to be hardened by mindsets of reactivity and endurance.
Returning home to YWCA Madison, messages from the National Conference continue to resonate as I re-engage in our work. With renewed energy, YWCA Madison responds to the call for transformation alongside our YWCA colleagues across the country and in intentional collaborations with our program participants, advocates, donors, and community partners to shape our collective path forward.
Importantly, we know that our collective joy and celebration are vital forms of resistance, especially in times fueled by fear and scarcity mindsets. If you want to join our mission and support us in creating the world we dream of, one of the many ways you can deepen your impact is by unapologetically gathering and celebrating courageous women in our community with us at our upcoming Women of Distinction event on June 18, 2025. Registration is now open!
Let us lead with love, dignity, and joy! Con amor, dignidad y alegria!
Gery Paredes Vásquez
