Women Creating Change (WCC), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a more just and equitable New York City where all women are civically engaged, today announced its partnership with University Settlement, America’s first settlement house, which partners with more than 40,000 New Yorkers annually. This collaboration will bring civic engagement and advocacy training to University Settlement’s staff and participants.
“WCC is honored to partner with this historic organization to empower its staff and participants to become civically engaged and effect change in their communities,” said Sharon Sewell-Fairman, President and CEO of WCC. “Reaching tens of thousands of New Yorkers each year, University Settlement’s focus on ‘building community strength’ aligns perfectly with WCC’s vision and mission.”
The inaugural advocacy cohort will comprise University Settlement staff and meet over six months, aiming to launch subsequent cohorts that will engage with University Settlement’s program participants. At the conclusion of the first phase, which will run through February 2025, participating staff will create personal action plans for civic engagement on issues of importance to them.
“Partnering with the WCC will empower our staff and community members to make an even greater impact through civic engagement,” said Jennifer Vallone, Associate Executive Director for Arts, Adults, and Advocacy at University Settlement. “Our teams and the neighbors we work with have unparalleled knowledge of how policy decisions affect our communities – knowledge that should be considered by our policymakers and representatives. Women constitute 70% of the human services workforce, and we are thrilled to leverage WCC’s decades of civic engagement expertise to cultivate our current and future community leaders.”
About Women Creating Change:
Founded in 1915, Women Creating Change (formerly Women’s City Club of New York) is a nonprofit, non-partisan, activist organization committed to advancing women’s rights and shaping the future of New York City. Today, Women Creating Change is a diverse community that collaborates with stakeholders and organizations, with a focus on underserved women, including women of color, low income women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Our mission is to develop and strengthen the skills and resources needed for women to effectively identify and advocate for the issues that matter most to them and to New York’s most diverse communities. Our vision is a more just and equitable New York City where all women are civically engaged. Learn more at https://wccny.org/.