Organize Your Butterflies

In the wake of the murder of 20-year old Vanessa Guillen, an Army specialist, the military has faced an immense amount of scrutiny in how they investigate gender-based violence. In response to cries for accountability, a group of former members of the armed services have banded together to seek justice for Vanessa and her family to hold the military accountable for their inaction. Lucy C. Del Gaudio, Melissa Bryant, and Lindsay Church speak with Alejandra Y. Castillo on how they are advocating for Vanessa and providing a new blueprint for proper investigation of gender-based violence reports within the armed services. As calls for transparency and accountability increase, these women are leading the way to achieve justice, and making history along the way. Please follow along @LadyDelDJ, @mabryant256 @lkmchurch , and contribute to the conversation to demand using the hashtag #JUSTICEFORVANNESSAGUILLEN on Twitter. For more information on what YWCA is doing to support survivors of gender-based violence visit https://www.ywca.org/what-we-do/domestic-and-sexual-violence-services/.

This episode of Organize Your butterflies features a vibrant and educational conversation between Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA and Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche. Tiffany is an expert financial educator and has helped thousands of women understand their finances, build wealth, and understand the fundamentals of financial wellness. In honor of Black Women's Equal Pay Day, we're grateful to have Tiffany's insight on The Black Tax and why it is harder for Back women to achieve financial equity. For more information on Tiffany, be sure to follow her @TheBudgetnista on all platforms, and check out her new book "Happy Birthday Mali More"!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies explores how COVID-19 has affected low income communities across the country, and the ways in which community investment though (Community Development Financial Institutions) CDFIs is helping provide support during these challenging economic times. With their distinct niche as financial institutions with a mission driven bottom-line, CDFIs do so much more than just provide access to capital. Episode guest Maurice Jones, President of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) chats with Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA about these important institutions, the significance of community investment, and the future of rebuilding commercial spaces in places where they’ve been historically overlooked. For more information on how LISC is helping out, be sure to check out their website and follow Maurice on Twitter @LISCMaurice!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features an exciting and refreshing conversation between Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta, who are the founders of Justice in June, a digital compilation of resources making allyship a lifestyle habit, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA. As the world shifts to normalizing conversations surrounding anti-racism work and what allyship in practice looks like, Bryanna and Autumn have developed a platform in which individuals can take responsibility for learning ways to be intentional allies within this practice. The former college roommates and best-friends have been outspoken activists on social media and are leading the way for digital organizing and generational change. For more information on how to be a proactive ally, check out JusticeInJune.org And, be sure to follow them both on Instagram @autumngupta and @brybry1217! As we continue our conversation on allyship, YWCA USA recognizes the collective power of our national network of local associations committed to anti-racism work on the ground. YWCA Olympia, which practices a shared leadership model with Hillary Detamore, Chief Executive Officer at The Helm, made this commitment to centering racial justice work six years ago and hasn’t looked back since. As this episode’s spotlight, we are so proud of how they are challenging their local community of Olympia to think critically about racial disparities. For more information visit https://www.ywcaofolympia.org/.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a dynamic conversation between Nikki Mitre, Acting Director Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA. The historical milestones of Native American women have shaped America’s history. Today, they continue to make strides - despite the challenging environment of this nation - especially within the global pandemic. Young women from tribes across the country have come together to use their collective power and influence to work on behalf of their communities. In Nikki’s role at the Center for Native American Youth, she is responsible for spearheading initiatives to promote leadership within the Native American population’s youth. Be sure to listen to find out how Native Youth are responding to COVID-19, recommitments to the outdoors, and leaning into culture and intergenerational strength. For more information on Nikki, be sure to check her out at https://www.cnay.org/bios/nikki-pitre/!