The YWCA Mitchell Board of Directors is casting a new vision to better serve the Mitchell area community by merging together with Sioux Falls based nonprofit, EmBe. The YWCA of Mitchell has served the community for 97 years, and together with EmBe, has a vision for serving women and families in the community for many more years to come.
“We saw an opportunity to give our organization a stronger, more local focus and really saw that opportunity within the EmBe organization,” said YWCA Mitchell board president Stacy Giblin. “Being a parent that utilizes the programs as well, I really wanted a better image for our programs, more growth and to take it to the next level. The kids will benefit from better programs. That is where EmBe can take us.”
EmBe was the YWCA Sioux Falls for 92 years before it disaffiliated in April 2013. Its strong, quality programming in the areas of child care, youth programming and women’s leadership have only grown in the years since the name change. EmBe has been serving Mitchell through its’ Girls on the Run program since 2011.
“Mitchell is a flourishing community that will continue to benefit from the strong programming EmBe excels in,” said EmBe board president Amy Bialas. “The two organizations have such similarities – our long-term histories with the YWCA, a local-driven mission and programs that meet the needs of our communities. No doubt, the future holds many possibilities.”
The merger will be celebrated with a Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 11:00am at the YWCA Mitchell. The celebration is in collaboration with the effective date of the merger.
Kirby Loban, YWCA Mitchell board member, added, “While our organization’s name will change, we are still offering the same quality programming that our community needs with the same local people. The EmBe mission of “Empowering women and families to enrich lives” truly speaks to the potential we see in this merger. We couldn’t be more excited about the future.”