Empowerment starts here
EmBe is a growing, active community partner offering quality and affordable programs, services and opportunities. EmBe has a history rich in being the first to respond to the needs of area women. In its early years as the YWCA, it was a place for girls and women to gather and learn, a place for young women to live, a place to find safety and shelter from violence, a place to provide childcare and early education for children, a place for women and children to grow and be healthy through fitness and aquatics, and a place to develop leadership skills and find friendships. Over the years, many programs and services from which the community still benefits, were developed.
OUR MISSION
Empowering women and families to enrich lives.
OUR VISION
The lives of women and families are better.
In April 2013, the organization changed its name from the YWCA to EmBe. This change came after long, thoughtful consideration. Now as a local organization, EmBe is positioned to serve the community and offer local decisions to local needs for years into the future.
Today, EmBe programming is mission driven and diverse in offerings, including:
Through these programs, EmBe strives every day to achieve a place of empowerment where women succeed, where children and youth strive, where there’s respect for diversity and where contributions are made towards the development of a community that is vibrant and healthy.
Board of Directors
An annually elected Board of Directors governs EmBe providing leadership and vision to our organization. The board of directors consists of influential women and men of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds ranging from human resources and law to finance and communications.
Dr. Amy Jacobson Bialas – Chair
Anne Rieck McFarland – Vice Chair
Sonja Theisen – Treasurer
Kendra Calhoun – Secretary
Karen Lundquist – EmBe CEO
Burke Blackman
Nancy Fradet
Stacy Giblin
Alex Halbach
Lisa Irvine
Luke Lindberg
Valerie Loudenback
Michele Wellman
Community Partners
The EmBe vision encompasses collaboration and partnerships as a vehicle to enhance the programs and services our organization provides to the Sioux Falls community. As a supporter of EmBe programs and services, these relationships help to ensure:
- Women are able to choose a career outside the home because her children have safe, quality childcare in her absence
- Girls are taught leadership skills that carry with them into adulthood
- Skill enhancing and fun programs are available to kids throughout the year (i.e. volleyball league, soccer league, summer camps, babysitting camps)
- Programs are offered on “no school” days allowing parents to maintain a full work day if desired
- Health and wellness services can be expanded to those that cannot afford the services and to entire families
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