Melissa Carter - EmBe

100-Year Sunday Story: Louisa Mitchell

Melissa Carter2022-08-06T13:29:17-05:00

As EmBe celebrates its 100th anniversary, we are digging through our history to discover some of the trail-blazing women who defined our values and shaped our history. While looking through the archives, one name popped up repeatedly, continuously doing good for the community and shaping the YWCA into what it is today. This woman was one of the organization’s first members, one of the most influential figures in the Sioux Falls civil rights movement, and one of the most prominent beauty figures in South Dakota history. For our Sunday Story this week, we’re highlighting the life of Louisa Mitchell! Beauty [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Louisa MitchellMelissa Carter2022-08-06T13:29:17-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: The YWCA’s Womanless Wedding

Melissa Carter2022-08-01T09:53:08-05:00

Just six years after its opening, the YWCA put on a production guaranteed to grab the attention of the Sioux Falls Community – The Womanless Wedding. The two-hour-long play took place at the Coliseum on April 21-22, 1927, with tickets sold for 50-75 cents. The production was breaking records as soon as it was announced, with the most tickets sold on opening day for an amateur production. It was expected to be the funniest play ever performed in Sioux Falls. After two nights of sold-out shows, it was named one of the most successful amateur productions in Sioux Falls history. [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: The YWCA’s Womanless WeddingMelissa Carter2022-08-01T09:53:08-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Women Archers of the YWCA

Melissa Carter2022-07-22T14:12:11-05:00

Archery has been around since the first civilizations back in the Paleolithic period. While it was intended for fighting and hunting, the bow and arrow eventually morphed into a tool for leisure and hobby. Beginning in 1800, archery was seen as a sport and a means of friendly competition. However, the world of archery was mainly reserved for men as it was still used as a form of weapon for war. In the 1900 Olympic games, archery was included as a sport for the first time; this was the same year women were first allowed to participate. While women were [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Women Archers of the YWCAMelissa Carter2022-07-22T14:12:11-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Supporting Women from Around the World since 1920

Melissa Carter2022-07-15T14:49:11-05:00

YWCA’s All Nations Club In 1921 the Emergency Quota Law was passed by the US Congress. This law established the United States’ first numerical limit on the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States. A year after this law passed, the Sioux Falls YWCA created the All Nations Club – a club founded to support new women citizens. Many new citizens felt homesick and lonely, unsure how to engage in American culture. This club aimed to celebrate the members’ home countries while teaching them about the American way of life. Each meeting would center around a different topic. [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Supporting Women from Around the World since 1920Melissa Carter2022-07-15T14:49:11-05:00

EmBe CEO Column: July 2022

Melissa Carter2022-07-15T12:54:03-05:00

Dare to Raise, Rise2Raise “They’re just like us.” That’s the recurring thought of this past month at EmBe. It was the first thought that came to my mind as I sat in a circle of past and present board members recently. The statement’s on repeat, in my mind and out loud, as we peruse the pages of our 100-year-old history. My heart races at any discovery that triggers it and my spirit dances with each jaw-dropping move made by our sisters and allies of the past. If you can’t tell, we’re uncovering our history from the pages of scrapbooks that [...]

EmBe CEO Column: July 2022Melissa Carter2022-07-15T12:54:03-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Typical Girl Does Boy’s Job

Melissa Carter2022-07-10T15:58:59-05:00

As part of our 100th anniversary, EmBe is highlighting powerful women from our past! These women remind us to be courageous and strong in our lives, and to follow our passions, even when others are against us. This week’s spotlight is on Diane Powell– a member of the YWCA from the 1940s! On September 2, 1947, Diane Powell became Sioux Falls’ first woman sports editor for a high-school paper. Because of this (and many other achievements), the YWCA named her the Y-Teen representative of the city. She traveled to many cities with this title and connected with other YWCA members. [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Typical Girl Does Boy’s JobMelissa Carter2022-07-10T15:58:59-05:00

Spotlight: EmBe Summer Interns

Melissa Carter2022-06-20T11:27:58-05:00

Spotlighting EmBe’s Summer Interns Summer brings a new crop of interns to our organization, and we wasted no time getting to know them. With so many questions and much less time, we narrowed this Q&A to five questions and let their insightful answers speak for themselves. While we already know how our mission may seed success in their life, we’re also uncovering their desire to sew their seeds into our communities. Without further ado, meet EmBe’s 2022 Summer Interns! Tell us a bit about yourself: Aybree: I am 22 years old, and I recently started working as the interim School [...]

Spotlight: EmBe Summer InternsMelissa Carter2022-06-20T11:27:58-05:00

The CEO Column: June 2022

Melissa Carter2022-06-20T11:10:38-05:00

Finding Hope Here We remember how much a human can bear in the wake of unthinkable tragedy. Every parent who celebrated the start of summer held the joy of their child’s achievement in tandem with the shared grief of parents in Texas. Every parent who dropped their child off for daycare bore the weight of uncertainty as each child who’s completed an active shooter drill may understand the uncertainty each day may hold. Couple the weight of our shared reality with the prolonged sense of uncertainty we’ve experienced over the last two years and the burden of these experiences may [...]

The CEO Column: June 2022Melissa Carter2022-06-20T11:10:38-05:00

The CEO Column: May 2022

Melissa Carter2022-05-04T15:16:37-05:00

Securing the Next Century of EmBe’s Impact Over the last 100 years, EmBe has been on a mission to empower women, children, and families to enrich lives. In 1922, our founders were the first to recognize the power of women gathering. They established an organization focused on women’s voices, work, and ability to solve community issues together. We weren’t just the first to offer women a dedicated place in the community. We are also the first to shelter battered women, the first to pay tribute to their impact, and the first to advance their children’s care by piloting preschool in [...]

The CEO Column: May 2022Melissa Carter2022-05-04T15:16:37-05:00

Staff Spotlight: Jamie Farley – SAC Coordinator Harrisburg Liberty

Melissa Carter2022-04-19T15:53:20-05:00

Staff Spotlight: Jamie Farley, SAC Coordinator - Harrisburg Elementary Jamie Farley was looking for a fulfilling job that fit his skills and experience when he discovered a posting for the School Age Care Site (SAC) Coordinator position. “I quickly discovered that EmBe is a great organization to work for,” Jamie said. “You have great benefits and opportunities, but you get to make a daily impact in a child’s life. For some, it’s an influence that they may not have outside of EmBe.” Over four years later, Jamie is the SAC Site Coordinator at Liberty and recently expanded his responsibilities as a [...]

Staff Spotlight: Jamie Farley – SAC Coordinator Harrisburg LibertyMelissa Carter2022-04-19T15:53:20-05:00

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