Women

Donor Spotlight: Meet Jeannie Blackman

2024-02-07T15:58:35-06:00

Jeannie Blackman's roots with EmBe trace back to the very inception of the now-iconic Tribute to Women event, formerly known as the Leaders Luncheon, a testament to her mother Kris Egger's influential role in its planning 50 years ago. Jeannie fondly reminisced about the countless hours she and her sisters spent in the EmBe pool as members of the Snowfox Swim Team, creating enduring memories of camaraderie and teamwork. Transitioning through the years, Jeannie's husband joined the Board of Directors in 2012, the year when men were first welcomed to contribute their perspectives. This shift exemplified EmBe's commitment to [...]

Donor Spotlight: Meet Jeannie Blackman2024-02-07T15:58:35-06:00

Women Spotlight: Meet Colleen Keiser

2024-02-07T15:54:34-06:00

Colleen Keiser's experience with EmBe's Women's Leadership Programs is one of support, enrichment, learning, and growth. Participating in a variety of EmBe women’s programming, Colleen's journey reflects EmBe’s mission to support women, children, and families and the tangible benefits of mentorship. Women to the Workforce: Addressing Everyday Challenges Colleen actively participated in the Women to the Workforce Program. For her, mentorship played a crucial role in tackling the practical challenges of work and life. "Everything was overwhelming at times. Having someone to call and talk through things was nice. My mentor helped with my resume and my elevator speech." [...]

Women Spotlight: Meet Colleen Keiser2024-02-07T15:54:34-06:00

Mentoring Mindset Workshop

2023-04-04T08:54:24-05:00

If you are interested in mentoring others, EmBe has a Women's Leadership cohort ready to be matched to a mentor on May 8! We are hosting a Mentoring Mindset Workshop on April 24 to uplift our new and existing mentors in anticipation of the pairing to a mentor for this cohort. This Workshop is offered virtually at noon or in person at 4 PM at Downtown EmBe, where we will provide wine and cheese. This Workshop is a free event, but RSVP is required. Sign up for the Mentoring Mindset Workshop here. For more information or questions, please get in [...]

Mentoring Mindset Workshop2023-04-04T08:54:24-05:00

Staff Spotlight: Melissa Hiatt

2023-03-20T15:13:38-05:00

“I want to help women tap into the life-giving, life-changing, life-empowering power for them, their families, their organizations, and their communities.” At EmBe, our mission is to empower women and help them discover their strengths, activate their vision, and help meet their personal and professional goals. Putting the pivotal mentors, leadership, and programs in place is what we are excited to bring more emphasis to within the community. We are ecstatic to announce the addition of Melissa Hiatt, Director of Women’s Programming, to the EmBe team! We are certain that Melissa’s experience and new ideas will grow Women’s Programming to [...]

Staff Spotlight: Melissa Hiatt2023-03-20T15:13:38-05:00

EmBe CEO Column: November 2022

2022-11-08T11:34:21-06:00

Get out and Vote In case you weren’t aware…. In case you haven’t noticed, there is an election happening. If you’re like me, you may be fatigued by the political advertisements, solicitations, and some of the ‘dirty politics’ that accompany each election. Perhaps that’s why the right to vote, suffrage, sounds so much like suffer. We “suffer” through the political season to finally get to lift our voices through the right to vote. The reality is, the word suffrage comes from Latin suffragium, which initially meant “a voting tablet” or a “ballot” or a “vote”… ultimately becoming, the right to [...]

EmBe CEO Column: November 20222022-11-08T11:34:21-06:00

100-Year Sunday Story: 100 Years of EmBe

2022-09-25T11:04:58-05:00

For the final Sunday Story, we’re bringing you 100 fun facts about EmBe from our last 100 years! The 1920s YWCA founder, Mabel Crossman, owned the state’s largest chicken hatchery with her husband, even though she was terrified of chickens.  The YWCA was one of the first organizations to offer Kittenball leagues for women. Kittenball is the original name for softball. The first Camp Tepeetonka was on Lake Madison. One of the original classes of the YWCA was a cheese-tasting class.  The YWCA offered a special one-on-one English class for immigrants attempting to learn the language.  President Calvin Coolidge visited [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: 100 Years of EmBe2022-09-25T11:04:58-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: The Name Change

2022-09-16T10:52:55-05:00

On April 16, 2013, the Sioux Falls branch of the YWCA cut ties with the national organization and announced the new agency as EmBe. There were many reasons for the change, but ultimately, the organization wanted to be more connected and support and provide resources in the best possible way to the Sioux Falls community.  When the name changed, it didn’t mean that the services had changed. After the switch, EmBe still provided all the services they did before, including childcare services, aquatics, Girls on the Run, Tribute to Women, and all other programs.     By cutting ties with [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: The Name Change2022-09-16T10:52:55-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: The Forgotten Heroes of 9/11

2022-09-10T20:21:08-05:00

9/11 was a tragedy of the modern age that exposed the strength and resilience of the nation as a whole. Everyone came together to show their support, lend their hands, and offer their services. However, there is often a party that is overlooked in the portrayal of this event. At EmBe, we hope to highlight the women emergency responders of 9/11. In the wake of 9/11, many women expected to see news coverage and stories of how New York pulled together to help as many people as possible. However, what they saw were stories of male firefighters and police officers. During [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: The Forgotten Heroes of 9/112022-09-10T20:21:08-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Working Women

2022-09-04T13:38:15-05:00

As we honor Labor Day at EmBe, we’re reflecting on the women laborers. The YWCA has always been in support of working women. Since its beginning, the organization has been there to support industrial women, advocate for women’s rights, and declare equal pay. YWCAs worldwide helped with the representation of labor units and the empowerment of women entering the workforce. This story will help to illustrate some critical aspects of the history of the working woman and the YWCA.   United War Work Campaign One of the first significant efforts the organization started to help the working woman was the United [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Working Women2022-09-04T13:38:15-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Amanda Clement

2022-08-20T19:53:00-05:00

Beginning Years: Amanda Clement was born in 1888 in Hudson, South Dakota. Amanda was familiar with strong women her entire life. Her dad died when she was seven, so Amanda watched as her mother stepped up to the plate and took on the challenge of raising two children alone. It was a social crime to parent kids without a man in the house, let alone a young boy. However, Amanda watched as her mother ignored the critics and raised her brother and herself all alone.  Amanda grew up playing sports with her brother, Hank, but her favorite was baseball. There was [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Amanda Clement2022-08-20T19:53:00-05:00
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