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YWCA CAMBRIDGE UPDATES
AUGUST 2025
Your bi-monthly pulse on programs, events and inspiration with YWCA Cambridge.
In This Issue:
Greetings from Kim
Upcoming Events:
Soulful September at Soper Park
🌙 Take Back the Night & Feminist Night Market
❤️ Walk A Mile
Taking Small Steps, Together
ICYMI - 2024 Annual Report is Here!
Building Community at Our Women’s Emergency Homeless Shelter
Summer at The W: Camps that Inspire, Connect, and Empower
Youth Leadership & Violence Prevention Programs Are Back!
Summer of Smiles: Adventures, Splashing, and Safari Fun!
Child Care Now & Tomorrow: Kristina Lyman Represents YWCA Cambridge on National Panel
Keeping Women’s Homelessness and GBV Top of Mind
YWCA in the News
Dear Friends and Supporters,
September is just about here, bringing with it a sense of hope and new beginnings. This feeling of change is particularly powerful right now, as communities across the country—ours included –grapple with the effects of an affordability crisis that is impacting everyone, especially women, girls, and gender-diverse people. We see the rising costs of living making it harder to find and keep safe, affordable housing, and we know that a lack of stable housing is a key factor in gender-based violence.
In the face of these challenges, it’s more important than ever to come together. This month's newsletter is a testament to the incredible power of community. You'll find stories of our recent Small Steps to Success graduates who are taking new steps in their lives, our upcoming events like Take Back the Night and Walk A Mile in Their Shoes, and updates on how our staff are advancing gender equity on a national stage. We hope you feel as inspired as we do by what we can accomplish when we work together.
Warmly, Kim Decker CEO
UPCOMING EVENTS
Soulful September at Soper Park
🗓️ September 6, 2025 | 🕙 12:30 – 3 PM 📍Soper Park 🎟️Get your ticket
On Saturday, September 6, Cambridge realtor Mags Springle is hosting Soulful September, a community yoga fundraiser in support of YWCA Cambridge’s Women’s Emergency Homeless Shelter. The event will take place at Soper Park and feature a 60-minute slow-flow yoga class led by Sandi Grekoff of The Yoga Loft in Preston, accompanied by live guitar from Paul Cleve. Participants will also enjoy a soothing sound bath, a wellness mini market, raffle prizes, and local vendor giveaways. Tickets are $33, with all proceeds helping women in crisis find safety and support through the shelter!
🌙 Take Back the Night & Feminist Night Market
🗓️ September 18, 2025 | 🕙 6 – 9 PM | 💲FREE 📍The W – 20 Dickson St Cambridge
At Take Back the Night, we will use our voice to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence, while marching to reclaim our right to safety in the streets of Cambridge.
This year’s event will feature:
🪧 A rally and community march 🛍️ A Feminist Night Market with local artists, makers and small businesses 🤝 Community booths and interactive activities
📬 Want to volunteer or become a vendor?
We are looking for local feminist artists, makers, vendors and small businesses to take part in the event and offer folks a chance to purchase their own feminist finds. Table fees directly support gender-based violence prevention programs for youth.
We are also welcoming youth volunteers to support the event. Youth will receive volunteer hours for their support and participation. Interested youth volunteers can email c.jaipersaud@ywcacambridge.ca for details and to sign up.
All are welcome — bring your friends, your voice, and your energy.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, downtown Cambridge will be filled with footsteps and voices united for change. Walk A Mile in Their Shoes, YWCA Cambridge’s annual community walk, is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a powerful, visible stand against gender-based violence.
Participants will gather at City Hall Civic Square for a one-mile symbolic walk through the downtown core – donning the signature red high heels if they choose to! –, raising awareness and critical funds for women and gender-diverse people impacted by violence. Together, we’ll celebrate community, solidarity, and the belief that everyone deserves to live free from violence.
Proceeds directly support YWCA Cambridge’s brand-new 24/7 emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness and our free, youth-led prevention programs in schools and community spaces across Waterloo Region.
This year’s event will feature inspiring speakers, live music, yoga, art, family-friendly activities, and a free community lunch making it both a call to action, AND a celebration of resilience and hope.
👉 How you can take part:
Lead a Team & Fundraise: Start your own fundraising page or join an existing team. Rally your coworkers, friends, or family for a fun, meaningful team-building experience.
Register to Walk: Sign-up to walk with your friends and family on event day!
Donate: Support a walker or team and help us reach our fundraising goal of $30,000!
Together, we can walk for change and show that Cambridge is ready to end the cycle of gender-based violence.
This summer, we marked another milestone for our Small Steps to Success program with the graduation of our 75th (!) cohort of women and gender-diverse individuals. Over 12 weeks, participants came together in a supportive environment to build life and employment skills, explore new opportunities, and most importantly, find connections. Our newest graduates leave the program with not only updated resumes and interview practice, but also a renewed sense of self, a supportive sisterhood, and the confidence to take their next steps forward.
And those steps are already adding up. Many of our grads are now starting new jobs, pursuing further education, or continuing their personal journeys of growth and healing. This latest cohort joins a 25-year+ legacy of Small Steps alumni—known as the Small Steps Sisters—who stay connected long after graduation.
This summer, our sisters have gathered for a Lunch & Learn in the park where they shared strategies for setting healthy boundaries, celebrated with a joyful bracelet-making workshop, and reunited to laugh and splash together at Bingemans Waterpark. These moments of friendship and fun are just as important as the classroom sessions and remind us all that belonging, joy, and community are part of building a sustainable future.
From Placements to Careers
Each Small Steps participant completes a three-week volunteer placement with a local business, gaining real-world experience that often leads to employment or further education. We are deeply grateful to the organizations that hosted our participants over the past year, providing supportive and welcoming environments:
Chartwell Retirement Residence
CMHA Waterloo Wellington
Dust Out Commercial Cleaning
Encore Threads and Treasures
Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre
Habitat for Humanity (Cambridge ReStore)
Millennium Tax Services
Preston Heights Community Group
St Andrews Terrace Long Term Care Community
Steinmann Mennonite Church
The Literacy Group
Workforce Planning Board
YWCA Cambridge Head Office
YWCA St Margaret Child Care Centre
Cambridge Food Bank
On behalf of our entire team, we extend our sincere gratitude for your generous support. By opening your doors and providing a welcoming environment, you help participants gain skills, confidence, and hands-on experience that can change the course of their lives. Your commitment to empowering women strengthens not only the individuals in our program but our whole community.
Join Us in Creating Opportunity
We’re always looking to expand volunteer placement opportunities. Local businesses and organizations play a critical role in helping participants gain valuable experience and explore potential career paths. If your business or organization could host a Small Steps participant, we would love to hear from you!
Because sometimes, the biggest changes begin with one small step. 👣
YWCA Cambridge’s 2024 Annual Report is now available!
This year’s report is packed with stories of impact, community milestones, and powerful reflections on what we've accomplished together. From program highlights to financial transparency and everything in between, it’s a snapshot of a year defined by resilience, collaboration, and change-making.
Building Community at Our Women’s Emergency Homeless Shelter
Our Shelter has been buzzing with activity this summer. From community puzzle tables and shared meals, to collaborative art sessions that bring residents and staff together. But beyond the day-to-day moments of connection, we’re also celebrating FIVE housing placements in the last five months!
What truly sets our shelter model apart is the 24/7 model designed with wraparound supports, recognizing the many barriers women and gender-diverse people face. From personal safety and mental health to housing navigation and rebuilding lives, our focus is to meet each person exactly where they are and support them on their own journey forward. Our dedicated, full-time housing support worker, Jackie, builds trusted relationships with residents and walks alongside them on their housing journeys—searching, applying, advocating, and adjusting plans based on individual needs and timelines.
There’s no one-size-fits-all path out of homelessness. Some residents are ready for permanent housing quickly, while others need more time, more care, and more stability to prepare for that step. Every journey is unique, and our team meets people exactly where they’re at.
Together, we’re making community, creating safe spaces, and building the support systems that make long-term housing success possible.
💜 Learn more about our Women’s Emergency Shelter and read our latest update here:
Summer at The W: Camps that Inspire, Connect, and Empower
This summer at The W, our space was filled with laughter, creativity, and connection as over 50 young people took part in five weeks of free summer camp programming. From building friendships to exploring art, to discovering self-love and leadership, each program offered something unique and unforgettable for our campers.
✨ Mini Camp (ages 8–14) welcomed newcomers and returning participants with a three-day introduction to The W. Youth had the chance to try out a mix of activities – from self-care workshops to creative projects – easing their transition into our space and programs.
💜 Camp with the Love (ages 8–10 and 11–14) focused on themes of self-care, healthy friendships, and setting boundaries. Each day explored a new topic through creative, hands-on activities. For example, campers explored “healthy friendships” by choosing traits they wanted to place in their very own “friendship jar.” From slime-making and bracelet weaving to movie days and water games, youth discovered that learning about themselves can be fun, too.
🎨 Camp with the Art (ages 8–10 and 11–14) encouraged self-expression through painting, sculpture, mixed media (including food!), Indigenous art, printmaking, and even STEAM activities that blend science with creativity. Campers learned that art is about more than the final product, but also sparking creativity, encouraging exploration and self-expression.
🤝 Empower & Allyship Summer Program (ages 14–17), run in partnership with the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC), provided high school-aged youth with tools to foster healthy relationships and become leaders in ending gender-based violence.
Of course, camp wouldn’t be camp without fun extras. Friendship bracelets, slime-making, lip balm crafting, planting wheatgrass, water day, ice cream trips, and movie marathons brought extra joy to our summer.
When we asked campers what they loved most, the answers say it all:
“Slime.”| “Everything.”| “The crafts.” | “I really loved yarn art.”
And perhaps most importantly, several campers shared that they left feeling “a lot more connected to others.” 💙
This summer at The W gave young people the chance to create, play, and learn in a space where they felt safe, supported, and connected.
✊ Youth Leadership & Violence Prevention Programs Are Back!
The school year is almost here, and so are YWCA Cambridge’s youth leadership and violence prevention programs at The W! These programs give young people safe, welcoming spaces to explore identity, relationships, and empathy while building the confidence and skills they need to spark positive change in their schools and communities.
💡 SHYFT Over 12 weeks, cis and trans girls, non-binary, and Two-Spirit youth ages 8 to 14 dive into big conversations about self-esteem, body image, media literacy, consent, and social justice. SHYFT blends creative, hands-on projects with meaningful discussions—think tie-dyed tote bags with affirmations, pronoun necklaces, or collaborative campaigns that spread powerful messages across the community. Youth leave not just with new tools, but with a stronger voice and the courage to use it. Check out our poster for the upcoming season!
🏫 In-School Workshops Our facilitators bring real-life conversations into classrooms across Waterloo Region—free of charge. Through interactive activities and open dialogue, students explore topics like gender, healthy friendships, consent, and bystander intervention. Workshops can be offered virtually or in person and are designed to be fun, relevant, and age-appropriate, making it easier for youth to connect and put what they learn into action.
💚 Roots of Empathy This world-renowned program brings the most unexpected teachers into the classroom: babies! With guidance from a trained instructor, students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 observe the bond between a baby and their parent to learn about feelings, empathy, and kindness. The result? Less aggression, more compassion, and classrooms that feel safer and kinder. We’re also looking for volunteer families with babies (2–4 months old in October) to join this inspiring program.
Together, these programs remind us that young people can and are leading change right now.
Summer of Smiles: Adventures, Splashing, and Safari Fun!
What an awesome summer it’s been at our child care centres and indoor/outdoor camps! Our days have been packed with adventure — from splashing around at local splash pads, visiting ponds, and checking out real fire trucks at the fire station, to a couple of epic trips to the African Lion Safari.
At camp, the fish have been biting and the excitement has been sky-high! One of the biggest highlights? Gary from Miltown Computer Services came by and took apart a real laptop with the kids — everyone was amazed to see what’s inside!
As we head into the last stretch of summer, we’re ready to make every moment count and wrap up the season with even more laughter, learning, and memories we’ll never forget!
Child Care Now & Tomorrow: Kristina Lyman Represents YWCA Cambridge on National Panel
Earlier in June, our very own Kristina Lyman, Director of Child Care, represented YWCA Cambridge at the YWCA Canada Annual Members Meeting, joining a panel of experts to explore the evolving child care landscape in Canada. The panel began with the presentation of new national polling on child care, which was undertaken on behalf of YWCA and YMCA Canada by Environics, followed by insights from panelists across the country, including representatives from YWCAs Cambridge, Halifax, Québec, and Winnipeg.
The session, titled "Child Care Now and Tomorrow," is a critical look at the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system and served as both a reflection and a rallying point for the work still ahead. As the moderator said, “We know that when we talk about child care, we are talking about much more than early learning. We’re [also] talking about women’s safety, economic security and the ability to make empowered choices.” As the second largest child care provider in Canada, YWCA plays an integral role across the country in advocacy for truly sustainable, affordable and accessible child care.
Kristina spoke to both the successes and ongoing challenges YWCA Cambridge has experienced as part of the CWELCC rollout—highlighting program expansion, innovative frameworks, and the importance of prioritizing diversity. She also emphasized our model of individualized care, especially with the work of our Behaviour and Inclusion Supervisor, and pointed to the need for stronger government partnership in addressing workforce and resource gaps.
Looking ahead, Kristina shared that a key priority for YWCA Cambridge is deepening our focus on quality and inclusivity, ensuring all children and families have access to safe, supportive, and empowering care.
We’re proud to have had Kristina expertly representing our voice at the national level, reminding the movement that child care is not only essential, but it’s transformative.
Thinking of hosting a fundraiser? Or looking to get your company more involved? Let’s talk about how a strategic philanthropic approach can boost morale and create positive business sentiment in our community!
In a powerful new op-ed published in The Waterloo Region Record, our CEO, Kim Decker, and Sara Casselman, Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, issue a bold call for housing justice.
Titled “A call for housing justice for survivors of gender-based violence in Waterloo Region,” the piece explores the critical and often-overlooked intersections between gender-based violence and homelessness, and calls on all levels of government to step up with meaningful, collaborative action.
Every action you take—big or small—helps us build a community where women, girls and gender-diverse individuals are respected, valued and equal. Here’s how you can make a difference today:
💛 Donate: Help us to provide safe shelter, empowering women’s and youth programs, and to be a strong voice for gender equity.
🔁 Become a Monthly Donor: Join a community of changemakers fueling sustainable impact all year long.
🎟️ Attend an Event: From Women of Distinction to community workshops and fundraisers, your presence matters.
🎉 Host a Fundraiser: Celebrate a birthday, milestone or community event by fundraising in support of our programs.
🤝 Volunteer Your Time: From events to special projects, we welcome community support.
Stay Connected
There are so many ways to stay in the loop and be part of the YWCA Cambridge community be sure to follow us on social media for real-time updates, stories and opportunities.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more equitable Cambridge—thank you for being part of it.
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