“Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women”
YWCA Carlisle is a non-profit, social justice centered agency that works to eliminate racism and empower women in the Carlisle community and beyond. YWCA operates programs for people of all genders, from preschool age into adulthood. Many of their program offerings focus on educating members of the Carlisle Community. For example, a youth program called “After School Homework Club” provides “a safe and enriching environment for students in grades kindergarten through fifth to complete their homework.” Many of their programs, like this one, are staffed by volunteers from the Carlisle and Dickinson communities. Other programs focus on teaching nutrition, sexual violence prevention, physical wellness, fitness, and respectful communication. There are many volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved, which can be found on the YWCA Carlisle website.
An outdoor educational camp for youth rising into grades 4-6 is being offered at the Dickinson College Farm this summer. Dickinson College’s Center for Sustainability Education (CSE), Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), and Farm are coming together to provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to area children. D.I.G. campers will gain a better understanding and appreciation of our local resources by participating in hands-on learning experiences connecting them to renewable energy, stream health, sustainable agriculture and culinary discoveries. The camp is designed to foster a love of the outdoors, sense of place, skills in nature journaling and crafts, and practical experience in farming and science.
Hope Station embodies social sustainability in its emphasis on the need to start with children in building a stronger, cohesive community. Its programs promote the values of self-esteem, service, and respect for others that will be carried through the community from generation to generation. Hope Station also functions in an economic sense, building community capital and offering counsel to community members who are seeking work, the idea being that opportunities for employment begin with a foundation of confidence and community support.
