Organize Your Butterflies

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features an exciting and refreshing conversation between Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta, who are the founders of Justice in June, a digital compilation of resources making allyship a lifestyle habit, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA. As the world shifts to normalizing conversations surrounding anti-racism work and what allyship in practice looks like, Bryanna and Autumn have developed a platform in which individuals can take responsibility for learning ways to be intentional allies within this practice. The former college roommates and best-friends have been outspoken activists on social media and are leading the way for digital organizing and generational change. For more information on how to be a proactive ally, check out JusticeInJune.org And, be sure to follow them both on Instagram @autumngupta and @brybry1217! As we continue our conversation on allyship, YWCA USA recognizes the collective power of our national network of local associations committed to anti-racism work on the ground. YWCA Olympia, which practices a shared leadership model with Hillary Detamore, Chief Executive Officer at The Helm, made this commitment to centering racial justice work six years ago and hasn't looked back since. As this episode's spotlight, we are so proud of how they are challenging their local community of Olympia to think critically about racial disparities. For more information visit https://www.ywcaofolympia.org/.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a dynamic conversation between Nikki Mitre, Acting Director Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA. The historical milestones of Native American women have shaped America's history. Today, they continue to make strides - despite the challenging environment of this nation - especially within the global pandemic. Young women from tribes across the country have come together to use their collective power and influence to work on behalf of their communities. In Nikki's role at the Center for Native American Youth, she is responsible for spearheading initiatives to promote leadership within the Native American population's youth. Be sure to listen to find out how Native Youth are responding to COVID-19, recommitments to the outdoors, and leaning into culture and intergenerational strength. For more information on Nikki, be sure to check her out at https://www.cnay.org/bios/nikki-pitre/!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a moving conversation between Elle Hearns, the Founder of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA. In the one year since founding the MPJI, Elle has formally created a space for Black transwomxn to find community, resources, and total celebration of their identity. Honoring the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson herself is something that Elle has found through her career as an organizer and a tradition she is proud to carry forward. The YWCA network is proud to stand in collaborative solidarity with MPJI to elevate the voices of Black transwomxn! For more information, be sure to follow Elle and the Marsha P. Johnson institute on Instagram @soulfreedreams and @mpjinstitute (respectively).

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a vibrant and thought provoking conversation between Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA and Peggy Nagae, Senior Consultant at White Men as Full Diversity Partners and the co-chair of the Diversity Task Force for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Topics discussed include: the profound legacy of the AAPI community in the United States, the significance of COVID-19 and exclusionary narratives centered in racism, and how women's leadership styles are the most successful in times of crisis. Together we can build a better, more just, and fair world! For more information on Peggy and her work, check out wmfdp.com.

Join Nisha Patel, who is an Independent Consultant working with individual donors and community foundations on the philanthropic side, and has an affiliation as a Senior Fellow at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA as they discuss the massive impact that COVID-19 is having on the nonprofit sector, and what the response, recovery, and re-imagination of the sector looks like as we begin to re-open. They also discuss the ways in which philanthropy is building new paradigms, the importance of trust building within philanthropy, and how reimagining what the philanthropic sector looks like is the only option forward. To learn more about Nisha and her philanthropic endeavors, check out her website: nishapatel.org!

This week's episode features a conversation with Dr. Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement, lecturer, and faculty affiliate of Mexican-American and Latino Studies, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA. In her various roles, Dr. Soto strives to lead dialogues on what effective public policy looks like from an academic perspective. In this conversation, Alejandra and Dr. Soto discuss how diversity intersects with American politics, pushing for an increase in LatinX voices, and using emotion as a motivating factor. For more information on Dr. Soto, check out her bio and follow her on Twitter @DrVMDS!

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is a woman of firsts - she was one of the first Latina Congresswoman to serve in the U.S. Senate, serving the 16th district of Texas, and she is the first Congresswoman to be on Organize Your Butterflies. In this conversation with Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA, they discuss the ways in which hatred has permeated America, how this country is having a reckoning moment when it comes to race, and the importance of accurate representation of justice-oriented values. Further, we are pleased to release this episode on Mom's Equal Pay Day and highlight the pay-gap women experience in the workforce. Together in shared values, Congresswoman Escobar and YWCA are working to create a more just world. For more information on Congresswoman Escobar, follow her on Twitter @RepEscobar!

Join Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA and Dr. Annice E. Fisher, CEO and founder of The BEE FREE Woman and Developing Capacity Coaching, LLC in this lively conversation where they discuss tapping into the power of your full potential, following the calling of your spirit, and operating from a place of love and trust. Additionally, they discuss Annice's new book, "The Power Within Me: The Road Back Home to the Real You," and how she worked through the writing process from start to finish as she overcame obstacles to deliver the best version of herself possible. You can read more about Annice and "The Power Within Me" by visiting her website found here, and for even more inspiration, following her on Twitter!

As small-business owners continue to weather the coronavirus pandemic, many innovators are creating unique strategies to survive in this current economic environment. Nima Merchant is the Sr. Associate Director of Strategic Planning and Partnerships at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, and this episode's guest. Nima and OYB host Alejandra Y. Castillo discusses how the Polsky Center is engaging the greater Chicago community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, how businesses can remain sustainable, and forge strategic partnerships to weather this health. Click here to follow along with the happenings at the Polsky Center as they continue to be hub and beacon for the Chicago entrepreneurial community!

What does the world look like for GenZ-ers in these uncertain and confusing times? This episode's guest Deja Foxx, is the co-founder of both the GenZ Girl Gang and El Rio Reproductive Health Access Project, and a future Presidential candidate(!), chats with Alejandra Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA, and Sophia Clarke, Communications Associate on how GenZ-ers are leading the digital revolution by utilizing digital platforms to organize and make generational change. Deja brings her personal wisdom and professional experiences to this dynamic conversation on topics including digital organizing, get out the vote efforts, and how the American dream is based on choice. Follow along with Deja's journey on Instagram: @dejafoxx and @genzgirlgang, and on her personal website: dejafoxx.com. This episode's spotlight is on YWCA Madison and features a conversation with Vanessa McDowell, YWCA CEO Madison! Follow along their journey on Twitter @YWCAMadison