YWCA Princeton is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. DearYWCAFriends,
Thispastweek,YWCAPrincetonstoodshoulder-to-shoulderwithYWCAsacrossthecountryinapowerfulweekofactionand advocacy WemetwithourlocalrepresentativesintheUS HouseandwithSenatorCoryBooker’sofficetosharetherealstoriesof thepeoplewhoselivesaretransformedthroughourprograms Weremindedthemloudlyandclearlythatourmissiontoeliminate racism,empowerwomen,andpromotepeace,justice,freedom,anddignityforallisnotnegotiable.
Andwhilewearegratefulforthesupportweheardinthosemeetings,weknowthefightdoesn’tendinWashington-itbeginshere, withallofus Changehappenswhenvoicesrisetogether Thatmeansyourvoice,too
Weareaskingyoutotakeaction:write,call,oremailyourelectedofficialsanddemandtheyprotectthepoliciesandprogramsthat mattermosttoyouoruse5callsorgforaquickscriptandphonenumbers
Withlessthan100daysuntilNewJerseyelectsitsnextgovernor,thetimetospeakupisnow.Yourvoiceisyourvoteanditisthemost
ICE Arrests in Princeton IntheearlymorningofJuly24 ,news quicklytraveledthatICEhadarrested individualsontheirwaytoworkin Princeton,ayearaftersimilarraids occurredinJulyof2025 Townshipofficials laterconfirmedthat15individualswere detained Inastatement,theyinformed thecommunitythattheywerenotmade awarethatICEwouldbeinthearea,nor whattheirplanswere Readmorebelow aboutwhatthetownshiphasdonein responsetothearrests Clickthelink belowtoreadthestatementsfromYWCA PrincetonCEO,RoseWong,onthearrests
The Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center Rose’sstatement: https://ow.ly/f6F950WuZxV
Princeton Council Passes Immigration Resolution OnMondayAugust11 , thePrinceton TownCouncilandMayorpasseda resolutionsupportingthepassageofthe ImmigrantTrustActinadirectresponseto theIcearrestsinPrinceton.Princeton declareditselfa“welcomingcity”in2015 andisproactivelyworkingtorenewtheir commitmenttobuildcommunitiesthat valueinclusiveness,unityanddiversity By signingthisresolution,TheMayorand Councilcalluponthestatelegislatureto passtheImmigrantTrustAct
ReadthefullResolution: https://princetonnj.legistar.com/
Lastmonth,stateleadersbrokegroundon thebrandnewmaternalandinfanthealth centerinTrenton Thisnearly$87million centerwillworktowardseliminatingracial disparitiesformothersacrossthestate allowingforbetteroutcomesforboth motherandchild Inanationwidecrisis blackmaternalhealthcrisis,blackwomen inNewJerseyare7xmorelikelytodie duringchildbirthorduetochildbirth relatedcomplicationsthanthatofher whitecounterparts.Thiscenterwillfeature apartnershipbetweenmultiplestate universitiesandhealthcenters.Rutgers University,MercerCountyCollege, StocktonUniversity,TheCollegeofNew Jersey,andPrincetonUniversitywill provideresearch.CapitalHealthwill deliverfamily,OB/GYN,andpediatric services,aswellasdoulaandlactation consultationsupport.TheTrentonHealth Teamwilladdresssocialdeterminantsof healthwithwraparoundandparent services
ReadMore: https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/new s/562025/approved/20250722a.shtml
GOTV Updates Weareofficiallylessthan100daysfro ElectionDayandtheGovernor’srace heatingupquickly!Thestageisset betweenDemocratMikieSherrilland RepublicanJackCiatterelli,yourvoteisthe onlywaythewinnerwillbechosen!At YWCAPrinceton,wearecommittedto providingeducationaltoolsandresources toensureyoumakeadecisionbasedon whatmattersmosttoyou!Headtoour websitetoreadoursummariesofeach candidate’splatformandtovisitourvoter informationhub!
Advocacy Days CheckOutOurWebsite: https://www.ywcaprinceton.org/gotv
First Gubernatorial Debate Sunday, September 21 at 7 pm, Rider University st Also livestreaming on newjerseyglobe.com and C-SPAN
Thestageissetforthefirstgubernatorial debatebetweencandidatesJackCiaterelli andMikieSherrill Thistownhallstyle debatewillfeatureaudiencememberQ&A andisonlyoneoftwoofficialdebates betweenthecandidates Makesureyou tuneinsoyoucanmakeaneducated decisioninthevotingbooth!YWCA Princetonstaffwillbeinattendanceatthe debateandbringyouallofthehighlightsin theOctoberissueof Voices for Justice!
Lastweek,YWCAPrincetonjoined YWCAsacrossthecountryinaweekof advocacy!Together,wemetwithour localrepresentativestoadvocatefor theprotectionofbillsandfundingthat areessentialtotheworkthatweand ourfellowYWCAsdo Wespokeabout theChildCareandDevelopmentBlock Grant,TitleIIfundingforadultEnglish languagelearners,HousingandUrban DevelopmentContinuumofCareto continuefundingdomesticviolence shelters,aswellasamultitudeofline itemsprotectingvictimsofviolence againstwomen(VAWA)andthevictims ofcrimesact(VOCA).Butouradvocacy doesn’tstopthere!Wearereaching outtoeachofyoutowritetoyour memberofCongresstosolidify fundingfortheissuesthatmattermost toyou Visitouradvocatewebsiteto findsamplelettersandcontact informationforyourfederallegislator
LearnMore: https://www.ywcaprinceton.org/adv ocate
Equity in Action Insights from the Joint Efforts Safe Street Forum on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. By Darlene Nawuridam, Equity Coordinator
AspartoftheSummerSafeStreetsprogram,whichhonorsthelegacyof Princeton’sWitherspoon-Jacksonneighborhood,oneeventstoodoutas apowerfulmomentofreflection.OnAugust4,theforum“Community DiscussiononDEI:TheNationalPushBackandtheImpactonLocal Communities,”broughttogetherlocalleaders,advocates,andofficialsto examinethecurrentstateofdiversity,equity,andinclusion,both nationallyandlocallyinMercerCounty.
ModeratedbyJohnBailey,whoalsofoundedtheevent,andheldbeneath powerfulimagesofPaulRobeson,thediscussionwascandidandurgent, groundedinasharedbeliefthatchangeisstillpossibleifwearewillingto act.
Amongthepanelists,Rev.CharlesBoyerofGreaterMt.ZionAMEChurch ofTrentonemphasizedthatpoliticalempowermentmusthappenyearround,notjustonelectionday.“Youcannevernotfight,”hesaid, remindingattendeesthatcriticaldecisionsoftenhappenbeforevotesare cast.
PanelistsmadeclearthatDEImustgobeyondpublicstatements;it requiresstructuralchangeandaccountability.BrendaRoss-Dulan,a businessleaderandlongtimeadvocate,addressedbacklashand encouragedthosewithinfluencetobeintentional.“Ifyouhavethe privilegetobeintheroom,”shesaid,“youmustleavesomeevidence thatyouwerethere.”
Equity in Action Insights from the Joint Efforts Safe Street Forum on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. By Darlene Nawuridam, Equity Coordinator
MercerCountyExecutiveDanBensonsharedstepshisadministrationhas takentooperationalizeequity:launchingavendortrackingsystem, hostingminoritybusinessworkshops,expandinglanguageaccess,and revitalizingSouthBroadStreetinTrenton.Hisremarksshowedhow policycanbeatoolforinclusionandtransparency.
Still,speakersacknowledgedthatDEIisincreasinglyunderattack. CouncilmanLeightonNewlinaddressedthepoliticizationofwordslike “woke,”urgingactionoveravoidance:“Beingwokeisn’tenough.You muststayawakeanddosomethingwithit.”
CarolineClarke,attorneyandBoardPresidentofNotinOurTown,offered oneoftheevening’sstrongestcritiques,callingoutrecentlocaldecisions, suchasdivertingresourcesawayfromTrenton,asanexampleof performativeequity.Hermessagewasclear:theerosionofjusticeoften beginsclosetohome. Whatemergedfromtheforumwasacallformorethanawareness;real accountabilityandtangiblechangeareessential.Fromtownhallsto boardrooms,frombudgetstosidewalks,equitymustbepracticed,not justpromised.
AtYWCAPrinceton,thisconversationreaffirmedwhyourmissionto eliminateracismandempowerwomenismoreurgentthanever.TheSafe StreetsProgramisn’tjustacelebration;it’sacalltoaction.Whatwedo nowwillshapewhatcomesnext.
Meet the Lieutenant Governor Candidates Both major party candidates have announced their Lt. Governors in hopes they can help win them the election. Though the choices are polar opposites, they are both dedicated public servants. Read more about the men selected to be second-in-command! Click each candidate’s image to read more about them and the candidate they are supporting
MikieSherrillhasselectedCentenaryUniversityPresidentDaleCaldwellasher LieutenantGovernor,thefirstAfricanAmericanintheschool’s156-yearhistory.In additiontohisworkatCentenary,CaldwellisaMethodistpastorandservedonthe NewBrunswickBoardofEducationfor26years.He servedastheassistantcommissioneroftheNew JerseyDepartmentofCommunityAffairsfor GovernorJamesMcGreevey.Caldwellisan accomplishedtennisplayerandcreatedtheB BlackTennisHallofFame.Hehasalsocreatedthe BlackHallsofFameforinventors,entrepreneurs, authors,andeducators.
Jack Ciatterelli has selected Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon as his lieutenant governor. As Sheriff, Gannon is focused on strengthening relationships with agenciestokeepneighborhoods,schools,housesofworship,andbusinessessafe. Inthefirst100daysofhisadministration(currently inhisthirdelectedterm),hepartneredwith nonprofitentitiestocreateHopeOne,amobile substanceuseandmentalhealthdisorderoutreach thatstopsincommunitiestoprovidefreeNarcan trainingandaccesstoaddictionrecoveryand mentalhealthprograms.
What is redistricting? States like Texas and California have been all over the news lately for their attempts at rediistricing to find more “seats” for one political party over another. Let’s look at what redistricting is supposed to be used for and what is currently happening.
Perbipartisanpolicy.org,“redistrictingistheprocessbywhichtheboundariesof electoraldistricts,suchasforCongressandstatelegislatures,aredeterminedineach state.”Asweknow,Congressisbrokenupintotwolegislativechambers-theSenate andtheHouseofRepresentatives.Eachstatereceives2senatorsforequal representation,butthenumberforthehouseofrepresentativesisdeterminedbased onthepopulationofeachstate-thisprocessisspelledoutintheConstitution.Every tenyears,theentirecountrytakesacensustodeterminehowmanypeopleliveineach stateandhowmanyrepresentativestheyshouldreceive.Eachstatethendrawstheir legislativedistrictsbasedonthepopulationdensitythecensusshowedsoeach representativeofthatstatecoversroughlythesameamountofconstituents.While redistrictingis supposed tobedonewiththeintentofequalrepresentation, gerrymanderingisthestrategicdrawingofcongressionallinessoonepoliticalpartyof racehasmorerepresentationthananother.Redistrictingtypicallyhappenswithina yearortwoofanewcensus,whichmakeswhatishappeninginTexasaninteresting case.
What happens next? IfTexasRepublicanscontinuewiththeirplanto redistrict,theystandtopickupanadditionalfive seatsintheHouseofRepresentativesduringmidtermelectionsnextfall.CaliforniaGovernorGavin Newsomhaspromisedtoredrawthecongressional districtsinhisownstateofCaliforniaifthenewTexas mappassesandlegislationhasbeenintroducedto amendthestateConstitutioninNewYork.
