Center for Young Womens Development

“In addition to reviewing the audit, the audit committee (selected board members) reviews the 990 forms. The executive director also reviews the 990 forms. A draft copy of the 990 is presented by email to all board members. If needed, a conference call may be scheduled to address questions or concerns.”

“Upon or before hire, election, or appointment each employee and board member must provide a full written disclosure of all direct or indirect financial interest that could potentially result in a conflict of interest. Examples include employer, business, and other nonprofit affiliations, and those of family members or a significant other. This written disclosure is kept on file and is updated annually and as needed. Employees and board members must disclose any interests in a proposed transaction or decision that may create a conflict of interest. After disclosure, the employee or board member will not be permitted to participate in the transaction or decision.”

“The board of directors has the authority over starting salary levels and salary increases for the executive director. The board of directors also determines the executive director's salary based on wages that are comparable to those paid to employees with similar qualifications and responsibilities in local non-profit organizations.”

“Cywd pays salaries and wages that are comparable to those paid to employees with similar qualifications and job responsibilities in local non-profit organizations doing similar work. Salary comparability studies are periodically reviewed and salaries are adjusted accordingly. Compensation is reviewed as part of annual performance and merit. The executive director has final approval over all starting salary levels, salary increase, and staff promotions, except for her own.”

“Cywd's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available to the public. To review the contents of these documents, requests should be made to the deputy director. The deputy director will respond to request within 10 business days. After reviewing request, the deputy director will schedule an appropriate time for you to review the documents. Documents may also be mailed or viewed online at www.guidestar.org.”

“Through these supportive and advocacy programs, participants learned grant writing skills, successfully raising 10,000 to support community projects they developed, completed a 12-week curriculum for successful reentry and parenting/life skills, developed community based advocacy projects, including the publishing of findings from a san francisco youth survey, and several young women participated in local and statewide advocacy conferences and convenings. Outcomes from sisters circles re-entry support programs during the fiscal year included forming a youth advisory board to drive the organizations programming for young mom and formerly incarcerated young women. Providing training utilizing the women at the forefront curriculum and for young moms, we also provided parenting workshops graduating a total of 20 young women in our 12-week policy training and 8 in the parenting class. One of the things young women participating in programs at the center often say is the most powerful is the sisterhood and community they build with other young women and for the pregnant and parenting moms, they often tell us how they don't have any other spaces where they are not looked down upon or feel judged for being moms. The young women's freedom center is often one of the few spaces where young women have been recognized as powerful and as agents over their own lives. In 2016, we celebrated with two baby showers, graduations, and in circle together. The young women defined advocacy campaigns on housing, public transportation, and access to services and support for pregnant and parenting moms under age 18. We believe that those most impacted by injustice must be at the forefront of leading change and the ones that define the conditions, policies, procedures and services that need transformation. We provided paid employment training to 12 young women through the sisters rising internship program. During the internship program, interns conducted research on policies impacting young people in san francisco and the bay area, learned community organizing skills, public speaking, computers, community outreach techniques, grant-writing, and program development. Sisters rising interns conducted over 300 hours of community based outreach building relationships with 240 young women. They were trained in participatory action research and conducted focus groups with young women on the streets, in detention, and at the center. Through our partners we provided additional trainings and certifications to sisters rising interns including: peer educator certification via sfwar and career pathways, advanced job training , and career development via wardrobe for opportunity. Through our outreach and training efforts, we were able to engage a population of young women who do not typicallyrespond to traditional educational programs and services, conducting outreach on the streets, in detention centers, and in the court room. Priority for enrollment was for young women ages 14-24 who were homeless, considered the hardest to reach, in the foster care system, who have had multiple arrests or who were two or more grades behind in school. Sisters rising interns worked with a supervisor and life coach to develop personal leadership and support plans. Upon graduating from sisters rising, young women were enrolled in school, had secured employment, continuing to work with the center as a speaker and trainer, and one young woman was accepted into a national fellowship. We continue to collaborate with other organizations in san francisco and across the region to provide skills training, resources, and support to the women we work with and strengthen our movement building work as a women's organization working for social justice and systems transformation. During the nine month sisters rising paid internship, 100% of the 12 young women who graduated were placed in externships or permanent jobs. Five of the young women also went on to pursue higher education, enrolling in city”

“We provided one-one sessions and court advocacy for 34 women and girls. Many of these young women transitioned out of gdap into sisters rising after release from juvenile hall. 28 of these women went onto participate in sisters circles, receive care management, life coaching, and support.”