Meet Emily – Women’s History Month 2023
Women’s History Month (WHM) was first celebrated on a national level in 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, Congress designated the month of March as Women’s History Month and it has been continued through presidential proclamations ever since. Learn more at womenshistorymonth.gov.
This year, we wanted to celebrate a few of our amazing staff members who are actively creating our history every day!
Meet Emily Schneider!
Emily is the Family and Health Components Manager with ECEAP and has been with the agency since August of 2018.
What first drew you to YWCA Spokane?
The first thing that drew me to the YWCA Spokane was their mission to ‘Eliminate Racism and Empower Women.’ I have a passion for social justice and wanted to be part of an organization that helps eliminate oppression and supports people to thrive.
What do you wish more people knew about YWCA Spokane?
I wish more people knew that we serve all genders, not just women, of intimate partner violence (IPV) at the YWCA. Because our name includes the word ‘women’ I think people don’t realize that any gender can access IPV services. We strive to empower women AND serve all genders that are impacted by intimate partner violence.
Additionally, some services like Our Sister’s Closet and ECEAP (Early Childhood Education Assistance Program) do not require that participants be impacted by IPV.
What is your favorite part of your role?
My favorite part of my role is seeing the positive impact that ECEAP family support and social emotional learning have on the families we serve. As a program, we help with doctors appointments, navigating the court system, parenting education, legislative advocacy, and learning social emotional skills for the whole family and SO much more. Using the social emotional curriculum, Conscious Discipline, we teach staff and families about their own feelings, triggers and reactions so they can be more in-tune with their child, themselves, and those they encounter. I love to see the families learning to be emotionally and socially safe with themselves and each other.
Describe your favorite meal.
Wow, this is a hard one. My favorite meal is probably beef pho, pot stickers, and a chocolate dessert afterwards. I love soup, even when it’s hot out 🙂
If you were a cookie, what type would you be?
I would be a chocolate chip cookie because they are just so delicious!
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn every language in the world! How incredible to communicate with all people!
What is something you learned in the last week?
I’m not sure this is something ‘new’ but this morning I heard someone say, “Heart work is hard work,” meaning when we are learning, talking, and working on the things that are passions, it will be hard. It is a good reminder that when we are dealing with big, emotional topics to remind ourselves that this work can be triggering, difficult, and ALSO beautiful and worthwhile. It is worth it!
What are 3 words to describe YWCA Spokane?
Welcoming, empowerment, passion.
Name a show or movie you recently watched and loved.
The new version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, so good!
If you magically had tomorrow off, what would you do?
I would snuggle with my dog, Sven, get a latte from a local shop, and do some sort of exercise like the gym, biking, or yoga.
To learn more about our ECEAP programs and other services, visit our website!
Other WHM 2023 Spotlights
By: Lara Estaris