JAMESTOWN – Congressman Tom Reed recently toured the Jamestown YWCA and said he left inspired by the work being done and the stories he heard.
Reed recently saw first-hand the impact the YWCA of Jamestown and related programs have on the city and surrounding area. During a tour of the YWCA and the TEAM Program, Tom met with the department heads of each program and spoke with staff members about poverty, the effects Social Security has on the people they serve and the impact each program has in the local area.
“From the strong women making plans for their future in the TEAM program to the stories of the children who attend the after school programs and beyond, I left the YWCA of Jamestown inspired,” Reed said. “Making sure we get their stories and experiences back to Washington is exactly what we need. In order to fix the system, we have to listen to the people on the ground who are living and working in these situations.”
Reed told WNYNewsNow that he was inspired by hearing first-hand the stories of young mothers in the TEAM Program and how they are facing life’s obstacles with success and hope.
“They’re providing resources to those mothers so that they can arm themselves to take care of, not only themselves, but their new children in a positive way. I can tell you it was inspiring,” Reed said.
The YWCA offers a variety of programming such as early care and educational; after school programs; summer camp; transitions and supportive housing; supervised visitation; a Women2Women coaching program; the Teenage Education and Motherhood (TEAM) program; and many others. Tom toured the main site in downtown Jamestown as well as the TEAM program, which focuses on helping teen mothers and their children.
“We were proud to host Congressman Tom Reed and his team at the YWCA of Jamestown. Our mission to eliminate racism and empower women was our resounding message as we explained the many programs and services we offer the people of his district, our community,” said Jacqueline Phelps, YWCA of Jamestown executive director. “From realizing how important our After School programming is for parents and families in our area to speaking with young teenage mothers in our Teenage Education And Motherhood Program and learning the barriers they face as they bring a life into the world, the YWCA works each and every day to help those we serve be equipped with the tools to thrive. We look forward to continuing conversations with Congressman Reed and his staff to ensure our voice is heard and our high-quality programming remains accessible in our community.”
The YWCA of Jamestown is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The TEAM program helps teen mothers graduate from high school, learn to parent positively and overcome obstacles to personal success. The program also provides classes, academic help, childcare, social work and other supportive services. For more information, visit www.ywcaof jamestown.com.
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