Vancouver Woman Named As 'Emerging Leader' Delegate To United Nations Commission On The Status Of Women (Photo) - 03/02/26

Vancouver, WA – YWCA Clark County is proud to announce that they are sending a delegate to the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). As part of the YWCA network, YWCA Clark County is honored to participate in this global gathering focused on advancing gender equity and supporting women and girls worldwide.

This year, YWCA Clark County will be represented by Stacy Flores, who is identified as one of YWCA USA’s Emerging Leaders. Flores will join delegates from across the country in New York City from March 9–13, 2026. Ten delegates were selected from across YWCA’s network of 193 Local Associations to represent YWCA USA’s mission and advocacy priorities. Reflecting the powerful diversity of our associations and their staff, delegates will participate in programming and events hosted by UN Women.

“Stacy represents the very heart of our mission. She is a survivor who chose courage, rebuilt her life with determination and grit, and now uses her voice to advocate for others walking that same path. As a mother and a committed champion for racial and gender equity, she has transformed lived experience into leadership. Her selection as an Emerging Leader affirms what we see every day: when women have access to safety, support, and opportunity, they do not just recover, they rise and help reshape the systems around them. We are incredibly proud to have her represent YWCA Clark County and YWCA USA on the global stage at the United Nations.” — Brittini Lasseigne, CEO, YWCA Clark County

The full list of YWCA’s delegation members is below. 

Network Leadership Delegates
Margaret Gritten, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish 
Sally Winn, YWCA Spokane 

Emerging Leaders - Delegates Under the Age of 30
Myxee Thao, YWCA Madison 
Stacy Flores, YWCA Clark County 
Victoria Mendoza, YWCA Berkeley/ Oakland 

YWCA USA Board & Executive Leadership
Margaret Mitchell, CEO  
Daryl Thomann, COO  
Dr. Dionne Blue, CIO   
Joanne Tabellija-Murphy , Board & Global Relations Committee Member 
Jhaniqua Palmer, YWCA USA

For more information about the UN70 click here.

About UNCSW:
The Commission on the Status of Women is an official commission of the United Nations which focuses on advancing the rights and empowerment of women and global gender equality. 

During its annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress and commit to further action. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Commission’s parent body, for follow-up.

About  YWCA Clark County:

Founded in 1916, YWCA Clark County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  YWCA Clark County began as a lunch counter serving women in the workforce and has evolved from renting a first apartment to the only emergency shelter system.  Today, the organization offers the SafeChoice Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs, Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool and Prevention programming in local high school and middles schools. For more information about YWCA Clark County, please visit: www.ywcaclarkcounty.org
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Carrying Val Joshua’s Legacy Forward: Two Clark County Changemakers Recognized For Advancing Racial Justice (Photo) - 02/26/26

Vancouver, WA  --  In a moment when communities across the nation again face rising division and calls for racial equity, YWCA Clark County will honor two visionary local leaders whose values and impact mirror the courage of civil rights advocate Val Joshua. The organization is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award: Dr. Karin Edwards and Dr. Megan Dudley.

Community members are invited to celebrate the honorees at Shine, YWCA’s annual Gala on March 21, 2026, at ilani Casino Resort, where the awards will be formally presented.

“Val Joshua fought for racial justice during one of the most divisive times in our country’s history—and her legacy remains just as vital today,” said Brittini Lasseigne, CEO of YWCA Clark County. “Dr. Edwards and Dr. Dudley remind us that courageous, values-driven leadership can change institutions, transform communities, and bring people together around shared hope and belonging. That’s what this award—and our mission—are all about.”

For more than three decades, the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award has recognized individuals who advance racial equity and build inclusive communities across Southwest Washington. Named for Val Joshua, a longtime YWCA Clark County leader who challenged racism and inequity during an era of open segregation and intolerance, the award honors those who carry her work forward—with empathy, resilience, and action.

Honoring Dr. Karin Edwards – Champion for Equity Through Education

Dr. Karin Edwards, President of Clark College, has been selected as a 2026 recipient for her transformative, equity-centered leadership and enduring impact on educational opportunity in Clark County. Under her leadership, Clark College has embedded racial justice into its institutional foundation—closing equity gaps, boosting retention and completion rates for students of color, and expanding access to basic needs through the college’s Basic Needs Hub, which serves hundreds of students each year.

Beyond her campus leadership, Dr. Edwards is widely recognized as a bridge-builder and community advocate. She forges partnerships across education, workforce, and housing sectors to broaden opportunity, while leading with steadiness, courage, and a deep commitment to measurable progress toward racial equity.

“Dr. Karin Edwards leads with grace, respect, and an unwavering belief that higher education can transform lives,” said Tanisha Harris, one of Dr. Edwards award nominators. “As a strong, intelligent, and determined Black woman leading Clark College, she embodies the inclusive and courageous spirit that Val Joshua championed.” 

“Karin’s leadership has been both steady and courageous through times of challenge and change,” said nominator Matt Morton, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. “She has redefined what it means for Clark to be truly ‘the community’s college’—a place where equity, belonging, and opportunity are built into the institution’s foundation.”

Dr. Edwards was nominated by Paul Speer, Marilee Scarbrough, Calen Ouellette, Tanisha Harris, Matt Morton, and Jeanne Bennett.

Honoring Dr. Megan Dudley – Builder of Belonging in Ridgefield

Dr. Megan Dudley, Founder of the Ridgefield Multicultural Initiative, is recognized with the 2026 Val Joshua Racial Justice Award for her grassroots leadership and talent for building belonging in spaces where equity work can be most challenging—small, predominantly white communities. Through her founding of the Ridgefield Multicultural Initiative, Meaningful Movies Ridgefield, and the Ridgefield Multicultural Festival, Dr. Dudley has created spaces for dialogue, education, and cultural connection that amplify historically excluded voices.

Her leadership bridges community organizing, education, and heartfelt relationship-building. She brings together students, educators, leaders, and neighbors to confront racism with honesty, compassion, and action. Known for her humility, persistence, and empathy, Dr. Dudley reflects the essence of Val Joshua’s legacy: justice rooted in love and collective responsibility.

“Dr. Megan Dudley is the most dedicated, passionate, hardworking, and empathetic leader that I know. She is tireless in her pursuit of helping others understand the necessity of systemic equity, and she does so with patience and compassion that never ceases to amaze me,” said award nominator, Rebecca Frommlet, French Teacher and Equity Representative, Ridgefield School District.

“Megan Dudley’s integrity, strategic thinking, and tireless advocacy have empowered our community to reach its full potential. Her leadership and compassion have unified residents and strengthened Ridgefield’s commitment to equity and inclusion,” said Stephanie Moro‑Baxter, Ridgefield resident and community volunteer.

Dr. Dudley was nominated by Ernie Guerrero, Abby Braithwaite, Yasmina Aknin, Rebecca Frommlet, Rheta Rubenstein, Casey Fisher, and Rosann Picchioni.

Continuing Val Joshua’s Legacy
YWCA Clark County is proud to uplift the work of Dr. Edwards and Dr. Dudley—two visionary leaders whose lives exemplify YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Their courage and compassion continue the work Val Joshua began—laying the foundation for an equitable future shaped by community, justice, and hope. More info can be found: https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/val-joshua

About  YWCA Clark County:
Founded in 1916, YWCA Clark County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  YWCA Clark County began as a lunch counter serving women in the workforce and has evolved from renting a first apartment to the only emergency shelter system.  Today, the organization offers the SafeChoice Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs, Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool and Prevention programming in local high school and middles schools. For more information about YWCA Clark County, please visit: www.ywcaclarkcounty.org

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YWCA Clark County Urges State Lawmakers To Expand Funding To Keep Doors Open For Survivors In Vancouver (Photo) - 02/11/26

Vancouver, WA  --  YWCA Clark County is calling on state legislators to fund critical services for domestic violence and sexual assault programs, warning that without this funding, local survivors could face a reduction in services, fewer options, and potentially the elimination of key services. This request aligns with advocacy by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV), which has alerted lawmakers that, statewide, flat or reduced funding will mean closed doors, unanswered crisis lines, and permanent loss of life‑saving services.

We need our community to push for $21.3 million in the SFY27 Washington State Budget to stabilize crime victims services statewide and prevent permanent loss of access.

If this is not granted, YWCA Clark County could be forced to scale back its 24/7 trauma-informed hospital response for people experiencing sexual assault and domestic violence at local emergency departments via Legacy and PeaceHealth SW Washington. Survivors who arrive at the hospital in crisis may have to navigate medical and legal systems alone, without an advocate by their side to provide safety planning, emotional support, and information about their rights.

In addition, reduced funding would likely shrink survivor support groups that help adults and youth heal from abuse, rebuild safety, and connect with others who understand their experiences. These groups are a core part of Vancouver’s community response to domestic and sexual violence, offering free, trauma‑informed support that many survivors cannot access anywhere else.

YWCA Clark County also warns that Southwest Washington’s only emergency domestic violence shelter could face cuts that reduce the number of families it can safely house. At a time when housing is increasingly unaffordable and survivors often must choose between homelessness and staying with an abusive partner, any reduction in emergency shelter capacity in Vancouver would put more lives at risk.

“Survivors in Southwest Washington should not pay the price for a state budget shortfall,” said Brittini Lasseigne CEO of YWCA Clark County. “We are asking our legislators to expand funding so that we can keep 24/7 hospital advocacy, support groups, and emergency shelter fully available to everyone who needs them in Clark County.”

Domestic and sexual violence affect every community in Washington, across race, gender, age, and income, and advocates across the state are united in calling for stable, long‑term investments in safety and healing. YWCA Clark County joins WSCADV and partner programs statewide in urging lawmakers to act this session to prevent the loss of essential services that survivors and their children rely on.

Residents of Vancouver and Clark County can support this effort by contacting their state legislators, sharing their concern about the potential loss of 24/7 hospital response, survivor support groups, and emergency shelter, and urging them to vote for expanded funding for domestic and sexual violence services.

About  YWCA Clark County:
Founded in 1916, YWCA Clark County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  YWCA Clark County began as a lunch counter serving women in the workforce and has evolved from renting a first apartment to the only emergency shelter system.  Today, the organization offers the SafeChoice Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs, Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool and Prevention programming in local high school and middles schools. For more information about YWCA Clark County, please visit: www.ywcaclarkcounty.org

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