Advocacy Corner

At YWCA Greater Cleveland, we know that lasting change requires action beyond our walls. Advocacy is at the heart of our mission. Here, you’ll find resources to stay informed and engaged—whether it’s understanding key legislation, learning how public policy impacts our community, or making your voice heard at the ballot box.

From voter education to opportunities for involvement, Advocacy Corner connects you to the tools and information you need to drive equity and justice in Greater Cleveland and beyond. Together, we can influence the systems that shape our lives and create a community where every person can thrive.

  • Throughout the week of August 4th, YWCA Greater Cleveland joined forces with other YWCA associations throughout Ohio and YWCA USA in a national call to action. In addition to creating targeted social media blasts and writing letters to our elected officials, we met with staff members of Ohio’s members of the U.S. Congress—Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno as well as Congresswoman Shontel Brown—to educate them about the daily impact we have on real human lives. Our conversations included information on our programs and services, pertinent data and policy points, and heartfelt testimonies from shelter guests who have benefited from YWCA assistance as they transitioned to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. We encouraged support of the following bills: 

    • HR909 - Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025: A BILL To temporarily provide additional deposits into the Crime Victims Fund. 

    • S1892 - Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025: A bill to clarify that amounts from declinations should be deposited in the Crime Victims Fund and to temporarily provide additional deposits into the Crime Victims Fund. 

    • HR4510 - Healing Partnerships for Survivors Act : A BILL To amend the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to authorize grants to strengthen relationships between health and wellness providers or systems (including for behavioral health) and community-based sexual assault programs to support survivors of sexual assault across the lifespan of the survivor, and for other purposes.

    Overall, we urged our elected officials to protect, defend, and make stronger investments in the federal funding streams that help us meet our community’s needs every day. 

  • The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, following its reintroduction in the U.S. House in March. 

    This vital legislation seeks to restore provisions of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965—a permanent nationwide safeguard against race-based discrimination in voting—that have been weakened by federal court decisions. It also updates the law to better protect communities of color, who are disproportionately targeted by voter suppression and unfair practices, and to safeguard election workers from harassment and threats. 

    Named in honor of the late Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, the act responds to ongoing threats to voting rights, including federal court rulings, executive actions on voter registration, and state-level gerrymandering. It: 

    • Reestablishes preclearance. Jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations will require advance federal approval before making any changes to their voting laws or procedures.  This will prevent discrimination before it happens, rather than challenging it only after voters have already been harmed. 

    • Protects election workers from threats and intimidation. 

    • Increases transparency through new notice and disclosure requirements. 

    • Confirms the existence of a private right of action to enforce voting rights. 

    • Establishes a standard for plaintiffs seeking preventive relief against likely violations. 

    • Extends bilingual election requirements. 

     

    7.29.25 - John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Reintroduction - Dropbox