Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you've all had a fantastic week so far.
Today, I have a very exciting Q&A to share with you with Mary Massarueh, who works for the YWCA. For those who may not be familiar with the YWCA, they are an association in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Established in 1943, the local association began as a residence for women who came to the area seeking employment during World War II. Growing from a home for the “Rosie the Riveters” of southern Appalachia, they are now a multi-site, multi-million dollar human services and advocacy operation, serving nearly 9,000 annually. From the beginning, they have tackled some of the toughest community issues including the need for affordable childcare, racial injustice, teen pregnancy, and gender disparity.
So, without further ado, please enjoy the following interview with Mary!
BOOKMARKED: What is your role at YWCA? What led you to be interested in this field of work?
MARY MASSARUEH: I am the Communications & Fund Development Manager. My background is in marketing and public relations, and I proudly say the cliché, “I’m a people person,” because it’s 100% true. I’ve joked about how my business cards should say, “We’re friends now!”, at the bottom.
I love learning about people and helping any way I can. I have always had a heart for missions and nonprofits, and over the past several years, I’ve felt more and more drawn to being in a role of business development with a community relations approach. I’ve realized that when you do what you are passionate about, what really fills your cup on a daily basis, that is when you are most able to contribute your full potential and help others no matter what environment or organization type you are working in.
Could you explain the main points of what YWCA stands for and aims to achieve?
YWCA’s mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. I joined the team here in mid-December 2023, and I can honestly say that every day, I see our mission in action. We work hard to bridge the gaps experienced by the most vulnerable in our communities/region. We are actively and daily breaking the negative cycles that are rooted in communities within low income, rural populations through our programs.
Here is a brief explanation of our programs:
• YW Affordable Childcare Centers – provides high quality childcare with fees on a sliding scale based on household income for parents working hard to build better futures for their children and themselves during a time of record high inflation and workforce challenges
• TechGYRLS – our after-school STEM enrichment program that provides at-risk girls (4th-8th grade) with learning experiences focused on science, technology, education, art, and math while providing mentoring, homework assistance, community engagement, and so much more
• Strive for Teens - provides education for ages 13-19 on financial literacy and workforce development to break the cycles of chronic poverty, unemployment, and underemployment
• Moms-R-Us – teen pregnancy and parenting support program that helps improve the health and wellness of teen parents and their babies by educating them in all aspects of pregnancy and providing continued support and education after delivery to help set them up for success in building a bright future
• YW Family Network – our newest program and funded by TANF grant award, provides wrap-around services with the support approach centered around the whole family to foster a legacy of educational success, economic prosperity, social engagement, and overall health and well-being
What can people expect from this year's Tribute to Women event?
People can expect an evening of excitement and warmth as we come together to honor this year’s Tributes, their accomplishments, accolades, and contributions to our region.
The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. with dinner to get underway by 7 p.m. While attendees enjoy dinner, the awards program will start. The banquet should be wrapped up by 9 p.m.
What is your favorite aspect of being a part of YWCA's Tribute to Women?
While Tribute to Women is our largest corporate fundraiser, which is vital to our organization and its operations, the focus of the Tribute is on recognizing and honoring the award recipients and what they do for our community. These women are celebrated in so many ways, including a special luncheon, media announcements, social media highlights, and awards program.
It’s about letting the incredible women in our region know that what they do matters and is appreciated far more than they’ll ever know. I think Tribute to Women fosters a community of lifting each other up and increasing awareness of the countless incredible women across our region. It is a perfect example of empowered women empowering women.
What advice do you have for young women who may be interested in joining an association similar to YWCA or entering a similar field?
I used to laugh when people used the term “dream job” and would think to myself, that’s not really a thing anymore, or if it is, it’s a rare gem that would take a lifetime to find, or huge sacrifices would have to be made to obtain it.
When asked "what’s your dream job," my go-to response was zookeeper, because I love animals, and that seemed unattainable for me. God blessed me with having a great upbringing with supportive parents, but job markets and the need to pay bills have made the “dream job” concept seem almost mythical.
It wasn’t until God shifted my focus to looking for the ”why” behind what my “dream job” meant that I realized that was the key! My advice to young women is to really take the time to figure out what you’re passionate about and how your strengths and skillset can be used for that purpose. Be genuine in connecting with others and focus your efforts on helping others win. Be prepared to see the needs of people in your community in ways you haven’t before. And instead of letting it overwhelm you, allow it to fuel your “why” every day.
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Thank you again, Mary, for your incredibly thoughtful answers! Everyone at JCP is so honored to be able to help spread awareness of what YWCA does for its community, and we are so excited for this year's Tribute to Women.
To learn more about YWCA, you can visit their website here.
Also, this Friday, be sure to listen to our podcast, because Draco got the opportunity to sit down with Mary and interview her there as well! You won't want to miss it!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
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