YWCA Kalamazoo

The YWCA Kalamazoo is a non profit organization whose mission is to eliminate racism and empower women.


What We Stand For: After being founded in 1885, we serve as the oldest and largest association in Michigan. Originally established to provide residence services for young women, today YWCA Kalamazoo serves as a primary resource for economic, gender, and racial justice for all women, children and families in Kalamazoo.

What We Do: Advocacy & Systems Change, Caring for Victims of Abuse, Promoting Maternal & Child Health, and Improving the Lives of Children

Contact Us: For Information About Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, Child Care, Pregnancy Services, and More.

  • 24/7 Crisis Line & Shelter: 269.385.3587

If you would like to help, you can donate, become a Member, or volunteer.

Healing Honestly

Healing Honestly is a blog written by Alisa Zipursky, a childhood sexual abuse survivor. She offers survivor to survivor support through blog posts and videos posted to her YouTube page (provided below). She focuses on healing from her trauma, topics of activism, and pop culture.

Throughout her blog posts, she provides trigger warnings at the beginning, announcing the topics she or her interviewees include in the post. She includes stories from other survivors who show the effects of Gender-/Sex-based violence on individuals.

Alisa can be found on YouTube here: Alisa Zipursky

To find her blog page, click here: Healing Honestly

One Love

One Love is a foundation that aims to bring awareness to domestic and dating violence, and prevent this violence.

One Love provides several different 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year resources. They provide access and advice from a peer advocate for individuals who are experiencing unhealthy or abusive behaviors.

Text Message: A Peer Advocate can be reached by texting “loveis” to 1.866.331.9474.

Live chat: A peer advocate can be reached on Loveisrespect.org.

Voice call: Call 1.866.331.9474 to reach a peer advocate. They will first ask about your current safety, then provide information and support.

Further information on One Love can be found here: One Love

Counseling Center

The Kalamazoo College Counseling Center is housed in Hicks Center on the first floor of the west wing. The Counseling Center offers a wide range of services including individual and group counseling, as well as outreach programming, and training opportunities. The Counselors can assist with your mental wellness needs, explore options, and provide referrals and resources.

More information can be found on their page: Counseling Center

BEAM (The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)

The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective, also know as BEAM, is an organization that aims to remove barriers for black people to gain access to emotional support services.

BEAM offers an online directory of Black virtual therapists. Virtual therapy can be conducted through email, video conferencing, phone or online chatting options. Each individual can choose which is more comfortable. You can find the directory here: Black Virtual Wellness Directory

BEAM also provides resources and videos focused on mental health and techniques to cope with anxiety, depression, and stress.

Resources can be found here: Resources

Videos can be found here: Virtual Trainings

@shewillspeak

She Will Speak is an organization that aims to empower women through education, awareness, and the arts to cultivate healing and change.

Website: She Will Speak Series

Facebook: She Will Speak Series

Instagram: @shewillspeakseries or @shewillspeak

@SurvivorsofColor

@SurvivorsofColor is an Instagram and Facebook page that offers support and empowerment of BIPOC who have experienced sexual violence.

Patricia O’Garro, creator of the pages, shares hopeful and caring messages for survivors of color. As a survivor herself, she shares resources and posts on topics of trauma, social justice, and support.

Instagram: @survivorsofcolor

Facebook: survivorsofcolor

JDoe

An app that allows survivors to report anonymously to a group of lawyers. The database that allows lawyers to link victims of mutual offenders to pursue legal action.

For more information on the app, please click here: JDoe

To download on apple products: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jdoe/id1267197389