Step Out and Innovate!
Celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Day on April 21
World Creativity and Innovation Day was established in 2001 as a means of inspiring human development to address world issues and to positively impact advances in the sciences and world cultures.
Past goals of this United Nations day of recognition have centered around topics such as combating climate change, ending poverty, achieving food security for all, promoting gender equality, and ensuring access to water, sanitation, and affordable energy. This year the theme is “Step Out and Innovate!”
At YWCA Northwestern Illinois (YWCA NWIL), the goals of fighting racism and promoting gender equality are a yearlong mission to promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. For example, in the past year, YWCA NWIL:
- Helped families find affordable childcare,
- Welcomed immigrants and refugees, referring them to supportive services and giving them access to justice,
- Educated male abusers in building healthy relationships,
- Enrolled people in English Language classes and tutored students in adult basic education,
- Assisted young families with children, and
- Provided free training and paid internships in an IT Tech career path to unemployed and underemployed area adults.
The question is: How can we “step out and innovate” in 2025/2026 so that even more people may be helped? Are there collaborations with other agencies or service organizations where we can more effectively serve our communities and truly make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends? Those are the types of thoughtful considerations that YWCA NWIL addresses each year in order to raise the standards of living and assure access to basic needs for all.
