Mikena VanLiere - EmBe

EmBe CEO Column: November 2022

Mikena VanLiere2022-11-08T11:34:21-06:00

Get out and Vote In case you weren’t aware…. In case you haven’t noticed, there is an election happening. If you’re like me, you may be fatigued by the political advertisements, solicitations, and some of the ‘dirty politics’ that accompany each election. Perhaps that’s why the right to vote, suffrage, sounds so much like suffer. We “suffer” through the political season to finally get to lift our voices through the right to vote. The reality is, the word suffrage comes from Latin suffragium, which initially meant “a voting tablet” or a “ballot” or a “vote”… ultimately becoming, the right to [...]

EmBe CEO Column: November 2022Mikena VanLiere2022-11-08T11:34:21-06:00

Staff Spotlight: Sarah Meagher – Director of Curriculum and Licensing

Mikena VanLiere2024-03-15T13:42:53-05:00

“With an extremely talented and dedicated staff, the biggest challenge will be to learn what best practices already exist and where our programs can be elevated to the highest standard of childcare and early education in the community.” Sarah Meagher believes in the power of quality education to transform the lives of children. But the reality of maintaining EmBe’s high standards of learning requires constant effort from both teachers and administrators. As the new Director of Curriculum and Licensing at EmBe, Sarah has the passion and skills to rise to the challenge of delivering world-class education to the youth of [...]

Staff Spotlight: Sarah Meagher – Director of Curriculum and LicensingMikena VanLiere2024-03-15T13:42:53-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: 100 Years of EmBe

Mikena VanLiere2022-09-25T11:04:58-05:00

For the final Sunday Story, we’re bringing you 100 fun facts about EmBe from our last 100 years! The 1920s YWCA founder, Mabel Crossman, owned the state’s largest chicken hatchery with her husband, even though she was terrified of chickens. The YWCA was one of the first organizations to offer Kittenball leagues for women. Kittenball is the original name for softball. The first Camp Tepeetonka was on Lake Madison. One of the original classes of the YWCA was a cheese-tasting class. The YWCA offered a special one-on-one English class for immigrants attempting to learn the language. President Calvin Coolidge visited [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: 100 Years of EmBeMikena VanLiere2022-09-25T11:04:58-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: The Name Change

Mikena VanLiere2022-09-16T10:52:55-05:00

On April 16, 2013, the Sioux Falls branch of the YWCA cut ties with the national organization and announced the new agency as EmBe. There were many reasons for the change, but ultimately, the organization wanted to be more connected and support and provide resources in the best possible way to the Sioux Falls community. When the name changed, it didn’t mean that the services had changed. After the switch, EmBe still provided all the services they did before, including childcare services, aquatics, Girls on the Run, Tribute to Women, and all other programs. By cutting ties with [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: The Name ChangeMikena VanLiere2022-09-16T10:52:55-05:00

EmBe CEO Column: September 2022

Mikena VanLiere2022-09-16T11:05:25-05:00

Celebrating the Undying Agents of Change Despite my fortunate upbringing in a mild-mannered, midwestern town, I frequently lack patience in the face of injustice. While polite discourse and temperance are values I’ve shared with countless friends, neighbors, and colleagues, we’ve collectively seen our patience wane in our individual pursuit of progress and impact. As the past two years further revealed our urgent need for systematic change and equitable solutions across all sectors of society and commerce, I notice my own persistence at my best, and impatience at my worst. Yet, there is no better time to allow the 100-year anniversary [...]

EmBe CEO Column: September 2022Mikena VanLiere2022-09-16T11:05:25-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: The Forgotten Heroes of 9/11

Mikena VanLiere2022-09-10T20:21:08-05:00

9/11 was a tragedy of the modern age that exposed the strength and resilience of the nation as a whole. Everyone came together to show their support, lend their hands, and offer their services. However, there is often a party that is overlooked in the portrayal of this event. At EmBe, we hope to highlight the women emergency responders of 9/11. In the wake of 9/11, many women expected to see news coverage and stories of how New York pulled together to help as many people as possible. However, what they saw were stories of male firefighters and police officers. During [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: The Forgotten Heroes of 9/11Mikena VanLiere2022-09-10T20:21:08-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Working Women

Mikena VanLiere2022-09-04T13:38:15-05:00

As we honor Labor Day at EmBe, we’re reflecting on the women laborers. The YWCA has always been in support of working women. Since its beginning, the organization has been there to support industrial women, advocate for women’s rights, and declare equal pay. YWCAs worldwide helped with the representation of labor units and the empowerment of women entering the workforce. This story will help to illustrate some critical aspects of the history of the working woman and the YWCA. United War Work Campaign One of the first significant efforts the organization started to help the working woman was the United [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Working WomenMikena VanLiere2022-09-04T13:38:15-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Solo Parent’s Club

Mikena VanLiere2022-08-27T16:43:29-05:00

The solo parents club was founded in 1963 to help single parents find activities, resources, and friends for their children and themselves. The purpose, as listed in the original club constitution, was “to establish a means of enabling parents who are without a partner to meet together, discuss mutual problems about themselves and their children, cultivate common interests and knowledge through educational programs, and create greater opportunities for social contact between themselves and their families.” It was also stated that “membership in this club is open to any parent who is widowed, divorced, separated, or unwed regardless of race, creed, or color.” [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Solo Parent’s ClubMikena VanLiere2022-08-27T16:43:29-05:00

100-Year Sunday Story: Amanda Clement

Mikena VanLiere2022-08-20T19:53:00-05:00

Beginning Years: Amanda Clement was born in 1888 in Hudson, South Dakota. Amanda was familiar with strong women her entire life. Her dad died when she was seven, so Amanda watched as her mother stepped up to the plate and took on the challenge of raising two children alone. It was a social crime to parent kids without a man in the house, let alone a young boy. However, Amanda watched as her mother ignored the critics and raised her brother and herself all alone. Amanda grew up playing sports with her brother, Hank, but her favorite was baseball. There was [...]

100-Year Sunday Story: Amanda ClementMikena VanLiere2022-08-20T19:53:00-05:00

Staff Spotlight: Derrick Spader – School Age Care Manager

Mikena VanLiere2022-08-18T13:17:14-05:00

“My vision for EmBe is for us to be at the front, leading the way and setting the standard of quality childcare and community empowerment.” After 100 years of serving Sioux Falls, EmBe has built a strong workplace culture that inspires employees like Derrick Spader to bring their best every day. Less than one month in his new role as School Age Care Manager, Derrick can already tell EmBe is different. The spirit of his fellow staff members is unlike anything he’s experienced before. “Everyone I have interacted with is passionate about what we do here at EmBe,” says Derrick, [...]

Staff Spotlight: Derrick Spader – School Age Care ManagerMikena VanLiere2022-08-18T13:17:14-05:00

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