Editor’s Note: “10 Questions” is part of a weekly series in which Daily reporter Nina Fox interviews a prominent person in the Iowa State and Ames communities. To suggest someone for her to interview, submit an e-mail request to [email protected]. This week’s interview is with YWCA Director Judy Dolphin.

What do you do as director of the YWCA?

First of all, I’m the only full-time staff member of the YWCA. Because I’m the only full-time staff member, I do mostly everything from sweeping the floor to making coffee to supervising the student staff. I also organize programs, give talks, articulate the mission [of] YWCA in every way that I can. I guess that’s the joy of a small organization. You have the chance to work with populations of all ages and backgrounds; it’s a very people-oriented kind of job.

How would you describe the YWCA to someone who has never heard of it?

Well, the YWCA is a very old organization that is a women’s membership movement. It started in 1885, and the YWCA has been on this campus since 1890. As a women’s membership movement, it is dedicated to the empowerment of girls and women and the elimination of racism. Programming for YWCA has to in some way live out that mission.

I know that people who aren’t real familiar with the YWCA think of it as a building or swimming pool or weight room … those are merely the physical facilities that have been developed in community YWCA’s to live out the mission of the empowerment of girls and women and elimination of racism.

Obviously, Iowa State’s YWCA doesn’t have any of those facilities; therefore, how does it still function as a YWCA?

Right, because the [YWCA] on Iowa State’s campus doesn’t have any of these, we totally focus on the mission. I think the other thing I would add in description of YWCA is that it really is for everyone. It is not only for women and girls, but for men and boys. It is for Iowa State students and community people if they believe in empowering women and girls, if they believe in eliminating racism, then we welcome participation.

What programs have gone on this year?

“Week Without Violence” focuses a great deal on violence against women, either in domestic abuse situations or rape issues of women’s safety. In the spring, we always help participate and help organize the “Take Back the Night” rally for safety for women. During the “Week Without Violence,” one of the things that we had that wasn’t well attended — but was very moving — was a vigil for victims of all sorts of violence.

Are members of the YWCA doing any community work with women in Ames?

We have a project called the “Girls Project,” and it will be named by the girls themselves when it actually gets started. We have a group of college women putting together a mentoring program for seventh-grade girls. Often girls come out of sixth grade feeling really good about themselves; then they get to middle school and they go through the process of loss of self-esteem, trying to find where to fit in.

Why do the middle school girls feel this way?

A lot of times they don’t stick with a rigorous academic program, or they don’t get involved in activities, and it is our hope to start at the Ames middle school sort of a club for girls where they will have the opportunity for mentors and leadership development. I see it as being empowering for those girls, but I also see it [as positive] for the young women of the university, giving them the opportunity to be mentors, to be leaders and to develop those leadership skills in girls.

What goes on during the week for YWCA?

We have a discussion every Wednesday during the academic year, and there’s a student group, part of the YWCA that plans the programs so they are all student organized and student presented. And they are in the process of developing a calendar, and those activities will start the second Wednesday of the semester.

Can you explain what the International Friendship Fair is?

This activity that we are in the process of doing is to help international students get out and see what schools are like in Iowa and find out what kids are like. Hopefully, with this we can work on dispelling some of the stereotypes that [they] might have about Americans, and at the same time giving kids in schools the opportunity to learn about people from other countries. It’s a joint activity between the Office of International Student Scholars and the YWCA.

When will this occur and for how long?

Students will go to regional schools the first week in January … and then again at spring break. They will visit seven or eight different schools in that time. International students who would like to participate just need to contact us. The schools provide the transportation and lunch. It breaks down barriers between people and builds some understanding.

I understand you are a member of the Women’s League of Voters. What have you learned from being a member of this group?

Well, my favorite quote that the League uses is “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” that you really need to learn about issues in order to participate as an informed voter. Also, you have no reason to complain.