
YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute presents Racial Healing Week
A week of free events and reflection centered on the work of Mariame Kaba who offers another vision of leadership, another vision of community, another vision of safety, and another vision of care.
What work can we do within our community to end systemic inequity, restore wholeness, and repair damage? Invite your network of family, friends, colleagues, and community members to participate with you as we build upon our shared values and raise necessary questions.
Inspired by the National Day of Racial Healing, launched in 2017, YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute presents Racial Healing Week – a week of events and reflection dedicated to elevating the work needed to end systemic inequity, restore wholeness, and repair damage. This week-long series is an opportunity to bring people together and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world. Let’s shift mindsets together through the expansion of our understanding and imagination of the communities we want to live in.
We encourage you and your network of family, friends, colleagues, and community members to participate as we build upon our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism.
2023 Racial Healing Week Virtual Events
- Let's Talk @ Lunch: Racial Healing Week Edition
- Book Discussion "We Do This Til We Free Us"
- Keynote Speaker Mariame Kaba

Register Here

Wed, Jan 18, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM CST & Wed, Feb 1, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM CST
“Let’s ask, ‘What can we imagine for ourselves and the world?’ If we do that, then boundless possibilities of a more just world await us.” -Mariame Kaba
Mariame Kaba’s book, We Do This Til We Free Us explores social transformation and liberation. In this timely collection of essays and interviews, Mariame Kaba reflects on the deep work of abolition and transformative political struggle. Join YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute to discuss how we can use these ideas of transformative change to make a difference in our community.
We encourage all attendees to purchase the book here.
Register Here

Thu, Jan 19, 12-1:30 PM CST
Join YWCA Evanston North Shore’s Equity Institute as we welcome organizer, educator, archivist and curator Mariame Kaba. Kaba’s work focuses on ending violence, dismantling the prison industrial complex, transformative justice and supporting youth leadership development. She will be joining us to discuss racial healing and the impact of healing work on our community.
Register Here
Other events in the community
Click here to view our Equity Resource Library
- Thurs Jan 12 – “Evanston’s Living History: The Fight to Escape Racial Discrimination” – Evanston History Center online at 7pm
- Sat., Jan 14 – Come Celebrate the Vision & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 5:00 p.m. Mass with Guest Preacher, Pastor Monté Dillard of the First Church of God Christian Life Center, followed by Potluck Dinner at St. Mary Church, 1012 Lake St., Evanston
- Sunday, Jan 15 – The Music Institute of Chicago and the Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre will present a free musical celebration of Dr. MLK, Jr www.cityofevanston.org/about-evanston/community-celebrations/mlk-jr-day
- Mon, Jan 16 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Understanding and Service – United Way of Metro Chicago (liveunitedchicago.org)
- Mon Jan 16 Evanston Public Library 1:30-3:15 Celebration of MLK Day, featuring Rev. Eddie Reeves – Evanston Public Library (libnet.info)
- Tune in Jan. 17, 2023 with the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing, featuring a live MSNBC town hall from New Orleans at 10 p.m. ET.