YWCA is on a mission to Stand Against Racism!

We take a Stand Against Racism every day by raising awareness about the impact of institutional and structural racism and by building community among those who work for racial justice.

The annual YWCA Stand Against Racism provides the opportunity for communities across the United States to find an issue or cause that inspires them to take a #StandAgainstRacism and to unite their voices to educate, advocate, and promote racial justice.

We know that structural racism plays a large role in determining the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These factors affect people’s access to quality housing, education, food, transportation, political power, and other social determinants of health. Understanding and addressing systemic racism from this public health perspective is crucial to eliminating racial and ethnic inequities, and to improving opportunity and well-being across communities.

Our collective efforts can root out injustice, transform institutions, and create a world that sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Stand Against Racism!

This year’s Stand Against Racism was held on Thursday, April 28 from 10:30-11am on Ridge avenue in Evanston. After the Stand, we hosted a free virtual discussion with Loretta J. Ross, activist and professor of human rights, from 12-1:30pm. Watch it on Facebook here!

YWCA E/NS Stand Against Racism In the News:

‘Evanston residents take a Stand Against Racism with YWCA’, Daily Northwestern, April 29, 2022
‘YWCA Stand Against Racism returns with post-pandemic vigor’, Evanston Roundtable, April 28, 2022
‘Dozens take part in Skokie’s Stand Against Racism event’, Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2022

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About Stand Against Racism

Photo from Stand Against Racism Stand Against Racism is a signature campaign of YWCA USA to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism in our communities.

Founded by YWCA Trenton and YWCA Princeton in 2007, Stand Against Racism quickly grew to a national presence by 2010, when an additional 80 YWCAs across the nation, including YWCA Evanston/North Shore, took a Stand. Over 2,000 organizations across 39 states joined YWCAs in the Stand Against Racism. This phenomenal success has attracted well over 250,000 participants and earned the endorsement of five U.S. Governors. The event has been widely featured by local ABC, NBC, CBS, and other networks.

Does standing together for 15 minutes eliminate racism? Of course not. But it does allow us to see the broad range of people in this community who are committed to working toward that goal. We need each other's support to stay in the struggle, to have the hard conversations, to do the self-assessment necessary to transform ourselves and our community.