YWCA is on a mission to Unite Against Racism
We Unite 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 Unite Against Racism (formerly Stand Against Racism), which occurs the last week of April, provides the opportunity for communities across the United States to unite their voices to educate, advocate, and promote racial justice.
This is a name-shift away from our previous Stand Against Racism campaign – a deliberate shift to be inclusive in our language. We acknowledge that for many, the word “stand” in its name evoked feelings of ableism, exclusivity, and disempowerment. As an organization dedicated to advancing justice for all, it’s our responsibility to ensure that all are included in the movement and inspired to promote justice in partnership with us.
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 in each of these structures of our society 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.
There are many ways that organizations and individuals can stand against racism. How are YOU working to transform our institutions and systems? We’d like to hear from you, so we can work to support each other’s efforts to root out injustice.
2023 Unite Against Racism- Save the dates!
- Tuesday, April 25: 10:30am Skokie Unite Against Racism
- Wednesday, April 26: 10:00am Wilmette Unite Against Racism
- Thursday, April 27: 10:30am Evanston Unite Against Racism
We want to hear from you! Record and send us a video of yourself telling what you do to take a stand against racism in your community. These videos will be used to share actionable steps toward racial equity.
Check out the videos below to see how the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy and Rep. Robyn Gabel stand against racism!
Post a selfie on Facebook with the hashtags #UniteAgainstRacism #YWCAens and tag YWCA Evanston/North Shore — or send your photo to equityinstitute@ywca-ens.org.
About Unite Against Racism
Until Justice Just Is and Unite Against Racism (formerly 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, Until Justice Just Is quickly grew to a national presence by 2010, when an additional 80 YWCAs across the nation, including YWCA Evanston/North Shore, organized demonstrations for racial justice. 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.
Eileen Hogan Heineman, Mgr., Equity Inst. Community Outreach
Who participates in Advancing Justice? People like you.
