RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS

Racial Justice

Advocacy and Programming

YWCA’s approach to racial justice goes beyond changing hearts and minds. We strive to transform communities, systems and public policies. We do this through supporting measures that promote equal protection and equal opportunity for people of color at the national, state and local levels. We also do this through our annual Stand Against Racism campaign and through our racial justice programs and services, which engage more than 140,000 people each year.

Sources and Information

Download these resources to learn more:

Anti Racist 10 Steps PDF

Consulting, Programs, and Workshops

The YWCA offers a variety of programs and approaches in helping to unlearn racism and promote equity. Personally and professionally, it is essential that individuals unlearn the programmed messages that consciously and unconsciously promote racism, learn to communicate cross-culturally, and begin a deeper understanding of “others.”

The opportunity to take this very personal journey rarely emerges as so many of us avoid such conversation, fearing we’ll say “the wrong thing.”  YWCA wants to help lead you and your organization through this dialogue.  Our trained staff is equipped to lead you and your company to cultural competency and equity.

The YWCA Racial Justice Program Team is available to meet with your staff to find out about your organization’s size, culture, needs and resources and work with you to both develop and support your own internal diversity plan. Fees for this service vary.

All programs and curriculum are adaptable to fit your needs:

Implicit Bias and Cultural Competency

Learn more about a grant through Healing Illinois that allows YWCA facilitates training and dialogue for law enforcement.  Several area municipalities, including the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office have completed extensive training to assist officers and staff. Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together in a system, agency or professional and enable that system, agency or professional to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. The word culture is used because it implies the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, communication, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious or social group. The word competence is used because it implies having the capacity to function effectively.

Unlearning Racism Workshops

This forum is designed for participants to discover conscious and unconscious ways that racism has impacted their lives. This powerful program is designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of differences. The workshops are scheduled quarterly and upon request from groups, organizations, or businesses.