Join Us

Anyone can participate in Stand Against Racism, and anyone can organize and host a Stand Against Racism event. You can host a Stand on your own or with a group like your company, organization, or place of worship, and your Stand can be any size, take place anywhere, and can even be a private event.

Community events are great ways to spread YWCA’s Stand Against Racism message: together, we can eliminate racism. A community event can provide information, motivate activists, bring allies together, increase awareness about systemic and institutional racism in your community, and celebrate victories.

Host Your Own Stand

Want to host an event? Create a Stand Against Racism account to access the Stand Against Racism digital toolkit, designed to help you plan your event. The toolkit includes educational resources, promotional materials, and more. Once you have settled on a date and event, come back to register your event to gain access to a personalized event page! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Convene an issue forum online to educate folks about the most pertinent public health issues affecting people of color in your community
  • Organize a brownbag lunch (in-person or virtual) for your staff and board to learn more about the impact of racism on public health
  • Host a watch party or film screening on racial justice and public health issues that are important in your community, followed by a Q&A discussion led by a facilitator
  • Hold a Webinar, Virtual Learning Session, or Online Workshop with panel discussions with local leaders, advocates, public health experts, and community members
  • Convene a gathering of local racial and social justice organizations as well as public health officials and use the fact sheets and materials from the toolkit to host a dialogue about racism and public health in your community.
  • Make a poster/sign of relevant information from YWCA USA fact sheets, and share this new resource with organizations, businesses, and others in your community.
  • Invite local elected officials to take the pledge to stand against racism. Then hold them accountable to create policies to address systemic and institutional racism.

Attend a Stand Against Racism event near you

Find an event in your community and bring your friends and family with you. Encourage others to do the same. If you don’t see an event near you, organize one yourself! Check the map regularly to see new events as they are registered.

Take action in your community and with your elected officials

Create a Stand Against Racism account to gain access to toolkits and materials to support you/your organization’s efforts to promote racial justice and public health reform!

Contact your members of Congress and elected officials

Encourage our elected and public health officials to take steps to address institutional and system racism by investing in and improving social resources for communities of color. Act now and join us!

Here are some ways we can each play a role:

TAKE THE STAND AGAINST RACISM CHALLENGE

This year, we are excited to introduce the Stand Against Racism Challenge to help foster a virtual community of growth and learning around social, systemic, and institutional racial inequity. This YWCA USA national initiative is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. This opportunity is open to anyone, and will provide participants with daily challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experiences, and so much more. Learn more about how you can get involved here.

SPEAK OUT

Starting with declarations, we can lead to change by speaking out against the systemic and institutional racism that has created the racial inequities we face today. Take the first step towards accountability and reform by making your community aware of the racial inequities that are present in your area. Get input from community members and systemic and structural racism experts, contact your local legislators, and encourage support for the Stand Against Racism legislative priorities.

ENGAGE

Engaging your community and local racial justice organizations to begin a conversation about addressing systemic racism and how we can all take a stand. Starting conversations with elected officials, local leaders, racial justice experts, and community members will raise awareness about the impact of systemic racism and help foster calls to action.

ADVOCATE

There are many ways to advocate for improved policies and resources for marginalized individuals and communities. Supporting investment in quality education, economic advancement opportunities, healthcare, and civic engagement are just a few of the ways you advocate for individuals, families, and communities of color. Learn more about how you can take action here.