Stand Against Racism is a signature campaign of YWCA, designed 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.
This campaign is one part of YWCA’s larger national strategy to fulfill our mission of eliminating racism. Stand Against Racism was founded by YWCA Trenton and YWCA Princeton in 2007.
In years past, this event has attracted over 2,200 partnering organizations including 130 in Asheville that became participating sites by hosting local Stand events. Over 300,000 individuals nationwide took a stand against racism by attending one of the participating sites.
Your business, organization or faith group can participate in the Stand in whatever way works best for you – everything from wearing “racism hurts everyone” buttons, to watching a film with your staff, to organizing a workshop or rally. YWCA staff can help you decide how to make this an inclusive and productive experience. Participation in the Stand Against Racism is free and becoming a participating site is very simple. A list of public events will be posted on www.standagainstracism.org.
Here are a few ways that your Stand could take shape:
- Talk within your group: Have a dialogue about race, possibly based on inspirational quotes, a common reading or a video which brings out these issues. Lead a short conversation among staff over a break or lunch. You could also research the ways your organization does or does not serve the African American and Latino communities and share it with your colleagues. Look for ways to better serve.
- Day of Support: A day of support can be as simple as having all employees at a business or students at a school wear the buttons provided or attending another group’s event. Put up the posters that the Stand Against Racism provides and/or put up a really big sign in front of your building which says “We stand against racism with the YWCA” or the like.
- Educational Events: Host a film screening, public forum or local speaker.
- Rally: Host an inspirational rally to raise public awareness, put pressure on local decision makers or take local action.
- Service Project: Partner with another local organization or business, to reach out and give back to the community. Service projects are excellent way to start conversations, bring people together from different part of the community and gain perspective around racial issues in Asheville.
- Social Media Action: Encourage people to tweet or post on Facebook about how they plan to combat racism in the community. Participate in the #standagainstracism photo petition by sending in photos of people wearing a Stand Against Racism t-shirts.
This year, YWCA have expanded the event dates to Thursday April 23rd throughSunday April 26th, 2015 and we encourage you to take a Stand at any point during or around this time.
Register your event at www.standagainstracism.org.