YWCA

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. This community education program is one part of our larger national strategy to fulfill our mission of eliminating racism. Here's how we took a stand.

Passage Point

This location offers a supportive residential community that helps parents facing homelessness after incarceration reunite with their children. The topic was the "Pre-school-to-Prison-Pipeline system."

At 13, I was the youngest person to be charged as an adult in Washington state. I was sentenced to 23 years. When I worked in the kitchen in prison, I realized that we can do more with compost than we can with human beings. Why is that? -Willard Jimerson

Greenbridge Learning Center

This location offers employment and financial services for residents in the White Center community. We had a conversation about how different races experience or are complicit in racism.

Having to prepare my black children for racism and how people will view them is extremely difficult, especially when it comes to the police. - Black Mother

Snohomish County

Our Snohomish County programs gathered in Lynnwood with community partners including the Lynnwood Police Department, a K-9 dog, and the Mayor of Lynnwood.

At Snohomish County we believe in taking a stand against racism with our community. We want to build visibility and momentum for racial equity and change. - YWCA Snohomish Staff

Family Village Issaquah

This location offers a variety of services including housing, child care, and community events for families in East King County. YWCA Family Village Issaquah partnered with Education Unchained who presented the foundations of racism that largely go unaddressed.

Most often, people think of racism as being held up by discrimination, but seldom ever look at indifference and apolitical behavior that is very well accepted. Education Unchained shared findings using visual aids and anecdotal data along with group discussion. - Education Unchained staff

Seneca

This location provides housing and services designed to promote housing stability and family self-sufficiency. This year's 9th Annual Stand Event was held at the Seattle Public Library where we addressed mental health through the lens of race and social justice. Led by three community leaders: Dr. Ben Danielson, Sheila Capestany, and Dr. Debra Sullivan we had an in-depth conversation about self-care, empathy, the "prison industrial complex" and its impact on marginalized communities, and how we should be doing anti-racist work.

If doing anti-racist work doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, you're doing it wrong. - Dr. Debra Sullivan

If you missed our annual Stand event, you can watch it here and also check out more pictures from this year's Stand Against Racism events. Thank you to all our community partners for continuing to stand with us in our mission to eliminate racism.