Some of the most meaningful learning happens in community.

Whether you are part of a workplace team, a professional association, a faith community, a neighborhood group, or any other gathering of people who care about the world around them, YWCA Spokane's Racial Justice Challenge offers a structured, accessible way to learn together and to let that learning shape how you work, serve, and show up in your community.

Since 2020, over 1,700 individuals and organizations have participated.

One participant who took the Challenge last year with her co-workers shared:

"We use the Racial Justice Challenge as the guide for our monthly team discussions on equity. Our team is focused on increasing physical health and social emotional well-being in child care programs across 23 states. Practically, the challenge is beneficial because of the range of topics and the structure of multiple resources of varying length. Everyone can participate in our conversation no matter how much of the more in-depth materials they had the chance to engage with." — Aviva, Challenge Participant

This reflects something we hear often: the Challenge works because it meets people where they are, while still moving groups forward together.

7 Tips for Going Through the Challenge as a Group

Getting the most out of the Challenge as a group takes a little planning upfront. These tips are drawn from what has worked well for groups who have participated together before.

1. Decide how you will pace it together.
   The Challenge runs ten days, Monday through Friday over two weeks. Some groups follow it in real time and meet weekly during the Challenge to discuss that week’s content. Others complete all ten days individually and gather for a single longer discussion afterward. Still others spread the content across several months, dedicating one meeting per theme. All of these approaches work. What matters is agreeing on the structure before you begin so everyone knows what to expect.
2. Register everyone individually.
   Each participant should register separately at ywcaspokane.org/challenge so they receive the daily emails directly. This helps ensure no one misses content and allows each person to engage at their own pace.
3. Name a point person.
   Designate someone to help keep the group oriented. They can send reminders, share which days are being discussed, and help everyone stay connected to the flow of the Challenge.
4. Set shared agreements for how you will be together.
   Before starting, take time to name how you want to hold the space. Many groups ground themselves in the Challenge’s restorative approach, which centers curiosity and understanding rather than blame.
   • Common agreements include:
     • It is okay not to have all the answers
     • Discomfort is part of learning
     • What is shared in the group stays in the group
5. Connect the content to your own work and context.
   The most meaningful conversations happen when groups apply what they are learning to real decisions and experiences.
   • You might ask:
     • Where do we see this showing up in our work?
     • What might we do differently if we applied this understanding to a current project or decision?
6. Make space for different starting points.
   People will arrive with different experiences, knowledge, and emotional responses. That is expected. Use open-ended questions, avoid rushing to fill silence, and create space for people to participate in ways that feel safe and authentic to them.
7. Follow up after the Challenge ends.
   The impact of the Challenge is often seen after it ends. Consider building in a follow-up touchpoint—a standing agenda item, a quarterly check-in, or informal reflections when relevant topics arise in your work.

YWCA Spokane also hosts a live debrief on May 27th for registered participants, which can be a helpful way for groups to close out the experience together.

A Shared Experience Creates Shared Understanding

When a group moves through the same content together, it builds a shared vocabulary and a common frame of reference. The Challenge provides an entry point for conversations that can otherwise feel difficult to start.

Structure Makes the Conversation Possible

One of the hardest parts of engaging in conversations about race, bias, and inequality is knowing how to begin and how to sustain the dialogue. The Challenge offers a guided structure rooted in research and a restorative framework focused on learning rather than blame. This helps groups stay in conversation even when topics are complex or uncomfortable.

The Learning Compounds Over Time

As one participant from a public health school shared: "I see equity being considered earlier and earlier in our work."

This kind of shift does not come from a single training or conversation. It develops over time as groups return to shared learning, reflect together, and apply insights in real contexts. For many, the Challenge becomes an annual or ongoing practice.

It Is Free and Open to Everyone

YWCA Spokane's Racial Justice Challenge is free to participate in and open to groups of all backgrounds, sizes, and levels of familiarity. There is no barrier to entry, only a commitment to showing up and learning together.

Whether your group meets weekly, monthly, or somewhere in between, the Challenge can fit your rhythm. Consider registering your group today.

Herausforderung für Rassengerechtigkeit