April 29, 2019

Stand Against Racism 2019- Photos and Event Recap

Thank you to all who joined YWCA Spokane for Stand Against Racism 2019!

We are so grateful to all who came to YWCA Spokane’s annual Stand Against Racism event! We had 179 community members register to join this year’s Courageous Conversation: No Hate. No Fear. Immigrant Justice is Racial Justice.  This year’s event, held at The Philanthropy Center, was filled with an engaged audience, wonderful food, and insight from our panelists who shared about their lived experience as immigrants in our community.

Why We #StandAgainstRacism

Our event began with an introduction from Event Co-Chair Kiana McKenna, followed by a video from YWCA USA CEO, Alejandra Castillo. Watch why we #standagainstracism:

“When we work together, we rise. When we work to combat hate and ignorance, we also show a love of love and compassion.” – Alejandra Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA


Thank you to our courageous speakers!

We are so grateful for our speakers, Rosemary Muriungi, Naghmana Sherazi, and Lili Navarrete. Their bravery made a true impact on our guests and YWCA community.

Among the wonderful insight shared with our audience, a few committee favorites include:

  • No human is illegal
  • Ask questions about one’s culture and background instead of assuming
  • Always vote
  • Consider supporting immigrant and people of color owned businesses

Thank you Rosemary, Naghmana, and Lili for sharing your experiences with us! If you’d like to learn more about these trailblazing women, please visit our Stand Against Racism event page.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS


Thank you to our wonderful caterers!

We deeply appreciate Pingala Dhital and Maisa Abudyha for providing delicious Nepalese and Jordanian food for this event. We heard many comments from our guests about how fantastic their meal was.

If you would like to have either of these amazing caterers at your next event, please contact Pingala Dhital for Nepalese food at 509-499-6686 or email pingalad@hotmail.com, and reach out to Maisa Abudyha for Jordanian food at 509-822-9283 or by email at mais_ad@yahoo.com.


Sign YWCA’S Spokane’s STAND AGAINST RACISM PLEDGE

If you were unable to join us for our local event, please consider joining YWCA and hundreds of thousands of people across the country by signing the Stand Against Racism Pledge today. In addition, we have leftover Stand Against Racism pledge bookmarks available for distribution. If you’d like a bookmark, please contact our Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, Rachel Bechtol at rachelb@ywcaspokane.org.

YWCA Spokane Stand Against Racism Pledge

I stand with YWCA against racism and discrimination of any kind. I commit to a lifetime of promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people in my community and in the world. I take the pledge, fully aware that the struggle to eliminate racism will not end with a mere pledge, but calls for ongoing transformation within myself and within the institutions and structures of our society.

Sign YWCA USA’s National Pledge

Join the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who signed the pledge last week during YWCA’s annual Stand Against Racism.

Sign The Pledge


Thank you to All Who Made This Event possible!

Special thanks to all the amazing community members who filled the room for this important dialog, to Providence Health Care for supporting the event, to The Philanthropy Center for providing a beautiful venue, and to our outstanding Racial and Social Justice Committee for making this event happen!

We appreciate your commitment to serving our community. You truly embody the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women!

YWCA Spokane – 2019 Racial and Social Justice Committee Members:
  • Kate Burke | Committee Co-Chair
  • Kiana McKenna | Committee Co-Chair
  • Christina Kamkosi
  • Claudine Richardson
  • Dora “Duaa-Rahemaah” Williams
  • Erica Schreiber
  • Julie Schaffer
  • Kate Sowers
  • Laura McAloon, YWCA Spokane Board Vice Chair
  • Laura Vickers, YWCA Spokane Board Treasurer
  • Leann Ledford
  • Nicole Rosenkrantz
  • Rachel Bechtol
  • Regina Malveaux
  • Shari Clark
  • Tracie Meidl

Amplify Your Impact

  • Consider joining our recurring community of monthly donors in support of YWCA’s mission and work. Donate Today.
  • Learn more about Stand Against Racism and other ways to join YWCA Spokane’s racial and social justice work.  Learn More.

Support This Work


View photos from the event below:

By: Olivia Moorer

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