Take Action | Stand Against Racism 2022

Keep Up The Momentum After Stand Against Racism

Today, we are holding our annual Stand Against Racism event where we are engaging in open, honest dialog with Spokane community members about racial and social justice issues. Over 200 Spokane community members registered to join our free event!

We are incredibly grateful to our hosts, moderator, and panelists for facilitating an important conversation centered around understanding the racial inequities in housing and wealth. Amazing Spokane artists are performing for us and Tay’s Kitchen and Catering provided snacks for our enjoyment this evening. To learn more about these amazing individuals and organizations plus our valued sponsors visit SAR 2022.

For those unable to join us, a video recording of Stand Against Racism 2022 is available for livestream and viewing at any time.

 STREAM ON YOUTUBE

View & share the Step Into Action flyer

Step Into Action

Attending this year’s Stand Against Racism is an incredible show of support for critical issues affecting our community and nation. However, for true and lasting change to take effect, each and every one of us will need to maintain our commitment to continuous action.

Below are action steps you can take to keep the momentum going.

1. Take The Stand Against Racism Pledge

2. Sign Up For YWCA’s Stand Against Racism Challenge

3. Get Involved With Local Organizations & Events

Consider reaching out to family, friends, and co-workers to ask them to step into action with you as we take a stand against racism together. Make sure to share on social media with #SARspokane. Thank you!

STEP INTO ACTION

Local Equity-Focused Organizations Working on Housing & Economic Justice

Get involved with organizations that are doing meaningful work in our community every day!

Partner	and	Follow	and	Donate	and	Volunteer
Carl Maxey Center “CMC is committed to changing lives and improving the well-being of Spokane’s African American community by expanding the educational, economic and cultural opportunities that are currently available.” carlmaxeycenter.org	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Health & Justice Recovery Alliance “When the voices of those with lived experience are elevated and heard, it opens the eyes of community leaders and policy makers. Sharing lived experience is often the catalyst to holding implicit systems accountable for the lack of oversight, lack of equitable care, and traumas imposed on those who are accessing services.” healthjusticerecoveryalliance.org	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Homeless Education and Resource Team (HEART) “The HEART program helps children and youth who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” They aim to “engage parents, school, and the community as full partners in the educational process of students who are in transitional situations.” spokaneschools.org/Page/403	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Northwest Fair Housing Alliance “The mission of the Northwest Fair Housing Alliance is to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for the people of Washington State through education, counseling and advocacy.” nwfairhouse.org	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Northwest Justice Project “When the voices of those with lived experience are elevated and heard, it opens the eyes of community leaders and policy makers. Sharing lived experience is often the catalyst to holding implicit systems accountable for the lack of oversight, lack of equitable care, and traumas imposed on those who are accessing services.” nwjustice.org	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Take Up The Cause A non-profit designed to connect those in need with housing and wraparound services, caring for the community and nurturing the soil here in Spokane. Email takeupthecause1@gmail.com	&		&		&
and	&		&		&
Tenants Union of Washington State “All tenants have the right to decent housing at affordable prices, free from excessive and frequent rent increases.” tenantsunion.org	&		&		&
and	&		&		&

To find a longer list of local equity-centered organizations to get involved with, visit ywcaspokane.org/rsj-partners.

Check out these toolkits!

The toolkits below outline action steps you can take in your workplace or personal life to confront racism.

• • REJI Organizational Race Equity Toolkit – JustLead Washington
  • Equity Diversity Inclusion Action Toolkit for Organizations – American Public Health Association
  • Racial Equity Toolkit – Government Alliance on Race & Equity
  • Responding to Everyday Bigotry: Speak Up! – Southern Poverty Law Center

Upcoming events

May

• • • May 3rd, Stand Against Racism Challenge launches
    • May 3rd, 6 pm Asian Americans 101: Complexity & Diversity by APIC & SCAR Spokane
    • May 14th, 1-8 pm Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Day at Riverfront Park

June

• • • June 11th, Spokane Pride Parade
    • June 15th, YWCA Spokane’s Pathways Forward Virtual Roundtable Discussion
    • June 18th, Juneteenth Event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center

To find these events and more check out the community cultural & diversity calendar, updated monthly.

learn more about housing & economic Equity

Leading up to this year’s Stand Against Racism event we shared educational content around racism in housing & economic policy on our blog and through our Facebook page.

Read our blog series on this topic:

• • • Facing the Legacy of Redlining in Spokane

    • Barriers to Wealth & Housing Equity

If you’d like to expand on this topic and others through deeper conversation, consider joining our YWCA Spokane’s Racial and Social Justice Facebook Group.

• Join the YWCA Legislative Advocacy Committee – we meet approximately 10x/year on Zoom and do a couple of outside events such as a GOTV initiative, legislative advocacy days, etc. Many of us attend RSJ events and meetings, but this is not required. Email lizb@ywcaspokane.org or emorgan827@gmail.com to get involved.
• Sign up for legislative committee action list – quick options to email or call your legislator about YWCA issues. Email lizb@ywcaspokane.org or emorgan827@gmail.com to sign up.
• Help spread the word on social – look for our posts on Get out the Vote, affordable housing, racial justice and other advocacy issues and like/share them in your networks.
• Email/call your legislator about YWCA issues – we will provide talking points or letter contents.

Your local support DOES make a difference! Local elections and policies are often decided by small vote margins and have the most impact on your life – don’t forget to vote and have a voice.

 

Here are some of the things local and national DV advocates helped pass this year (including us – This year YWCA Spokane participated in 2 legislative advocacy days and helped build these relationships all year – all without a full-time legislative staff).

YWCA Spokane’s Racial & Social Justice Work

At YWCA Spokane, we are committed to supporting and uplifting racial and social justice efforts and serving as a voice for what is right, fair, and just. We will get up and continue to do the work until injustice is rooted out, until institutions are transformed, and until the world sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.

We encourage you to join us in this movement as we work to champion equality, to end gender discrimination, and to combat injustices that pose as barriers for so many. This work requires action. Action from us all. Every person is responsible for creating change. The time to act is now, and we urge the Spokane community to join us. Join us in changing our future.

Racial & Social Justice

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Thank You To Our Valued Sponsors

This free, public event would not be possible without the incredible support of this year’s sponsors. If you or your organization would like to talk with us about sponsoring YWCA Spokane’s racial and social justice events or activities please contact Erica Schreiber, Director of Community Engagement, at 509-789-8275 or email ericas@ywcaspokane.org. Thank you!

SUPPORT THIS WORK

Event Sponsor & Mission Partner

VIDEO SPONSOR

Thank You To Our Valued Partners