The YWCA’s Racial Justice and Activism programming provides grassroot training for youth and adults to become engaged in racial justice work. The program takes the conversation on race to the next level–beyond individual interactions to looking at society’s institutions and systems—and offers opportunities for community members to be part of the solution. The YWCA supports individuals in leading racial justice and activism efforts in their own communities, as well as in exploring their own concepts of race and racial prejudice.
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Racial Justice, Equity and Inclusion Project
YWCA defines racism as the intersection of prejudice, power and privilege; targeting people of color. We are committed to dismantling racism in all forms through organizational best practices, research and development, legislative review, training and public education.
Internal Accountability
YWCA has adopted the IDIR Assessment Tool created by the Seattle Human Services Coalition. The tool measures board and staff diversity, mission and organizational values, leadership, funding, operations, program services, and evaluation techniques. YWCA is using this tool to assess and achieve our own equity and inclusion standards.
In 2012, YWCA expanded its interview tool to include specific questions about our mission to eliminate racism and empower women. This tool helps us explain our legacy in racial justice, stimulates dialogue about our current work, and helps the candidate understand how the mission can be incorporated into their role at YWCA.
YWCA developed a Minority/Women Vendor list used to attract new businesses to our bidding process. When majority vendors are contracted, YWCA inquires about their commitment to minority and women subcontractors as well as their ability to identify women and minorities in leadership within their companies.
Equity & Inclusion Issue Areas
Education
- YWCA is currently working on the development of a Racial Justice Tool-Kit for parents, teachers and principals of children ages 0 to 5, with a white paper release in April 2013.
- YWCA provides racial justice training in schools for educators and students, within our service area.
Health
- YWCA is developing strategic partnerships which address health disparities in communities of color, with a particular focus on cultural competency training among health professionals.
Policy Review - YWCA will begin a new legislative initiative to review and challenge state and local policies that create extraordinary challenges for women and children of color.
Policy Review
- YWCA will begin a new legislative initiative to review and challenge state and local policies that create extraordinary challenges for women and children of color.