Blogs

TO: YWCA Leaders

FROM: YWCA USA Communications

DATE: January 9, 2017

SUBJECT: Racial Justice Updates

Dear YWCA Leaders,

We are pleased to share updates on two racial justice initiatives.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth Healing and Transformation Summit, of which YWCA USA has been a partner, has very recently named January 17, 2017 as a National Day of Racial Healing. Please take a few moments to review this FAQ document and this list of ideas for participation and consider whether your YWCA could participate. We think this could be a great opportunity to continue Martin Luther King, Jr.’s spirit of service which is celebrated on the day prior. In addition, YWCAs can use this time to highlight what racial healing means to YWCA – taking action to address systemic and institutionalized racism. Finally, as you prepare for Stand Against Racism, the National Day of Racial Healing can provide a great opportunity to begin making connections in your community for that effort.

Public registration for Stand Against Racism will open in early February, and we are so excited that nearly 50 YWCAs have already signed on! Our theme this year is “Women of Color Leading Change,” and, in addition to highlighting famous and lesser known leaders in a variety of sectors, we want to highlight the leaders of color in our own movement. We are looking for YWCA women of color leaders at all levels to submit snapshot profiles that will be showcased on our campaign site and social media from early February until the end of the campaign. To participate, please submit the following information about yourself (or nominate another YWCA leader!) to StandAgainstRacism@ywca.org by January 20, 2017:

• Name
• Photo
• Local association name
• Role/position at your local association
• 1-4 sentences about how you lead and how you help other women become leaders
• 1-4 sentences about why women of color in leadership are important

Thank you for your commitment to racial justice!

Sincerely,

YWCA USA Communications