Take the Challenge to learn more about racial equity and social justice issues

WALLA WALLA—The Walla Walla YWCA is putting forth a challenge to anyone who wants to accept it; spend twenty-one days deepening your understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism.

Those who accept the Challenge can sign up on the YWCA’s website to receive curated articles, podcasts, activities, and more, right to their inbox.

The Challenge creates dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits and bring awareness to issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. This program was first adapted by YWCA Cleveland and is now being widely adapted and shared by YWCAs across the United States.

“We have seen a shift in our nation where more and more of us are wanting to learn, grow, and take action to make a difference in the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors,” said Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin, Executive Director. “YWCA Walla Walla is proud to partner with our sister associations to help our valley engage in issues related to racial equity and social justice.”

Inspired by Food Solutions New England’s original Challenge created by Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. and Debby Irving, the Challenge goes beyond individual or interpersonal racism by helping to demystify structural and institutional racism and white supremacist patterns that are sometimes invisible to people.

The Challenge inspires you to act, on your own or with others in your organization, business or group, to dismantle these systems.

The daily email prompts will include a short reading, a video or an audio file. Participants are encouraged to take about ten to fifteen minutes each day with the material in the prompt. There are online forums where you can discuss the prompts in a supportive environment, and participants are encouraged to share their experiences with others in their community.

Sign up to participate at this link: https://www.ywcaww.org/21-day/

Emails will begin going out Monday, Aug. 3, and continue (Monday–Friday) through Aug. 31.