Until Justice Just Is.
We take a Stand Against Racism every day by raising awareness about the impact of institutional and structural racism and by building community among those who work for racial justice. That’s why we’re changing the name to Until Justice Just Is.
At the YWCA, names mean something. We believe it’s time to be more inclusive in our language and our campaigns. We have invited and inspired countless activists, advocates and allies to join us in the movement to eliminate racism through our annual Stand Against Racism campaign. The campaign has served its purpose in our efforts against racism, but its time to be more inclusive with our message as we continue to evolve and learn. While the campaign itself has long united us against racism, we acknowledge that for many the word “stand” in its name evoked feelings of ableism, exclusivity and disempowerment. As an organization dedicated to advancing justice for all, it’s our responsibility to ensure that all are included in the movement and inspired to take part in advancing justice in partnership with us.
Until Justice Just Is: Racial Justice Challenge
YWCA USA has a long and proud history of advancing justice within and outside the organization, from modeling a more diverse leadership representation to striving for fair housing where all people can live harmoniously in the same neighborhoods. We are proud to continue to build on our momentum for advancing justice, and the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is a critical component in realizing this vision.
The YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. The Challenge works to foster personal reflection, encourage social responsibility, and motivate participants to identify and act on ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
For four weeks, daily challenge activities (reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience, etc.) are posted in the Challenge app and website, allowing participants to connect with one another, discover how racial and social injustice impact our communities, and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. Each week covers a different topic related to equity and social justice. Daily activities are not posted on the weekends.
2024 TOPICS
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Bodily Autonomy
Learn more about some of the many ways marginalized bodies are restricted, policed, and violated.
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Financial Empowerment
Learn more about how women are taking control of their finances and making important decisions about budgeting, saving, and investing despite inequities that persist and interfere with them reaching their full economic potential.
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Gun Violence
Learn more about the history of gun ownership in America and how it has impacted the lives of marginalized people.
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Transportation
Learn more about how access to transportation impacts every aspect of our lives, from our ability to get to work, access healthcare, and educate our children.
Until Justice Just Is Pledge
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. I am joining the movement for racial justice with YWCA and hundreds of thousands of people across the country to advance justice — until justice just is.
Mindful of the continuing affliction of institutional and structural racism as well as the daily realities of all forms of bias, prejudice and bigotry in my own life, my family, my circle of friends, my co-workers, and the society in which I live, with conviction and hope:
I take this pledge, fully aware that the struggle to eliminate racism will not end with a mere pledge but calls for an ongoing transformation within myself and the institutions and structures of our society.
I pledge to look deeply and continuously in my heart and in my mind to identify all signs and vestiges of racism; to rebuke the use of racist language and behavior towards others; to root out such racism in my daily life and in my encounters with persons I know and with strangers I do not know; and to expand my consciousness to be more aware and sensitive to my use of overt and subtle expressions of racism and racial stereotypes.
I pledge to educate myself on racial justice issues and share what I learn in my own communities even if it means challenging my family, my partner, my children, my friends, my co-workers, and those I encounter on a daily basis.
I pledge, within my means, to actively work to support public policy solutions that prominently, openly, and enthusiastically promote racial equity in all aspects of human affairs; and to actively support and devote my time to YWCA, as well as other organizations working to eradicate racism from our society.
YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. I join YWCA in advancing justice today and every day — until justice just is.
Past Events
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Theme: We Can’t Wait: Equity and Justice Now!
Our country was founded on the idea of building a government of the people, by the people, for the people. More than two hundred years later, this vision has yet to be fully achieved. Through generations of civil rights activism have led to important gains in legal, political, social, educational, and other spheres, the forced displacement of indigenous peoples and the institution of slavery marked the beginning of a system of racial injustice from which our country has yet to break free.
We say enough is enough.
Watch the 2022 Stand Against Racism here.
First Annual Swim Against Racism
This event is in conjunction with YWCA’s signature campaign, STAND AGAINST RACISM, which raises awareness of the impact of institutional and structural racism and builds community among those who work for racial justice and the STAND AGAINST RACISM CHALLENGE (previously the 21 Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge).
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Theme: From Declarations to Change: Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis
YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s 11th Annual Stand Against Racism campaign took place April 22-25, 2021. This campaign focused on the myriad of racial justice issues that impact the health and safety of communities of color. Most importantly, we invited our community to explore how From Declarations to Change: Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis can advance the work of justice in our community and empower people of color.
Structural racism plays a large role in determining the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These factors affect people’s access to quality housing, education, food, transportation, political power, and other social determinants of health. Understanding and addressing systemic racism from this public health perspective is crucial to eliminating racial and ethnic inequities, and to improving opportunity and well-being across communities.
Our collective efforts can root out injustice, transform institutions, and create a world that sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.
Watch the 2021 Stand Against Racism here.
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Theme: Civic Engagement (Participation in U.S. Census and Elections)
This year we took our 10th Annual Stand Against Racism virtual to spread our mission, not the virus.
We rallied and reached over one thousand people on social media who promoted, shared and supported Stand Against Racism.
This year’s campaign focuses on CIVIC ENGAGEMENT with an emphasis on its central role in racial justice work. We know that change starts at the local level, and civic engagement is most powerful when we value the full spectrum of civic life and when all people have the power to choose how they would like to participate.
Each of us can Stand Against Racism by engaging our communities in a meaningful way.
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Theme: No Hate. No Fear. Immigrant Justice is Racial Justice
Over 300 people joined us for our 9th Annual Stand Against Racism! We marched and rallied in solidarity with local officials, partners, sponsor agencies and members of our community.
Hosted by Amanda Fitzpatrick of WWAY TV 3 and joined by guest speakers Vanessa Gonzalez, Ricki Nelson, Victoria Velazco, and Rhonda Sekhmet-Ra, these women shared their reflections on the 2019 theme, “No Hate. No Fear. Immigrant Justice is Racial Justice.”
Attendees signed the Pledge, enjoyed treats from Pelican’s SnoBalls and Tasty T’s Food Truck, with music and entertainment provided by Bigg B of COAST 97.3 WMNX. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our committee that made it all happen. We can’t wait to see you at next year’s event – our 10th Annual Stand Against Racism!
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Theme: Our Power, Our Mission, Our Future
Civic engagement is a powerful tool for eliminating racism. In fact, it is the one tool that disenfranchised groups consistently rely on to create a more representative democracy. While we can use this tool in a variety of ways, from acts of civil disobedience to serving on the school board, laws have been changed and communities have been empowered when community members dedicate their time to doing something for the greater good.
Defined as working to make a difference in communities through both political and non-political activities, civic engagement addresses public concern and promotes a better quality of life for community members.
For many, the term “civic engagement” refers only to voting, but civic engagement is a much larger body of work. That full breadth of work is important because voting alone cannot create systemic change. Throughout American history right up through the present, voting has only been accessible as a privilege, and not a true civil right. Voter suppression remains a very real challenge for many marginalized communities.
The hard work of ensuring communities can and do get out to vote is so important. But this work is best coupled with meeting the day to day needs of those communities through direct service, raising awareness on the issues that impact their lives most and advocating for policy change. Civic engagement is most powerful when the full spectrum of civic life is valued and all community members can choose how they’d like to participate.
Each of us can stand against racism by engaging in our communities in a meaningful way.