PRESS RELEASE_________________________________________
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lauren Alexander, Communications & Development Manager
lauren.alexander@ywcacva.org | (p) 434-847-7751 x306 | www.ywcacva.org
YWCA of Central Virginia to Launch 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge
Central Virginia-based nonprofit brings awareness about racial equity and social justice through free 21 day educational opportunity.
Lynchburg, Virginia, June 19, 2020 – On July 1, 2020, the YWCA of Central Virginia will launch a 21 Day Racial Equity & Social Challenge. The 21 Day Challenge is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice resources. Participants will be provided with curated articles, podcasts, and activities delivered straight to their inbox daily. Emails will begin on Wednesday, July 1st and continue (Monday –Friday) through July 29th.
YWCA of Central Virginia will be launching this 21 Day Challenge alongside sister associations YWCA Richmond (Richmond, VA) and YWCA South Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA). All three YWCA’s in the Commonwealth believed it was critical to provide every community that they serve a simultaneous opportunity to engage in this critical education opportunity. Taking part in an activity like this will help participants discover how racial inequity and social injustice impact our community and will help participants identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
Registration for the challenge is now open on YWCA of Central Virginia’s website. YWCA will send daily emails during the 21 Day Challenge with a lesson relating to racial equity and social justice.
YWCA’s challenge was inspired by Food Solutions New England. They were the first to adapt an exercise from Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. and Debby Irving’s book into the interactive 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. The challenge is designed to create 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.
“YWCA of Central Virginia is proud to partner with our sister associations to present our community with a unique opportunity to engage in learning more about issues related to racial equity and social justice. We have seen a shift in our nation where more and more individuals are wanting to learn, grow, and take action to make a difference in the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors,” said Ashley Reynolds Marshall, J.D., CEO of YWCA of Central Virginia.
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ABOUT YWCA of Central Virginia, established in 1912, lives its mission to eliminate racism and empower women in Central Virginia. YWCA works to promote the health and safety of women and girls through its two flagship victim services programs: Domestic Violence Prevention Program (DVPP), the Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP). Further, YWCA of Central Virginia has worked to provide safe and secure housing for women since 1918 with a program that continues to this day with our third flagship program– Town Center Women’s Residential Housing Program. The organization has set the leadership example by being the premier agency in attaining a common community vision of peace, justice freedom, dignity and camaraderie for all people through the women, girls, and families they serve. For more information about YWCA of Central Virginia, please visit our website: www.ywcacva.org. YWCA of Central Virginia is a partner agency of United Way of Central Virginia.
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