Center for Racial and Gender Equity
Start or continue your racial equity journey here. Together we can build a more just Lancaster County.
YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial & Gender Equity (CRGE) engages in advocacy and education to turn our mission to eliminate racism and empower women into action through community-building opportunities.
Our full range of consulting, training and education, community engagement programs, racial equity resources, and annual events offers opportunities for all to develop the knowledge and resources to move towards racial equity.
The Center for Racial and Gender (CRGE) at YWCA Lancaster strives for equitable access to opportunities, free from racial injustice, by leading efforts to build an inclusive and just community.
The Center for Racial and Gender Equity’s vision is to create a Lancaster County where justice for marginalized communities, especially women, female-identifying, Black, Indigenous, People of color, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, just is.
Community Engagement
Our community engagement groups offer individuals the opportunity to come together and discuss current issues of racial justice, learn from one another, and deepen our ability to effectively talk about racism.
-
Let’s build something better—together.
A strong culture of belonging isn't just good for people—it’s good for performance, morale, retention, and impact. WEB meets you where you are and helps you build from there.
Whether you're a nonprofit, business, school, or community group, WEB helps you move toward real change.
-
Learn. Connect. Take Action.
Justice Now is YWCA Lancaster’s community education series designed to equip individuals with the tools to create lasting change. Through monthly sessions open to the public, participants explore timely and vital topics related to racial and gender justice—unpacking systems of oppression, connecting with others, and discovering actionable ways to advocate for equity in everyday life.
Whether you’re just starting your journey or looking to deepen your impact, Justice Now invites you to step into bold conversations, build community, and turn awareness into action.
-
Inspired by the legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height, the Dorothy Height Social Justice Club is a monthly gathering space for community members to learn, reflect, and take action together. Each month, we explore books, podcasts, documentaries, and current events that unpack issues of racial and gender justice, followed by interactive discussions and community events that bring those ideas to life.
Whether you're a lifelong advocate or just beginning your journey, this club offers a welcoming space to grow your voice, expand your perspective, and make a difference right here in Lancaster.
-
The Lancaster Equity Profile is a county-wide report detailing the many inequities we face as a community. YWCA Lancaster is committed to supporting our community as we explore these data points detailing the opportunities we have to address inequity as a community. Join our Equity Profile Action Group and be part of the efforts to raise awareness, build community connections, and move leaders to take action!
-
Power in Purpose is a webinar series hosted by YWCAs across Pennsylvania.
The goal of these webinars is to discuss federal and state polices and other pertinent topics that relate to the mission of the YWCA, which is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Power with a Purpose Webinar Series invites you to be part of the conversation—and the movement for change.
-
Our newest phase of the Black Artist Waystation, Black Art Across Lancaster expands the reach of this initiative by bringing Black art and creativity into neighborhoods, businesses, and public spaces across the county. Through community partnerships, exhibitions, and collaborations, Black Art Across Lancaster highlights the vibrancy, resilience, and impact of Black artists while creating new pathways for connection, dialogue, and empowerment.
-
Each year, we honor the legacy of one of our nation’s most influential figures for justice and equity with readings, interactive activities, dancing, snacks, and more
-
Join your community to name the need, unite with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and create change. A 5K race cannot end racism but naming the need is vital, and every step we take together makes a difference. We will keep running until injustice is rooted out; institutions are transformed, and the world sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal, Powerful, and Unstoppable.
All proceeds from the Race Against Racism support the Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE) and our community education, training, advocacy, and change programs.
Supporting Black Art
At YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE), we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable community. Through our programs, we provide platforms for engagement, education, and advocacy, empowering individuals to challenge systemic racism and gender-based injustice. Our community engagement initiatives focus on amplifying marginalized voices and driving meaningful change. Learn more about our key programs below.
Strengthening Our Community:
Justice Now Community Education Series
From awareness to action—together.
Justice Now is YWCA Lancaster’s signature community education series, designed to spark bold conversations and inspire real change. Each month, we gather for engaging, action-driven sessions that explore critical racial and gender justice topics affecting our community and beyond.
These are not lectures—they’re experiences. Through thought-provoking dialogue, shared learning, and connections with neighbors and changemakers, Justice Now empowers individuals to become everyday advocates for equity in their workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods.
What to Expect
Each session is designed to be approachable, interactive, and inspiring. We’ll explore:
How systems of oppression show up in everyday life
The intersections of race, gender, class, and identity
Tools for advocacy, allyship, and community organizing
Real-world strategies for creating more equitable spaces
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your impact, Justice Now offers a place to grow, connect, and take action.
Join the movement.
Be part of a community committed to learning, unlearning, and building a Lancaster where every.
Check out our calendar to view our sessions or click the link below!
-
Education and Training
The Center for Racial and Gender Equity’s education and training sessions provide a powerful foundation for the equity and inclusion work you may be planning for this year.
We offer our Racial Equity Institute, single or multi-day trainings, as well as customized experiences to help you, your organization, or your business build your capacity in the equity space.
-
Policy and Advocacy
YWCA Lancaster’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We advocate for community action and public policy that advances economic security, promotes equality and human rights, and improves safety and wellness for women and families. Our values are centered on equity and inclusion, and as a result, we pay particular attention to the issues impacting people of color, women, girls, female-identifying individuals, LGBTQ+ and other historically marginalized communities.
-
Community Engagement Programs
When people of different backgrounds come together to share stories, learn a common vocabulary, and commit to “staying in the conversation,” change is possible. Through our meet-ups, community members gain the confidence to speak out about racial injustice, build alliances across color lines, and develop a deeper understanding of the effects of racism on all of us – and then we can identify strategies that will move us toward racial equity.
Work with the Center:
Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB)
Let’s build workplaces where everyone belongs.
At YWCA Lancaster’s Center for Racial and Gender Equity, we believe equity isn’t just a value—it’s a verb. That’s why we created Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB): an interactive training experience designed to help organizations of all sizes create inclusive, empowered, and high-impact environments.
WEB is more than a training checkbox. It’s a journey, one that challenges, inspires, and equips your team with the tools to turn good intentions into bold action.
What We Cover
Through dynamic workshops and real-world conversations, your team will explore:
The roots of workplace inequity, and how to break the cycle
How to build a culture of accountability and allyship
Tools for courageous conversations and community-building
What it means to lead with equity every day
And the best part? WEB is fully customizable to meet your organization’s unique needs, pace, and goals.
Upon completion, participants receive a YWCA Lancaster Workplace Equity Professional Certificate—a credential that shows your team is serious about creating change.
Ready to get started?
Join the growing number of Lancaster-area organizations stepping into the work of justice, one training, one conversation, one breakthrough at a time.
Questions?
Whatever your needs may be, we would like to assist you. To begin that conversation, please fill out this form!