YWCA Lancaster to Launch 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge

Lancaster, Pa. (April 2, 2021) YWCA Lancaster will be launching a 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge starting May 24, 2021 as part of a national movement to engage communities in anti-racist work.Participants receive a daily email directing them to 3-4 curated activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, watching a video, or reflecting on their own personal experiences. Each activity is designed to foster greater understanding and awareness and challenge participants to confront their own understandings and to act towards the advancement of racial equity. YWCA Lancaster staff will host a weekly Lunch and Learn Zoom session on Fridays during the Challenge to answer questions and discuss each week’s lessons.Taking part in an activity like this helps participants discover how racial inequity and social injustice impact our community, connect with others, and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. The challenge will begin on Monday, May 24 and continue (Monday – Friday) through Monday, June 21. The Challenge is open for everyone, but we ask that you register in advance.This spring, YWCA Lancaster is offering the Challenge in addition to the annual Race Against Racism to enhancing community knowledge and change opportunities. The Race-more-has a newly designed historical course, a self-guided 5K run/walk in Lancaster City with a curated playlist featuring music and spoken word about historic stops along the route to learn and experience Lancaster City’s history in an impactful way.Another learning opportunity in April is the Racial Equity Institute, registration now available, where participants will develop the personal tools to identify and address racism within their respective spheres of influence. All these activities are virtual, but distancing will not keep us from our mission!Registration for the Challenge is open now at ywcalancaster.org/programs/crge/#21daychallenge.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.About YWCA LancasterYWCA Lancaster is dedicated to the elimination of racism, the empowerment of women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Since 1889 we have served children and adults in the community through a variety of programs. Current offerings include the Center for Racial and Gender Equity; Kepler Hall residence, home to fifty women, men and children; New Choices Career Development Program, a life-changing opportunity for Lancaster, York and Chester County’s individuals in transition to achieve economic self-sufficiency; YWonderful Kids providing child enrichment for ages six weeks to five years and before/after school care in a number of settings; Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center with a 24 hour hotline, prevention programs and no-cost professional counseling for survivors of sexual assault and their significant others and Parent Empowerment Program for families in need of positive parenting support.###