Racial Justice

We’re On a Mission!

YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE

YWCA is one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation and has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for nearly 160 years. Today, we continue that priority. YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley believes that we cannot empower all women unless we also work unequivocally to eliminate racism.

Through education, advocacy, and community collaboration we can work toward advancing social justice and our mission of eliminating racism. YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley is committed to working on issues of gender equality, economic inequity, and racial justice. We will continue this work until inequity is eliminated, institutions are challenged and transformed, and the world uplifts women of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and disabilities. Will You Join Us?

YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley is committed to the work of racial and social justice.

YWCA recognizes and acknowledges the conscious effort and work that needs to be done to dismantle structural racism and xenophobic ideologies. Through cross-agency collaboration and community engagement, we pledge to take the steps to being an anti-racist agency by listening, recognizing our bias, and implementing equitable policies.

We are dedicated to creating space for empathy, grief, healing, and advocacy, while providing opportunities for training, growth, and purposeful action.

Staff & Board Leadership: Racial and Social Justice Internal Workgroup

Rachel Baker

GameChangers Program Coordinator

Lauren Lindback

Officer & Executive Leadership Liaison

Amy Moden

Anderson County Mobility Mentor

Kendrick Tate

GameChangers Mentor Coordinator

Renee Kelly

Board Liaison

Vida Khavar

Board Liaison

21-DAY CHALLENGE

About the 21-Day Challenge

The 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.

You will be presented with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. This is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice.

2024 Challenge details coming soon!

History of the 21-Day Challenge

The 21-Day Equity Challenge was created by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. (#BlackMind) and co-developed with Debby Irving, and Dr. Marguerite Penick (#DiverseSolutions). The plan has been adopted by Organizations, Associations and Corporations all over the nation/world. Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. is the Director of the Privilege Institute in Green Bay, WI. Dr. Moore created the Challenge to not only help people better understand issues surrounding equity, inclusion, privilege, leadership and supremacy, but also to do so in a way that would build a habit of learning by stretching it over 21 days. We are excited to be offering you this 21-Day Challenge in partnership with Dr. Moore. As you engage in the various activities over the next 21 days, be sure to tag, comment, and follow

21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge on Facebook.

Daily Challenge Examples

WEEK 1 – VOTING

  • Day 1: How to be an anti-racist
  • Day 2: Racism and the women’s suffrage movement
  • Day 3: The history of voter suppression
  • Day 4: Voter suppression today
  • Day 5: The U.S. Census

WEEK 2 – EDUCATION

  • Day 6: How to be an anti-racist
  • Day 7: What we teach
  • Day 8: School to prison pipeline
  • Day 9: Teacher impact
  • Day 10: College

WEEK 3 – CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

  • Day 11: Policing
  • Day 12: Racial disparities in incarceration
  • Day 13: Tennessee
  • Day 14: Women in prison
  • Day 15: After prison

WEEK 4 – PUBLIC HEALTH

  • Day 16: Racism and Toxic Stress
  • Day 17: Maternal and infant mortality
  • Day 18: Environmental racism
  • Day 19: Racism/bias in medical care – historical
  • Day 20: Racism/bias in medical care – today
  • Day 21: Congratulations

STAND AGAINST RACISM

Stand Against Racism Challenge

Stand Against Racism is an annual campaign, coordinated by YWCA USA, meant to bring communities together through an issue or cause that inspires them to take a #StandAgainstRacism and to unite their voices to educate, advocate, and promote racial justice.

YWCA’s Stand Against Racism Challenge is a virtual learning tool 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.

Similar to YWCA’s 21-Day Challenge, participants will be presented with 21 days of impactful challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.

Join the Movement

YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley joins sister YWCAs across the country in hosting the Stand Against Racism Challenge.

Whether this is your first step to racial equity, or you are a social justice expert, this year’s Stand Against Racism Challenge is full of all-new, actionable steps to create change in our communities. Commit to antiracism and register for the challenge now.

2024 Challenge details coming soon!