“Organizations in our area have stepped up to show tremendous support for this initiative,” stated Debby Weinstein, Executive Director of the YWCA of Charleston. “We are inspired by the inventiveness of the various ‘stand’ events that will take place across our valley and state on Friday at businesses, schools, libraries, religious institutions, government offices and even via statewide conference calls.”
According to YWCA Racial Justice Coordinator Nell Fleming, these events range from signing petitions and sporting buttons emblazoned with “Racism Hurts Everyone,” to film viewings, discussion groups, speakers, displays, art exhibits, poetry readings and more.
“Toyota Motors Manufacturing in Buffalo plans to assemble all 1,000 employees, department by department, to read a pledge against racism followed by a moment of silence,” Fleming said, “and Rabbi Ureki of Congregation B’nai Jacob and Imam Dr. Ehteshamul Haque of the Islamic Center are bringing high school students together for a day of dialogue and religious understanding to jointly discover the similarities, beauties and shared traditions of their faiths.”
Public events in the Charleston area Friday include a 1:00 Poetry Slam at Covenant House, a 4:30 YWCA Eliminating Racism Art Contest Open House at the Clay Center, a 5:30 viewing of film Not in Our Town at Taylor Books, and a 6:00 presentation by three dynamic speakers at Rand Community Center. Please visit our Stand Against Racism web page for a full listing of all public events.
This year’s Stand Against Racism is the collaboration of 71 YWCA associations across the United States aimed at raising awareness that racism still exists in our communities and that it can no longer be ignored or tolerated. More than 200,000 individuals at 1,500 sites nationwide are expected to participate.
An official proclamation signed on April 1 by Governor Manchin and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant declared April 30, 2010 “Stand Against Racism Day” in the Mountain State, affirming that “racism still exists and is damaging to all people,” that “it is appropriate for all West Virginians to work towards a state free of racism,” and that “all organizations, schools and individuals are encouraged to make a commitment to take a stand or sign a pledge against racism.”
For more details, visit our Open House Facebook page or contact Nell Fleming at (309*) 825-9133 or nfleming@ywcacharleston.org.
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The YWCA of Charleston, W.Va. is a non-profit social service organization established in 1912 that serves more than 4,000 individuals each year in Kanawha, Boone and Clay counties. With the mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, the YWCA of Charleston’s programs empower individuals to become self-sufficient by providing education, job readiness, affordable childcare, counseling and financial planning, combined with basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and safety. During the past year, the YWCA provided 19,384 shelter nights to homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence and their children; 12,486 hours of free counseling and case management, and 131,038 nutritious meals. Learn more at www.ywcacharleston.org.
The Stand Against Racism is an annual event. Managed by the YWCA Trenton and the YWCA Princeton in New Jersey, it is a collaboration of 71 YWCA associations nationwide. The YWCAs in America and around the world have a rich history of advocating for racial justice. Throughout our history, the YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations. We intend to affect real change in the lives of our family, friends and co-workers through a process that identifies and eradicates the barriers that divide us and that perpetuate racism and other forms of oppression.