Stand Against Racism takes place annually in April and is a signature campaign of YWCA USA to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism in our communities and to build community among those who work for racial justice.
How can you participate?
Take a public Stand Against Racism.
Join YWCA Evanston/North Shore by standing with them Thursday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. on Ridge Avenue, on Wednesday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the Village Hall on Oakton St. in Skokie or on Thursday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m. on Central Avenue in Wilmette.
Create signs.
Create signs telling how you are actively standing against racism. Sign templates are on the YWCA Evanston/North Shore website.
Register your group’s participation.
Register at www.standagainstracism.org and receive a toolkit to support your event.
Let others be inspired by what you are already doing to dismantle systems of oppression.
Make a video:
How has your school infused anti-racist, anti-oppression lessons into your curriculum?
What decisions has your congregation made to live out your anti-racist values?
How have you worked to dismantle policies that maintained an imbalance of power in your setting?
What are you doing to transform the structures that have supported the status quo, which marginalized some, while unfairly empowering others?
Learn more about being an ally.
Join Stand Against Racism Keynote Speaker Loretta J. Ross on Thursday, April 28 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Share your pledge.
Share the Stand Against Racism pledge with your friends, neighbors, group members; plan to say it at your event, or read it together at religious or civic services.
Here are more specifics about taking a “Stand Against Racism” activities:
10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 27, outside Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St, Skokie.
10:30 a.m. Thursday April 28 at various places along Ridge Avenue, including outside of YWCA Evanston/North Shore at Ridge Avenue and Church Street. Other locations include near St. Francis Hospital, at Main Street and Ridge Avenue; at Dempster Street and Ridge Avenue; at Greenwood and Ridge Avenue; and at Emerson and Ridge Avenues.
11:30 Thursday, April 28 at 1107 Central Ave. in Wilmette.
There is also a free lunchtime speaker online at noon on Thursday featuring Loretta J. Ross, an activist and professor who works to advance a human rights culture and eradicate oppression and white supremacy. Register for her virtual talk here.
Source: YWCA Evanston/North Shore