What is the Stand Against Racism Challenge?
Previously known as the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge, this is the same program created by YWCA Cleveland in 2019 and implemented locally by YWCA Glendale and Pasadena in 2021. The SAR Challenge was created to help people better understand how racial inequity and social injustice impacts our community. The challenge is designed to provide participants daily tasks through the Challenge website or app (Apple, Android) that include activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, and reflecting on personal experiences. By addressing issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership we can connect with others to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
What is racial equity?
It is both an outcome and a process. As a process, we apply racial equity to policies, systems, structures and institutions by analyzing data so we can identify, uncover and remove barriers that produce disparate (unfavorable) outcomes based on race. As an outcome, racial equity is the condition that would be achieved if one’s racial identity no longer predicted, in a statistical sense, how one fares in society.
Why the Challenge?
It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. By taking small actions and participating in a conversation about racism and social justice, we can create momentum and unity in order to build new and positive habits to change our communities and ourselves. YWCA Glendale and Pasadena will be launching its second annual Challenge on April 4th, 2022. Education is an essential part of organizing for change. Therefore, students from Saybrook University (a graduate university based in Pasadena that focuses on educating humanistic leaders who transform their fields and communities), will support the development of this Challenge by measuring the results of the Challenge’s pre- and post-survey data to assess the Challenge’s impact.
Why should I engage my company or organization?
The 21-Day Challenge provides a framework for meaningful action through daily emails allowing leadership to offer employees the power and platform to take action for racial justice. The psychological impact of public events regarding racial violence and racist threats carries over into the workplace. How organizations respond can either help employees feel psychologically safe or contribute to feelings of isolation, fear and sadness. Leaders seeking to create an inclusive environment for employees can help to address these topics by being a part of the challenge.
Who created the Challenge?
The 21-Day Equity Challenge was created by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. (Black Mind) and co-developed with Debby Irving, and Dr. Marguerite Penick (Diverse Solutions). 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 Challenge in partnership with Dr. Moore. The Stand Against Racism Challenge is now an official program of YWCA USA.
Is this the same thing as the Stand Against Racism Campaign?
No, but in 2022, the national implementation of the Stand Against Racism Challenge has been scheduled to coincide with the Stand Against Racism campaign.
How can I access the Challenge?
Great question! You can register for the challenge here. To download the App, you can do so on Apple or Android, or just go through the challenge website.