News release from the YWCA:
Stand Against Racism
The YWCA Northeast Indiana is calling on all individuals to join us in taking a bold Stand Against Racism on April 26 by participating in one of the many events open to the public in Northeast Indiana. Over 12 organizations in our community have partnered with the YWCA as participating sites of the event in order to unite our community in a bold demonstration that delivers a clear message that racism can no longer be ignored or tolerated.
Each participating site will host their own Stand Against Racism event at their own location. YWCA Northeast Indiana will be hosting our own Stand at our 1610 Spy Run Avenue office in Fort Wayne on Friday, April 26. Beginning at 11:00 am, the public is welcome to join YWCA staff in creating posters that take a Stand Against Racism. Then, at 12:00 noon, we will move out onto the sidewalk along Spy Run Avenue to display these signs for passing traffic, making our Stand until around 1:00 pm. (A full list of schools, agencies, and organizations registered as participating sites in our area can be found on our Web site: www.StandAgainstRacism.org.)
Individuals in Northeast Indiana will be taking a Stand Against Racism simultaneously with others throughout the country. The Stand Against Racism movement is a collaboration of over 100 YWCA Associations nationwide and their 3,000+ community partners. In 2012, over a quarter million people took a Stand Against Racism, and that number is expected to increase in 2013.
For more details or to look up a participating site, individuals are encouraged to visit www.StandAgainstRacism.org. For local information, please contact Sydney Weaver at sweaver@ywcaerew.org or (260) 424-4908 ext. 287.
About the YWCA
The YWCAs in America 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, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women. Today, we not only intend to raise awareness of the issues of racism, 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. The Stand Against Racism is an annual event. It is a collaboration of over 100 YWCA Associations nationwide, managed by the YWCA Trenton and YWCA Princeton in New Jersey. More information available via our website: www.StandAgainstRacism.org.Since 1894, the YWCA Northeast Indiana, which serves Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells, and Whitley counties, has given voice to the concerns of women and provided services to meet the changing needs of women and their families. A nonprofit organization, the YWCA operates Indiana’s oldest domestic violence shelter, providing shelter and services to women, men and children escaping domestic violence. The YWCA welcomes the interest and participation of both women and men committed to this vision. The organization receives support from individuals, foundations, corporations, etc., and is a United Way Partner Agency in each county served.