Our Collective Power
for every woman
A Persimmon Paper on the
YWCA USA Mission to Eliminate Racism
Date: June 5, 2015
What is a Persimmon Paper?
A Persimmon Paper is a YWCA USA adaptation of what is more
commonly referred to as an organizational “White Paper.”
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The Persimmon Paper on the YWCA USA Mission to Eliminate
Racism is the first in a series of Persimmon Papers designed to.
foster sharper mission clarity and insight for the YWCA collective
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What is a Persimmon Paper?
Persimmon Papers will:
practical discussions of our
• Be used to onboard new staff
and board members
mission and its impact
• Be a primary source for the
• Foster and institutionalize
development of external
mission impact mindfulness
• Serve as a primary internal
communications materials
• Be packaged, branded and
resources on specified areas
electronically distributed to
of our mission
associations
• Be a primary source and
subject of training and
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• Generate passionate and
• Be housed on the YWCA
USA intranet
development materials
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Our Mission to Eliminate Racism
Race (Still) Matters
Assets & Liabilities
Needs & Opportunities
Shared Language
Conclusion
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Our Mission to Eliminate Racism
The YWCA is a social justice organization and movement with
over 150 years of experience providing direct service to,
collaborating with, and advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable
people in our society including low wage workers, the unemployed,
women and girls, people of color, English language learners,
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immigrants, abuse survivors, as well as members and veterans of
the military.
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Our Mission to Eliminate Racism
We have a deep and abiding commitment to work on issues of
economic, gender, and racial justice; particularly in the places
where these systems of oppression overlap each other. Despite
our long history as an anti-racist multiracial women’s social justice
organization, it is important that each generation of the movement
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assess our progress in mission fulfillment and explore new ways to
enhance our capacity to efficiently and effectively increase our
mission impact.
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Our Mission to Eliminate Racism
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Our Mission to Eliminate Racism
Our current mission commitment to eliminate racism is the direct
result of our historical struggle to become an anti-racist and
inclusive organization, at all levels of leadership and service.
Our story is one of women becoming fully persuaded that it is an
impossible task to empower all women without also
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addressing institutional and structural racism.
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Race (Still) Matters
Despite persistent social, political, and environmental inequities, in 2015
there are those who question the relevance of focusing on issues of
race and racism.
Our organizational history as well as current data will not let us forget that
race still matters. Race still matters, because racism is only one
component of the complex system of oppression that includes sexism,
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classism, ableism, ageism, and heterosexism and each one supports and
reinforces the other. Race still matters, because the rules and standards
of our society are not (race) neutral.
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Race (Still) Matters
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The Data
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Race (Still) Matters
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The Data
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Race (Still) Matters
In the Persimmon Paper, we use place data concerning women of
color at the center of our exploration, using it as a window to explore
the impact of race in our modern society.
Women of color are overly represented in low wage jobs and
industries that provide little to no benefits or professional
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development opportunities.
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Race (Still) Matters
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The Data
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Race (Still) Matters
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The Data
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Race (Still) Matters
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The Data
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Race (Still) Matters
The Data Review
Women of color will comprise the majority of all women in the future.
However, current research tells us that women of color are:
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overly represented in low-wage sectors with few benefits or
opportunities for professional growth
• continue to earn less money than both their White female
counterparts and men of color
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• need twice as much education to get the same job as White men
or White women
• due to historical wealth inequities, their communities bear the
brunt of negative impacts during economic downturns and are
the last to feel any relief during economic recovery.
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Race (Still) Matters
The Data
Despite any and all “signs of racial progress” just this
scant review of the economic picture for women of
color confirms that race, indeed still matters. So:
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What happens to the United States if we do not
reverse these trends by 2050, when women of color
are the numerical majority?
How will this impact our relationships, communities,
and economies?
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Race (Still) Matters
The Data: What it Means
• Women of Color should be in the center of any
conversation about the American economy!
• it is in our best interest to close racial gaps so we
can begin to create a society and workforce that will
sustain U.S. competitiveness on the global stage
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• YWCA USA is uniquely qualified position itself as a
leader
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Assets & Liabilities
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Assets & Liabilities
• Working Across Lines or Categories of Difference
• Solidarity vs. Tokenism
• Expanding Membership Base
• Broader Participation vs. Shared Core Identity
• Historical Amnesia vs. Historical Shame
• Continuum of Response
• Comprehensive vs. Capacity
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• Community Specific Programs and Services
• Local Responsiveness vs. National Brand
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Needs
Four things we need to enhance our
mission impact in the area of racial justice:
• Explicitly identify our (new) core shared identity
• Re-engage young people (18-29) in the movement at all levels
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• Build partnerships with credible organizations and
institutions around racial justice issues
• Develop a national strategy for racial justice work
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Needs
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Needs
We suggest that the most appropriate concept to articulate our
present and future shared core identity is Social Justice.
•The YWCA USA has a vision of the world where all groups of people
can live (and be perceived) as fully human on all levels.
•The YWCA USA has developed and strives to maintain an antioppression orientation to our work
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•YWCA USA is dedicated to the process and goal of addressing both
the symptoms and root causes of institutional and structural “isms.”
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Opportunities
Mission Impact Framework
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Signature Platforms
• Racial Justice & Civil Rights
• Empowerment & Economic Advancement of Women & Girls
• Health & Safety of Women & Girls
Signature Outcomes
• 1 for each Platform
• Multi-year focus
• Collective Impact
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Opportunities
Mission Impact Framework
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Signature Events and Campaigns
• Stand Against Racism
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Model Programs
• Race Against Racism (for example)
•Mission Impact Groups
• Racial Justice & Civil Rights
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•Commitments
• Leadership
• Young Women & Girls
• Global
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Shared Language
Far too often, conversations about “race” become frustratingly
circular and unproductive because those involved in the
conversation do not share a language of “race.”
For example, it is extremely difficult to address racism when one
person believes that racism is primarily an issue about individual
feelings, choices and experiences whereas another person
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understands racism to be primarily about institutional and
structural aspects of our society that have a disproportionately
negative impact on people of color.
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Shared Language
The collection of terms and definitions in this
glossary is our shared language of race and racial
justice across our movement. It is only by fully
committing to this shared language that we will be
able to effectively and efficiently harness our
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collective thinking and move toward meaningful
action and measurable impact.
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Shared Language
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Power
Privilege
Multi-issue Literacy
Spectrum of Violence
Race
Racism
Racial Profiling
Equity vs. Equality
Racism vs. personal bias or
prejudice
• Inclusive Organization
• Social Justice
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Appendices
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A. Photo Index
B. Figure Index
C. Sources & Resources
D. Theory of Change Handout
E. Reflections on YWCA Organizational Development
F. Mission Impact Staff List
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Uses
• Internal Document
– Staff Training
– Board Development
– Communications & IT Staff
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• Create internal and external Talking Points
• Create external documents to share with
stakeholders
• Create common website and social media verbiage
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Persimmon Paper
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Q&A
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Our Collective Power
A Persimmon paper
on The YWCA USA Mission to Eliminate Racism
Thank you for participating!!!
for every woman
Donte Hilliard, Director of Mission Impact YWCA USA
– dhilliard@ywca.org
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