YWCA Mission Impact Group Racial Justice & Civil Rights
October 15, 2015
Transcript
Attendees:
2 Staff
35 Local Associations (Online)
1 Local Association (phone only)
Donte Hilliard:Welcome to the Racial Justice and Civil Rights Mission Impact Group.Please enter you
Name, Title/Role and Association
Donte Hilliard:Donte Hilliard, Dir. Mission Impact, YWCA USA
Tralonne Shorter:Tralonne Shorter, Sr. Advocacy and Policy Associate for Racial Justice and Civil Rights,
YWCA USA
Barbara Bixby:Barbara Bixby, Board member, YWCA of Central Maine
Dulce Quintero:Dulce Quintero Director of Girls Inc. at the YWCA of Nashville. Calling in for our VP of
Programs LaRhonda Magras
Guest:Lena Ripple, Program Manager, YWCA of Boulder County
Katie Tate:Katie Tate, Assistant Executive Director, YWCA Lower Cape Fear
Amy, CEO, New Mexico:Amy Whitfield, CEO, YWCA New Mexico
Lisa Grills, E.D. GLBR:Lisa Grills, E.D., Great Lakes Bay Region
Julia Nesbitt:Julia Nesbitt, HR Director YWCA White Plains
Amanda L. Arbour:Amanda L. Arbour, Racial Justice Program Coordinator, YWCA Greater Harrisburg
guest 2:Michelle Mowery Johnson, Director of Communications, YWCA of Nashville & Middle TN
Arthi Tamilselvam:Arthi Tamilselvam, Communication & Public Information Manager, YWCA Princeton
Val Clark:Val Clark, Director of Programs, YWCA Alaska
Laura Eberly:Laura Eberly, Community Organizer, YWCA San Francisco & Marin
Rebecca Harkless and Joan Witherspoon-Norris:Rebecca Harkless: Coordinatory of Social Justice, YWCA
Central Alabama
Paula Lima Jones:Paula Lima Jones, Racial Justice Program Manager, YWCA Boston
Rebecca Harkless and Joan Witherspoon-Norris:Joan Witherspoon-Norris, Director of Social Justice,
YWCA Central Alabama
Tracey Madden-Hennessey:Tracey Madden-Hennessey, Associate Director, YWCA New Britain, CT
Natalie Bornstein:Natalie Bornstein-Social Justice & Advocacy Manger. YWCA Central Maine
Donna Haghighat:Donna Haghighat, Chief Engagement & Advocacy Officer, YWCA Hartford Region
Shannon Griffin:Shannon Griffin, YWCA Delaware, Director Racial Justice and Social Advocacy
Lindsy Carpenter:Lindsy Carpenter, Director of Programs, YWCA San Francisco & Marin
Gerry Leonard, YWCA of Asheville:Gerry Leonard, Outreach Coordinator, YWCA of Asheville
Ashley Andyshak Hayes, YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County:Director of Advocacy and Public Relations
Jamal Jimerson:Jamal Jimerson, Chief Program Officer, YWCA Hartford Region
Colleen Butler:Colleen Butler, Racial Justice Director, YWCA Madison
a) Does your association offer a RJ Training?
Responses: Many of the associations provide trainings to a variety of groups, inclusive of internal
and external stakeholders. Additionally, associations indicated that they are using outdated
resources from YWCA USA and would like to have an updated curriculum.
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Donna Haghighat: We only train internal staff currently and use curriculum and a presenter
from a local organization called NCCJ
Amy, CEO, New Mexico: Yes we do. We have developed our own curriculum. Jean Carroll
President & CEO Rochester, NY: Witnessing Whiteness curriculum and newly developed
Person2Person program curriculum
Donna Haghighat: Please update/create a curriculum that we could own-this would be terrific.
Amanda L. Arbour: I wasn't aware of the '96 YWCA USA curriculum - when I started 3 years ago,
I created a 2-hour RJ 101 curriculum and periodically update it. We are now moving to a RJ 101
and 102, both required for staff, so I will be creating expanded curriculum for those.
Tracey Madden-Hennessey: Please update YWCA curriculum
Julia Nesbitt: We presently do not have RJ training, and would welcome the opportunity to use
the YWCA curriculum. Where can it be found?
Guest: We are currently developing our own RJ training curriculum for new staff, and do not
use the YWCA materials. It would be helpful for the YWCA USA to update a RJ training
curriculum
Julia Nesbitt: Amanda - is it possible for you to share your curriculum?
Shannon Griffin: We are revamping our racial justice work and DO NOT have any curriculum.
We have been conducting Talking Circles. We are looking for curriculum to adopt.
Amanda L. Arbour: Certainly, I'd be happy to - my e-mail is AArbour@ywcahbg.org, so just send
me an e-mail!
Dara Snyder: I have also reached out to a few YWCA affiliates to gauge their interest in sharing
materials and was not able to identify any partners who were willing/able to share
Regan Phillips: Regan Phillips/ Program/ Marketing/ Elyria YWCA
Paula Lima Jones: We have the version in 1996 with the VHS
Shannon Griffin: Hello again Amanda! Would you share with me as well?
Shannon Griffin: YES, it would be extremely helpful for the YWCA USA to update.
Amanda L. Arbour: Yes, if anyone wants to look at mine just send me an e-mail at
AArbour@ywcahbg.org. Thanks!
Val Clark: We have the 1996 version, but it appears we've never used it. The VHS tape has
wondered off.
Rebecca Harkless and Joan Witherspoon-Norris: We do racial justice training for youth in a few
different venues, including a week long social justice leadership camp called Anytown Alabama.
Donna Haghighat: We are interested to know if any other YWCA's offer fee based training for
corporations, etc. in addition to free engagement events for the public.
Rebecca Harkless and Joan Witherspoon-Norris: I'm interested in that, too, Donna.
Amanda L. Arbour:@Donna and Rebecca, yes for businesses we charge $50/hour, and also
have a fee structure for our Study Circle program when it's requested by an org
Dara Snyder: YWCA of Greater Portland also does fee-based trainings
Paula Lima Jones: YW Boston does do fee based for external audiences
Eileen Heineman: YWCA Evanston/North Shore also has fee-based programming.
molly Hilligoss: I would be very interested in working on a national curricula
b) Is your association a member of a local or state RJ coalition or taskforce?
Responses: Overall, local associations are working in coalition with a variety of allied
organizations.
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Lisa Grills, E.D. GLBR: Bridge Center for Racial Harmony are the experts in our region. We are
members and have a board member who serves as the president of this organization.
Tracey Madden-Hennessey: We are a member of a local youth coalition which is incorporating
racial justice work into its regular work. I am one of the Coalition officers. Coalition members
are still working on what form this work will take.
Amy, CEO, New Mexico: Yes. It is run by the statewide Health Equity Working Group. The
purpose is to introduce (hopefully, one day pass) legislation that all entities funded by the State
have to have a training on institutional racism. Amy, CEO, New Mexico. Our successes have
been introducing the bill the last two legislative sessions. It has passed the House each year,
but has not yet passed the Senate side
Dara Snyder: In Oregon we have a statewide coalition that worked to successfully pass
legislation to end profiling. we have done our best to be a meaningful partner but because of
capacity issues I have not been able to be as involved as i would like to
Katie Tate: Our association offers "What's Wrong With Different?"- a program geared toward
3rd graders. We sell toolkits to other YWCA's for $25 plus shipping. www.ywcalowercapefear.org for more info.
Shannon Griffin: The United Way Delaware as just starting to convene a racial justice coalition.
We (YWCA-De) has offered to facilitate the meeting going forward. The group is composed
primarily of local non-profits agencies focused on issues of housing, employment, voter rights,
economic empowerment, mass incarceration.
Jean Carroll President & CEO Rochester, NY: Local participation in Facing Race=Embracing
Equity coalition led by our local Community Action Agency with support from local community
foundation.
Dara Snyder:can we nationally agree to create a space for more systematically sharing our
curricula?
Shannon Griffin:Hi Colleen, I would like Kathy Obear 's contact information. Thanks.
Val Clark:We certainly agree with that, Dara!
Amanda L. Arbour:YWCA Greater Harrisburg convenes a Criminal Justice & Community
Relations Taskforce, focused on working together to build stronger police-community relations.
Colleen Butler:Hi Laura, we have done a lot of work with World Trust which is out of Oakland.
You may want to reach out to them for partnership opportunities. I think working with others
who have lots of experience and credibility can be a good place to start.
Laura Eberly:Is there a listserv for this group that everyone could send their curricula out to?
Amanda L. Arbour:Dara, yes!!
Dara Snyder:Thank you Donte . it seems the affiliates already have materials that we could
start to share if we had a space for them.
Gerry Leonard, YWCA of Asheville: The YWCA of Asheville co-chairs a Racial Justice Coalition of
well-established organizations with racial justice in our missions and includes a broad swath of
the public and private sector here in Asheville. We've been working with local law enforcement
to create best practice around community-police relations through a series of community
forums.
molly Hilligoss: The YWCA La Crosse Wisconsin is part of a group of community stakeholders
working on issues of disproportionate minority contact for youth in our community and how
racial justice training for certain frontline workers can make a huge difference in our
community
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Val Clark: YWCA Alaska offers fee-based IDI assessment and trainings, it's more broadly
described as "intercultural awareness" but one of the things we stress is learning about internal
biases, stereotypes, and how dominant groups can oppress others.
c) Does your association use an assessment tool to evaluate its capacity to do racial justice
work?
Reponses: Overall, associations do not have a tool and are very interested in the national office
providing a tool and a group training.
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Shannon Griffin: We do not currently, but we are looking to adopt a tool.
Donna Haghighat:We don't have one yet but are developing one and would love to find out
what others use and build off of their success.
Laura Eberly:Molly, I'd be interested too!
Amy, CEO, New Mexico:No we don't. I don't think we have seen any tools availalbe. We make
sure that each of our staff attends at minimum 4 hours of anti-oppression training per year.
Tracey Madden-Hennessey:Would like more information on tools
Paula Lima Jones:Each of our programs use pre/post surveys and have been using ETO software
to monitor/track our efforts. I will say we are likely going to look for another program that can
better assist us.
Val Clark:My assessment tool is whether or not I can keep my eyes open. I over see 5 programs,
and I'm the sole employee of our Social Justice program. I would be interested in an actual tool.
Julia Nesbitt:Again, the YWCA White Plains is in its infancy as to RJ and we are just beginning to
develop these tools
Amanda L. Arbour:We held a series of Caucuses this spring which every staff person was
required to participate in. We asked three questions: 1) What does it feel like to be a person of
color or a white person at the YWCA? How do you see or experience racism within the
organization? What steps do you think the YWCA should take to create a more inclusive
environment? We are using the feedback we received to put together some internal action
steps for our association.
Lisa N McGill YWCA Greater Miami: I appreciate YWCA Madison ability to develop racial social
justice fee based programs and a summit. How did they develop their platform over the years to
be able to generate these programs?
Dara Snyder: Thanks Donte. That is interesting and I actually have not even considered gauging
our capacity organizationally but I do know that I am a one-staff program.
Laura Eberly: YWCA San Francisco & Marin is setting goals for our Stand Against Racism event,
including how many people we want to attend, take action, etc.
molly Hilligoss: I would be interested in a tool but we don't have one yet
Val Clark: I just put in an LOI for another person, but that's our major problem - we need more
people. We don't have much capacity for a robust volunteer program.
Jean Carroll President & CEO Rochester, NY: We had an external assessment about 10 years ago
on our cultural competency and received an award related to that. Since then we have had a
diversity committee and require 18 hours of training annually - so we "assess" whether we reach
the hours goal. We also assess how many organizations we get enrolled in the Stand Against
Racism annually.
Katie Tate: I believe the old regional peer review was a good assessment tool for the
organization
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Colleen Butler:That is one of the trainings that we offer for businesses. The idea is to assess
organizational culture and to plan how to become more equitable and inclusive.
Colleen Butler:The training uses a model called the Multicultural Organizational Development
Tool. We were trained by Kathy Obear.
Laura Eberly:Colleen, I would love to see that tool!
Donna Haghighat:I have a question for Colleen from Madison- do YWCA members get a discount
for the community based workshops?
Barbara Bixby:Colleen--I would like to know more about it as well.
Amanda L. Arbour: The first 3 months I was on the job, I spent doing informational interviews
with leaders within and outside the org to find out what work was already being done and what
was needed. So that may be a good place to start!
Shannon Griffin:We are interested in partnering with other YWCA's that are interested in
reciving trainig from Kathy Obear's Social Justice Institute Training. The same folks who assisted
YWCA Madison. This would help all of defer some of the training cost. If anyone is interested,
please email me at sgriffin@ywcadelaware.org
Laura Eberly:Helpful to hear we're on the right track, thank you.
Laura Eberly:Crossroads is a good training resource also: http://crossroadsantiracism.org/
Lisa Grills, E.D. GLBR:Yes-a group training would be great.
Barbara Bixby:Yes on the group training idea--Jean Carroll President & CEO Rochester, NY:I would have an interest in a group training
opportunity
Paula Lima Jones:I would certainly be interested in a group training around the SJTI
Katie Tate:Me too
Julia Nesbitt:Thanks Shannon, this is definitely something we would be interested in pursuing.
Rebecca Harkless and Joan Witherspoon-Norris:We would be interested in the SJTI training, too.
Tracey Madden-Hennessey: We would be interested too
Julia Nesbitt:shannon, please check your email. my message was returned.
Lindsy Carpenter:SF & Marin would be interested in that training
Shannon Griffin: Julie here's my email again: sgriffin@ywcade.org
Guest: Boulder County would be interested in a group training
Jean Carroll President & CEO Rochester, NY:Building a business modelm - I am contracting with a
local firm to do market research on our racial justice products to determine if they are
marketable and if so what price we can change for them. If anyone has a prooduct that they are
willing to share with me, I can put that into the mix to test the market.
Amanda L. Arbour:Is there any way for YWCA USA to help defray the cost of the Capacity
Building Institute?
Donte Hilliard:SJ Curricula: http://www.schoolofunityandliberation.org/
molly Hilligoss:Do you think that the YWCA nationally will look at updating a racial justice
curriculum and if so what do you think the time frame on that will look like?
Donte Hilliard:Center for Third World Organizing : http://ctwo.org/
Donte Hilliard:Persimmon Paper:
http://intranet.ywca.org/site/c.dkIRJ9NVKoL8G/b.9288089/k.65D1/Persimmon_Paper_Series.h
tm
Shannon Griffin:This has been a beneficial call. Thanks everyone!
Dara Snyder:Thank you so much !
Tracey Madden-Hennessey:Thank you!
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Lisa N McGill YWCA Greater Miami:thanks Dante for illuminating where we are starting from!
Julia Nesbitt:thank you all!