racial_justice

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Southern Arizona Hate Crimes Task Force YWCA Tucson is pleased to have entered into a collaborative partnership with Southern Arizona Hate Crimes Task Force. In addition to being active members of the task force, we are pleased to provide meeting space and fiscal sponsorship The Southern Arizona Hate Crimes Taskforce (SAHCTF) was formed to promote the detection and prevention of hate crimes through enforcement and education. SAHCTF’s goal is to serve as a conduit between all communities and law enforcement by providing them with a forum to facilitate a conversation regarding how, working together, they can address and alleviate the manifestation of hate in Southern Arizona. Our membership includes non-profit organizations, cultural community associations, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, victim direct service institutions and educational institutions. For more information about how you can become involved click here.

understanding racism community education program

racial justice program consultation and technical assistance Understanding Racism YWCA offers Understanding Racism Workshops to provide a forum for participants to discover conscious and unconscious ways that racism has impacted their lives. The powerful program is designed to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of differences. Participants explore personal perceptions and issues concerning race, conflict and internalized racism. The four-hour workshop includes the viewing of the 90 minute film: The Color of Fear. For more information or to schedule an Understanding Racism Workshop for your organization click here. Lider de mi Vida LIder de mi Vida: Hispanic Women’s Leadership Initiative was developed in response to need and demand from program participants in YWCA successful programs for Spanish-speaking women: Mujeres & Dinero, Mi Carrera, Madres Hispanas e Hijos, Grupo de Apoyo Para Mujeres and a ten-week leadership development program called, Lider de mi Vida, and English as a Second Language. Lider de mi Vida: Hispanic Women’s Leadership Initiative will transform our community by engaging, educating, connecting and empowering Spanish-speaking, immigrant women to assume powerful roles as effective, informed, actively involved community members in education and government affairs to bridge the existing gap between the broader community and the significant growing numbers of recent immigrants from Mexico. Lider de mi Vida: Hispanic Women's Leadership Initiative was selected in December 2011 as one of five transformative programs in Arizona by the ASU Center for Arizona's Future through the Arizona We Want Initiative. To see a seven-minute presentation including the voices of the creators of the program, click here Tucson is struggling with serious issues: a poverty rate of 23.4%, and low academic achievement for students --- particularly students of color. According to the 2010 Census, 15.6% of youth age 12 to 21 drop out of high school and 41.5% of them are Hispanic. Forty-nine percent (49%) of all children born in Pima County in 2009 were born to Hispanic parents. Despite the fact that the single most reliable predictor of a child’s educational achievement is their mother’s level of educational attainment, efforts to improve educational outcomes for Arizona’s children have over looked the fact that 40% of Hispanic women in Arizona lack a high school education. In Arizona, the voter turnout rate for Hispanics is 17% lower than it is for Non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanic women are the heart of their families and the community. The ability of their children to thrive and fulfill the dreams held historically by immigrant families is dependent on each woman’s access to reliable information about educational resources and government services for herself and her family. The fear of loss of culture and language and distrust of government agencies, contribute to their reluctance to utilize services offered by unfamiliar institutions or to be involved in their children’s schools. This results in greater isolation and the inability of Hispanic families to bridge the gap between, what is familiar and valued and the benefits of fully participating in their new community. When more than a third of the members of our community are not engaged or connected with schools and government institutions and civic life, our entire community suffers. Lider de mi Vida is designed to help Mexican-American men and women be fully integrated into the fabric of the Tucson community ---- the power and value of their language and culture will be honored as a source of strength. Our schools, government institutions and economy will thrive when we are no longer failing to engage and utilize the resources of half of our human resources. Mexican-American women will embrace their role as leaders and will be recognized for the vital role they play in the lives of their families and the community. No longer will they be characterized by stereotypes such as: Hispanic women do not value education, prefer to stay at home, and are dominated by the men in their families. The lack of connection between the citizens of our community and elected officials will disappear when voter participation includes previously underrepresented eligible voters. Our community’s economic development and educational achievement will never again be at the nation’s bottom as Hispanic students graduate from high school and college at the same rate as non-Hispanic White students and Tucson is able to offer employers a highly skilled workforce. We will never again accept the lack of civic participation and academic achievement by Hispanics as a community norm. For more information about this exciting new initiative, click here. Let’s Get Real Let’s Get Real is a strong and effective program, for middle school students, teachers, and administrators, that features the screening of the 35 minute documentary, Let’s Get Real. The film features only youth voices speaking about their personal experiences with name-calling and bullying. Students speak candidly about being a bully, being a victim of bullying and acting as an ally. This program makes the link between bullying and prejudice and encourages honest dialogue as well as developing empathy as essential steps towards a solution. click here for more information. Nuestra Voz/Our Voice The YWCA Racial Justice Program received a $200,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support our Latino Youth Initiative: Nuestra Voz/Our Voice. Nuestra Voz built on years of effective racial healing work to develop and implement a new initiative for the emerging, too often silenced, Latino youth population in an on-going effort to combat prejudice, intolerance and to work towards racial healing and youth empowerment. Nuestra Voz was one of 119 grants awarded by W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support racial equity and healing and the only grant awarded in Arizona. This grant funded program will end in December 2011 and we look forward to presenting a report of the results and conclusions. click here if you would like additional information. Racial Justice Program Consultation, Training, and Technical Assistance The YWCA of Tucson has been recognized nationally for our work in Racial Justice: The National League of Cities Award for Undoing Racism is 1999 and the American Psychological Association and Kellogg Foundation Valuing Diversity Award for creating effective community strategies in 2001. YWCA Tucson created the YWCA national training model: Getting Started in Racial Justice and we are available to provide this specialized training for organizations and groups. In addition to the programs listed, the YWCA Tucson’s Racial Justice Program, has numerous additional tools and activities that can be adapted to meet the needs of your company or organization. The YWCA Tucson has provided consultation and technical assistance to numerous non-profit organizations, educational institutions, municipalities, and employers to help them create and implement anti-racism and diversity programs and initiatives. The YWCA is also available to work with your organization to help you develop a more diverse board of directors and volunteers. For click here