UTICA, N.Y. (Feb. 18, 2021) – YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) will join YWCA Greater Cleveland
and dozens of YWCAs across the country in a 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge.
Each day, participants will be presented with activities such as reading an article, listening to a
podcast, reflecting on personal experience, and more. Focus areas within the 21 days include
issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. The challenge itself is creating dedicated time
and space to build more effective social justice habits.
“We hope our community is as excited as we are to take part,” says YWCA MV CEO Dianne
Stancato. “This is a challenge. It will push us out of our comfort zones. But this work is
essential. It’s hard work, but it’s crucial to learn and grow in our own personal journey toward
racial justice and our collective role to be the change we wish to see.”
According to YWCA Greater Cleveland, “Participation in the daily activities help us discover
how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another,
and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.”
Registration for the challenge is now open at ywcamv.org. To engage with other participants
across the country, browse the hashtag #YWCAEquityChallenge.
YWCA Mohawk Valley is the sole provider of domestic and sexual violence crisis services in
Oneida County, and operator of the nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center and sexual
violence crisis services in Herkimer County. For 24-hour services in Herkimer County, call
315.866.4120. For crisis services in Oneida County, call/text 315.797.7740 or ywcamv.org/Chat.
For more information about YWCA MV, visit ywcamv.org or call 315.732.2159.