Things your organization can do to Stand Against Racism:

A private meeting within your organization:

1)  Over lunch, have a dialogue about race, possibly based on a common reading like Peggy McIntosh’s or Time Wise’s articles about White Privilege or a video which brings out the issues.

2)  Use the uplifting quotes that the Stand Against Racism can provide to lead a short conversation among staff over a break or lunch.

3)  Research the ways your organization does or does not serve the African American and Latino communities and share it with your colleagues. Look for ways to better serve.

4)  Make a big poster saying “We stand against racism” and have everyone sign it.

5)  Have staff wear “Racism Hurts Everyone” buttons or stickers (provided by the YW).

6)  Join with another organization that is already planning something.

7)  As a group, take the Center for Diversity Education’s diversity walking tour downtown.

8)  Come up with some idea of your own.

A public event:

1)  Put up the posters that the Stand Against Racism provides and/or put up a really big sign in front of your building which says “We stand against racism with the YWCA” or the like.

2)  Host a speaker, panel or video screening about racism.

3)  Hold a rally.

4)  Publically talk about how your organization/business addresses racism.

5)  Perform a service addresses racism: volunteer in a public housing project, start tutoring at the YWCA After School, etc.

6)  Create a way to ask customers how racism has affected their lives, i.e. with a flip chart and easel where they can write comments.

7)  Write and submit an op-ed or letter to the editor about racism.

8)  Some idea of your own.

There is help available to help you decide how to participate!
Call 254-7206 x 203 or email .

What Can I Do to Address Racism in Asheville?

A Little:

·  Write a letter to the editor regarding your point of view on a local issue of race relations.

·  Go to a church on Sunday where there are mostly members of a different race than your own.

·  Have a meal with someone who is different from you once a month.

·  Have a mixed group of people over for potluck – invite others of the less represented race.

·  Notice and take responsibility for stereotypes which you hold, especially when you hear them reinforced from outside, like the media.

A Medium Amount:

·  Join an organization addressing racial disparities.

·  Volunteer with an organization to help people who are less well off than you – do it as a joint project with people of another race.

·  Enroll in Building Bridges and encourage others to do so also.

·  Create your own group that

·  meets once a month at a local cafeteria to eat together in mixed race groups.

·  recruits restaurants to give discounted meals to mixed race patrons on a certain day at lunch.

·  Work to include more people of another race in your daily life; consciously choose to make friends with people who are different from you.

·  Talk to your minister about race relations, set up joint black/white church activities, get your faith community involved with Christians for a United Community, if it is Christian.

·  Interrupt prejudicial remarks whenever you hear them.

·  Stand as an ally for people who are different from you.

·  Patronize businesses owned by people of color.

A Lot:

·  Become a mentor to a child.

·  Run for school board/office/etc.

·  Sponsor a prejudice reduction workshop.

·  Work with others to influence the school system or other institutions to be more equitable and to better serve the needs of people of races and classes not well served now.

·  Urge higher education and employers to increase their commitment to inclusion.

·  Mount a campaign to urge local educators and elected officials to institute changes needed in schools and communities to reduce educational disparities.

·  Take up the issue of police/civilian tensions and disparities in judicial sentencing.

·  Challenge the faith communities to reconnect people of different races on a regular basis.

·  Create a program which “banks” white privilege for when it is needed to support black issues.

·  Demand changes in our society that address health disparities.

·  Address the lack of representation of people of color in many areas of in Asheville.