WJCS Joins YWCA in Pledging to Stand Against Racism

In partnership with the YWCA, WJCS pledges to stand against racism.

The Stand Against RacismTM is a movement of the YWCA which brings together like-minded organizations that share in the YWCA’s vision of eliminating racism and celebrating the richness of diversity. By inviting community organizations to partner with them, the YWCA believes it can expand the impact of this vision and attract hundreds of thousands of participants.

This April marks YWCA's 10th annual Stand Against Racism. The signature campaign provides opportunities for issue education, advocacy, and community building amongst those engaged in racial justice work.

“WJCS is proud to join the YWCA in fighting the deleterious effects of racism,” says Alan Trager, WJCS CEO. “We are committed to this cause in our agency and in serving all individuals in our community.”

The pledge is an accompaniment to the work WJCS began more than 10 years ago to address racism. A committee of staff and senior management began education and training sessions to raise awareness of racism and its effects and many staff members have participated in the three-day Undoing Racism Workshop offered by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. In addition, WJCS also conducts an annual the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration. Most recently, the agency’s Undoing Racism Alliance Committee has been conducting quarterly Lunch & Learn sessions on various topics related to racism and how to address it.

WJCS also encourages staff, partners and community members to become familiar with the pledge and take a Stand Against Racism.

The YWCA petition text says:

STAND AGAINST RACISM PLEDGE

Mindful of the continuing affliction of institutional and structural racism as well as the daily realities of all forms of bias, prejudice and bigotry in my own life, my family, my circle of friends, my co-workers and the society in which I live, with conviction and hope

I take this pledge, fully aware that the struggle to eliminate racism will not end with a mere pledge but calls for an ongoing transformation within myself and the institutions and structures of our society.

I pledge to look deeply and continuously in my heart and in my mind to identify all signs and vestiges of racism; to rebuke the use of racist language and behavior towards others; to root out such racism in my daily life and in my encounters with persons I know and with strangers I do not know; and to expand my consciousness to be more aware and sensitive to my use of overt and subtle expressions of racism and racial stereotypes;

I pledge to educate myself on racial justice issues and share what I learn in my own communities even if it means challenging my family, my partner, my children, my friends, my co-workers and those I encounter on a daily basis

I pledge, within my means, to actively work to support public policy solutions that prominently, openly and enthusiastically promote racial equity in all aspects of human affairs; and to actively support and devote my time to YWCA, as well as other organizations working to eradicate racism from our society.

YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. I join YWCA in taking a stand against racism today and every day.

*This pledge has been adapted by YWCA USA from the Pledge to Eliminate Racism in My Life, YWCA Bergen County which is an adaptation of the Pledge to Heal Racism in My Life, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, April 10, 2006.

WJCS is one of the largest non-profit, non-sectarian human services agencies in Westchester, serving 20,000 people annually at 70 clinic, school, community and home-based locations throughout the county. The agency’s integrated network of services includes mental health treatment and counseling, child and youth development programs, residential and non-residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, home health and geriatric services. The highest level of professional development and training is offered through the WJCS Educational Institute. For more information on WJCS, go to www.wjcs.com.

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