Until Justice Just Is Campaign (formerly Stand Against Racism Challenge)
YWCA's 2023 signature racial justice campaign centers around the theme Advancing Justice: Ensuring Equity for All. This national campaign is to raise awareness about the impact of institutional and structure racism. It is the call to action.
The campaign has two signature events: April 13th virtual event at 3pm which will deep dive into all things racial justice and the month-long YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is an opportunity to address systemic racism head on, diving deep into issues of race, power, privilege and leadership. The ACTIONS. The campaign website launched at justice.ywca.org - visit to learn more and to register as an individual for the events.
The month-long challenge runs Monday through Friday and starts Monday, April 17th and goes through May 15th. Each of the four topics (Disability, Housing, Music, Mental Health) have a full five days dedicated to exploring the intersectionality of race and gender and the impact on our communities. There will be a wrap up day on Monday, May 15th. When signing up for the challenge, all participants can select a local association that they are affiliated with.
Why the name change? A letter from YWCA USA CEO
At YWCA USA, names mean something. Over the years, we have been blessed to launch so many powerful and effective campaigns, projects, and even movements, each one receiving a name that did justice to the good work we do as a network. Names are important.
Names have the power to invite or to exclude, to inspire or to disempower. At YWCA, we have an opportunity to invite and inspire activism and engagement toward a world of true equity from all for all — and we have a responsibility to ensure that that is reflected in the names we use.
We believe it's time to be more inclusive in our language and our campaigns. Since 2015, we have invited and inspired countless activists, advocates, and allies to join us in the movement to eliminate racism through our annual Stand Against Racism campaign. The campaign has served its purpose in the last eight years with frequent gatherings that united our efforts against racism, but it is time to be more inclusive with our message as we continue to evolve and learn. While the campaign itself has long united us against racism, we acknowledge that for many, the word “stand” in its name evoked feelings of ableism, exclusivity, and disempowerment. As an organization dedicated to advancing justice for all, it’s our responsibility to ensure that all are included in the movement and inspired to take part in advancing justice in partnership with us.
We are changing the campaign name but give each association the option to either keep the previous name or change their campaign name with us. As we further our own learning in our collective mission to advance justice, I am pleased to announce that our “Stand Against Racism” campaign has been rebranded as “Until Justice Just Is” — UJJI, for short. Though our national messaging will be branded with the more inclusive language, associations may continue using Stand Against Racism as they wish. In fact, we encourage associations to use both brands as they see fit in messaging to eliminate racism as we transition to UJJI. As a reminder, you can choose to use both or either to support the work in your community.
In addition, Until Justice Just Is will be expanded to the entire month of April. Although YWCA USA is not planning events throughout the month, our goal will be to highlight association events and initiatives to inspire and engage our network of activists, advocates, and allies all month long.
We will be holding a challenge during the campaign again this year, that we are now calling the “YWCA Racial Justice Challenge”. Our 2023 YWCA Racial Justice Challenge topics will be:
Music
Disability
Mental Health
Housing
YWCA USA as an institution has a history of advancing justice within and outside the organization, from modeling a more diverse leadership representation from Helen Claytor and Dr. Dorothy Height — two of our trailblazing women of color changemakers — to fighting for fair housing where all people can live harmoniously in the same neighborhood. In the words of our predecessors who spoke of building an open society, “anything less is to put on a blindfold and to cry “Peace, Peace” where there is no peace.” We will continue to work for peace and justice for all.
How long will we protest? How long will we rally?
Until justice just is. That’s how long. Until we achieve the fair and inclusive future we deserve. Until we are treated with dignity, with respect, with equality. Until justice is an expectation — not the exception.
Until justice just is.
Sincerely,
Margaret Mitchell
CEO, YWCA USA