News
August 1, 2018YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc. and YWCA of NorthEastern NY Take a Stand Against Racism
YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and YWCA NorthEastern NY call all individuals to join us in taking a Stand Against Racism on Saturday, August 4, 2018, at the University at Albany – Lecture Center (1400 Washington Ave) starting at 8:30am.
Stand Against Racism (SAR) will unite our community in a bold demonstration that delivers a clear message: We Are On A Mission To Eliminate Racism. The Stand Against Racism: Civic Engagement Symposium is a call to action for individuals to create change through action in their own lives and their communities.
The theme of the symposium is Civic Engagement: Our Power, Our Mission, Our Future. For many, the term “civic engagement” refers only to voting, but it also applies to a much larger body of work. Defined as working to make a difference in communities through both political and non-political activities, civic engagement addresses public concern and promotes a better quality of life for community members. That full breadth of work is important, because voting alone cannot create systemic change.
“YWCA-GCR is thrilled to partner with our sister Association, YWCA NorthEastern NY for the Inaugural 2018 Stand Against Racism Symposium,” says Daquetta Jones, Executive Director, YWCA of the Greater Capital Region. We’re living in unpredictable and concerning times. We must be tenacious no matter the challenges and progressively exercise our RIGHT to vote at all levels. Local politics run federal politics but voting along cannot create systemic change in our nation. If all of us aren’t doing well; we are not doing well. Join us in taking a Stand Against Racism and Get Out the Vote!”
The SAR Symposium will begin with an impactful speech from Keynote Speaker, Honorable Dr. Dorcey Applyrs. Dr. Applyrs has built a personal and professional life in the City of Albany devoted to improving the quality of life for residents in her community, Albany’s First Ward. The Washington, D.C. native tackles health disparity and environmental safety issues affecting her constituents with a persistence and passion that city leaders have come to recognize and depend upon. Dr. Applyrs was elected to the City of Albany Common Council First Ward in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. Light breakfast refreshments will be served.
We have partnered with community groups, local political leaders, educators, and activists for social and racial justice to host breakout sessions focusing on how attendees can create change. Citizen Action of NY, JustLeadershipUSA, University at Albany Office for Public Engagement, RISSE, and University at Albany Journalism Program will provide these breakout sessions. Topics will span from “how to run for office” to “learning how to distinguish fact vs. fiction when reading the news”, “opportunities to create meaningful engagement with communities of color” to “Confronting & Pushing Back against Islamophobic Racism & Xenophobia”.
After the breakout sessions, attendees will be given a boxed lunch and are invited to connect with each other to share ideas and visit vendors. Once lunch is finished, all attendees are invited to a movie screening of American Revolutionary:The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, presented in collaboration with WMHT and POV, the award winning independent nonfiction film series on PBS (www.pbs.org/pov). A panel discussion will follow the film, moderated by Frankie Y. Bailey, Professor, University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.
“YWCA NorthEastern New York is honored to be partnering with YWCA of the Greater Capital Region on the Stand Against Racism Symposium as it joins us together working toward a cause greater than ourselves, greater than any one person, greater than any one agency” said YWCA of NorthEastern NY Executive Director, Kim Siciliano. “We must educate people on the need to remain engaged in their community to improve the lives of others in our great nation. We must work together to support and educate our fellow community members on what it means to have a voice, and use that voice for the benefit of all people. YWCA NENY will continue to be bold in our support of getting as many people engaged in their government, by voting, supporting causes through advocacy or being a voice for those who are working to get theirs back. We must be allies, warriors and change agents!”
YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and YWCA NorthEastern NY calls on the Capital District to join us to Take A Stand Against Racism, learn more and register today at www.ywca-northeasternny.org/SAR. If you cannot afford a ticket, a limited number of scholarship tickets are available. Please apply at http://bit.ly/YWCAGCR.
