Take time for learning, un-learning, community building and taking action during the YWCA Northeast Kansas Racial Justice Challenge. The library is a sponsoring equity partner for the Challenge. Sign up now to join the challenge! Your first step will be to create an account for YWCA USA. If you were part of the national YWCA challenge in April, you already have an account.
Goals
The Racial Justice Challenge creates time and space to build effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership. Starting Mon, June 5 this four-week virtual program combines learning, reflection, discussion and community building.
The Challenge fosters personal reflection, encourages social responsibility, and motivates participants to identify and act on ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
Racial Justice Challenge App & Website
After registering, simply download the app on your phone or device, or visit the website daily for links to articles, podcasts, short videos and activities to learn more on each topic. The following activities (at least one a day) will be posted in the Challenge app and website:
- Read an article
- Listen to a podcast
- Reflect on personal experience
- Connect with participants
- Join weekly discussion
In Person Events
While the bulk of the Challenge is virtual, the library is hosting a couple in-person events.
Racial Justice Challenge Community Kick-Off | June 1
Thu, June 1, 2023, 6-7:30pm, Marvin AB, hear from leaders, activists and people with lived experiences on disability, housing, music and mental health who will discuss how these issues intersect with race. Sherman Smith, Editor in Chief of the Kansas Reflector, will moderate this panel. Learn more about this event.
YWCA Racial Justice Challenge Reflection | June 27
Tue, June 27, 2023, 7- 8:30pm, Anton Room, talk with other community members who were part of the Challenge. Coming together at the end of the month allows us to hold each other accountable, share what we’re learning, and work together to create real change. Let’s chat about the topics and experience of the challenge and reflect on your 4-week journey. This is also the regular monthly Racial Justice Book Club meeting. All challenge participants are invited to the conversation.
Virtual Events
The Challenge app and website include an interactive feed. You can participate anytime within the app and website. For a more interactive experience, on Thursdays in June, noon-1pm, join us within the Challenge app to participate in a video chat facilitated by librarians.
- Noon-1pm, Thu, June 8
- Noon-1pm, Thu, June 15
- Noon-1pm, Thu, June 22
- Noon-1pm, Thu, June 29
By going through the lessons together, engaging in the virtual chat, and attending in-person and online events, we are all building a stronger, more equitable community together.
Lissa Staley
Lissa Staley helps people use the library. She is a Book Evangelist, Trivia Emcee, Classics Made Modern book discussion leader, NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison, and frequent library customer. She loves her kids, being a librarian, living in Topeka, and helping people form connections and community. (She's the Community Connections Librarian!) She reads a new book every few days, but is enjoying the audiobook of "Empress of Forever" by Max Gladstone, the ebook "When We Were Magic" by Sarah Gailey and is eagerly awaiting John Scalzi's "The Last Emperox" in April!