PRESS ROOM

5,000 Bostonians to Stand Against Racism This Friday

Boston, MA – YWCA Boston (http://www.ywcaboston.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, announced its promotion of the national Stand Against Racism day on April 29, 2011.  The national civic engagement project will raise awareness that racism still exists in our communities and that it should not be ignored or tolerated. 

To date, more than 70 Greater Boston companies, schools and community organizations have signed on, each developing its own effort or “stand” to promote diversity.  Participating sites include, among others:  Neighborhood Health Plan, Liberty Mutual, Boston Public Health Commission, Simmons College, Boston Children’s Museum, Third Sector New England, Mass College of Art, Holland & Knight, Paradigm Properties, Roxbury Youth Works, Big Sisters of Greater Boston, Fisher College and the Museum of Science.  Events include a human diversity chain across the Fort Point Channel, a “Dance Against Racism,” and a special advance screening of the PBS’s American Experience upcoming documentary Freedom Riders, which chronicles a critical period of the Civil Rights Movement.

More than 5,000 people are expected to participate in Stand program across the city.

According to the most recent census data, Boston is 11th amongst large cities for the most extreme residential segregation between blacks and whites. In addition, Boston ranks 4^th in

Hispanic/white segregation and 5^th in Asian/white segregation. At the same time, the Hispanic and Asian populations have grown substantially creating a more diverse city.

YWCA Boston joins 70 other YWCAs nationwide in promoting the April 29^th Stand Against Racism to combat the spread of hate and intolerance, and to honor and celebrate the richness of diversity. A schedule of events and participating organizations can be found at www.ywcaboston.org/stand-against-racism/

 

Background:

Founded in 1866, YWCA Boston is America’ first YWCA.  For more than 140 years YWCA Boston has worked to eliminate racism and empower women.  Today’s YWCA provides critical direct services in the community.  They include mobile health and wellness education for women and girls;   breast cancer survivor support; adult, interracial community dialogues; youth civic engagement, and financial literacy programs for working women.  YWCA Boston sponsors Boston’s Academy of Women Achievers and an annual, city-wide Stand Against Racism.   To learn more about YWCA Boston, visit www.ywcaboston.org, or follow the organization on Linked In, Twitter and Facebook.