By Sam Smith Jr., CRC Member
As part of the United Way of Central Carolinas commitment to the community, the 21-Day Equity Challenge recently took more than 15,000 individuals from the Charlotte region on a daily journey of learning and self-discovery to develop more effective social justice habits around issues of race, power, privilege and leadership. The goal is to build new understandings and connections and begin dismantling systemic racism.
From January 18 — February 15, 2021, participants received an email with readings, videos, podcasts, and ways to take action. A discussion guide was available for groups, or individuals could have participated solo. Some of the thought-provoking topics included:
● White Privilege
● Racial Identity
● Unconscious Bias
● Racial Justice
● Racial Trauma on BIPOC
● Levels of Racism
● Income Inequality
● Redlining/Housing Inequality
● Racism and social determinants for health
● Racial Wealth Gap
● Educational Inequality
● Adverse Childhood Experiences
● LGTBQ+
● Building a Race Equity Culture
Yvette Townsend-Ingram, a member of the Community Relations Committee (CRC), educator, community activist and life-long learner, was excited to take part in their 21-Day Equity Challenge. She and a few CRC members who participated in the Challenge recently discussed their learnings and shared their own experiences surrounding race and equity. Members shared poignant, personal experiences of colorism and classism within the Black community. They were uplifted that these topics are finally being acknowledged nationally and locally. “It is not enough to be non-racist, but you must be anti-racist,” said Townsend-Ingram. She shared that as a community we are beginning to understand that one’s silence about racism is the same as complicity; there is no room for being “neutral” on race or colorblind.
The group agreed that the progression for equity is a marathon and the measurement of equality is somewhat ambiguous for each generation. There was also an expressed desire to not let the Equity Challenge be just a learning opportunity and a one-off experience. Instead, they agreed, there should be actionable steps and benchmarks toward equity for our community.
To conclude the Racial Equity 21-Day Challenge, United Way of Central Carolinas hosted a virtual Racial Equity Town Hall on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 that brought together participants and subject-matter experts to broaden understanding of issues related to racial equity and highlight shared knowledge gained from the experience.
The 21-Day Equity Challenge was created by Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., director of the Privilege Institute in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Moore designed the Challenge to not only help people better understand the issues surrounding equity and inclusion, but also to do so in a way that would build a habit of learning by stretching it over 21 days.
United Way of Central Carolinas brought the Challenge to the Charlotte community after United Way of Washtenaw County in Ann Arbor, Michigan introduced the challenge into the United Way network.
