The Coast Social Network with United Way of Southwest Michigan – Tuesday, January 5

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United Way relaunches 21-day Equity Challenge starting on MLK Day

Commit to change, understand, and confront racism from January 18 – February 7.

 

Following the success of its first 21-day Equity Challenge last September, United Way of Southwest Michigan is relaunching the interactive digital program for individuals to deepen their understanding of and willingness to confront racism, starting on January 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

UWSM is proud to once again give the community the opportunity to take this self-guided learning journey to learn about the history and impacts of racism and how it has shaped the lives of people in Southwest Michigan while inspiring participants with resources and tools to build racial equity in their work and lives.

Like last time, people from all over Southwest Michigan will participate in the Equity Challenge, coordinated by United Way of Southwest Michigan to raise awareness, shift attitudes, and change outcomes.

New this time, participants can preview the challenge with a “5-day warm-up” before committing to the challenge. “The 5-day warm-up provides insight into the full scale 21-Day Equity Challenge, and it is our hope that after the warm-up individuals and organizations will be eager to sign up to participate in the full challenge,” said Anna Murphy, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan.

At the launch of the first Equity Challenge, Murphy said, “As an organization, we are committed to understanding and undoing racism in our community. By taking the challenge, made up of small daily email prompts delivered each morning, we can all easily participate in this transformative effort.”

Murphy continued, “We are not the experts in this space, and we are not owning this work, but we want to come alongside individuals, nonprofits, and businesses in this journey of learning. And we invite individuals, nonprofits, and business to join us and bring along staff, boards, and even customers.”

More than 800 people throughout Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties signed up for the challenge last September—and 75% had a 100% completion rate, a testament to how engaging the challenge was each day.

After participating in the challenge, some participants said:

  • “I feel disheartened about the disparity of advantages between myself and others in my community.”
  • “With this challenge, I cleaned up my own act a little—and talked about it with a grandson.”
  • “I became better equipped with facts to back the beliefs I already have.”
  • “I just didn’t realize how privileged I was.”

To join the challenge, simply visit uwsm.org and sign up with your email address.

 

What happens during the challenge?

For 21 days, participants receive an email “prompt” with a short reading or video or audio file. Participants are encouraged to take about 10-15 minutes each day considering the material in the prompt. Extra resources are provided in case they want to dig further into the day’s topic.

The daily prompts will explore many different facets of racism and how they intersect with other social and economic issues, as well as provide guidance on building a race equity culture and becoming an ally. The prompts also offer tools for the racial equity change process and ways to take action in our community.

Explore this work on your own, with friends and family, or organization-wide.

How did the challenge start?

The recent release of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and Black Households Data clearly illustrates the inequities that are deeply rooted in our national, state, and local systems and institutions.

United Way of Washtenaw County successfully issued the Equity Challenge, engaging over 5,000 participants in January this year. The Michigan Association of United Ways adapted the challenge with the support of leaders across the Michigan United Way network, and now United Ways across the state plan to follow their lead.

 

ABOUT UNITED WAY

United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.