Our nation stands at a crossroads. While progress has been made in the fight against racism, systemic inequities persist in areas like education, healthcare, criminal justice, and economic opportunity. These disparities disproportionately impact communities of color and contribute to negative outcomes. The YWCA NWO Racial Justice Department tackles these challenges head-on by offering programs that provide actionable solutions to dismantle systemic barriers.
The Annual YWCA Stand Against Racism Conference brings together a diverse audience of Northwest Ohio community leaders, service providers, advocates, groups, and individuals united in our mission to eliminate racism and promote justice. Each year, we bring in community experts and dynamic Keynote Speakers who engage and inspire the audience.
The theme for our 2024 Conference occurring on May 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM at One Seagate Center in Toledo, Ohio, is Until Justice Just Is: Building Bridges to Equity. The conference aims to address critical issues surrounding racism, and this year, we are honored to host Anthony Ray Hinton as our keynote speaker. Mr. Hinton's story of wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration after 30 years on death row is both powerful and inspiring. As the author of the New York Times Best-Seller, "The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row", his perspective is invaluable.
*Books are available for preorder (while supplies last) when you register by May 5th. Mr. Hinton will sign books during lunch at the conference.
