This April, the Y will observe Celebrate Diversity Month with 21 days of learning and reflection

April is Celebrate Diversity Month! The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will observe this month by hosting our first-ever Equity Challenge, a 21-day educational series in which participants will learn about, and reflect on, several dimensions of equity alongside fellow Y staff and community members.

Through daily emails, weekly Virtual Coffee Chats, and a private Facebook group, Equity Challenge participants will get the chance to engage in meaningful dialogue about cross-cultural identities and other dimensions of equity in a safe, honest space.

The Y’s Equity Challenge is open to all who want to learn, reflect, challenge their assumptions, and engage respectfully in community-driven discussions. By being intentional about the ways we educate ourselves on the diverse identities and cultures that enrich our communities, we hope to raise consciousness about issues that affect so many members of our Y family.

“Understanding how issues of equity and identity impact our communities is lifelong work,” said Agneis Schultz, Senior Director of Association Operations at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “By celebrating diversity and learning how to champion for equity from wherever we are, we hope to fulfill the promise of becoming a multicultural, anti-racist Y Association.”

To join us in the journey of celebrating cross-cultural differences and advocating for equity in the spaces we inhabit, please fill out this form. For an overview of the themes our Equity Challenge will cover, refer to our previous blog post. The Equity Challenge begins on Monday, April 5, so don’t delay—be sure to sign up before then to avoid missing out on the full experience.