ANN ARBOR, MI (May 21, 2020) - United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC) invites the community to participate in a special COVID-19 Edition of its original 21-Day Equity Challenge to build the community’s awareness on the ways that bias, prejudice, privilege, and oppression show up in our work and lives. UWWC has a vision that by 2030, your zip code will no longer predict your opportunity in life. At present, in Washtenaw County, it does.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected our community based on the color of someone’s skin. The Equity Challenge is another way to learn more about the structural racism that creates health disparities” notes Pam Smith, President and CEO of UWWC.
Anyone can register for the COVID-19 Edition of the Equity Challenge. With the Governor’s “stay home stay safe” in effect until the end of May, United Way of Washtenaw County wanted to make the connection between the disproportionate impact of the virus on Black and Brown communities and the community conditions which enabled this to occur.
The self-guided learning journey will take place from May 25th - 29th. The Challenge examines the history and impacts of racism and how it shapes people’s lived experience in Washtenaw County. Sign up for the challenge by clicking here.
About the Equity Challenge: COVID-19 Edition
- The Equity Challenge is a commitment to devote 10-15 minutes a day for five days to learn the different ways that bias, prejudice, privilege, and oppression show up in our everyday lives.
- Participants are invited to explore this work on their own, with friends and family, or organization-wide.
- Participation in this challenge is 100% private, free and anonymous.
More than 5,000 people in Washtenaw County participated in the original 21-Day Equity Challenge, held in January of this year, raising awareness and increasing our community’s capacity for learning, exploring and working towards a more equitable Washtenaw County.
Visit our website at uwgive.org/equity to learn more about the challenge and review the topics.
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY
As part of our 99-year history, the United Way of Washtenaw County brings people, organizations and resources together to create a thriving community for everyone. We focus on Education, Financial Stability and Health, the building blocks for a good quality of life. Our Volunteer Center provides an easy, online way for people to connect with nonprofits in the community and our 2-1-1 helpline refers more than 8,000 people annually to critically needed services. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit uwgive.org.
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