Equity & Justice
Stand Against Racism
Stand Against Racism is a signature event of the YWCA national network. It was developed as an opportunity for YWCAs across the nation to take a visible position against racism in localized contexts and to offer education and direct action around issues of racial justice. YWCA Central Maine has held an annual Stand Against Racism event bi-annually in April since 2012. Our events have offered keynote speakers including local activists, community leaders, and academics from Maine.
2025 Stand Against Racism : “Reduce Conflict, Improve Culture: A Guide to Restorative Practices”
When people hear the term “Restorative Justice,” they often think of youth and detention. It is so much more! Restorative justice is a response to wrongdoing that prioritizes repairing harm and recognizes that maintaining positive relationships with others is a core human need. Through mediation, a wrongdoer seeks to repair damage they have done to another. This conference will provide partners and participants a working knowledge on:
- What is Restorative Justice? Where is it now? Where is it going?
- Microaggressions: How they harm and how to navigate their effect on personal and professional relationships.
- Healing and Conflict Resolution: Create safer neighborhoods, more peaceful work environments, and healthier communities through accountability and reparation.
- Mediating Uncomfortable Situations: Equip managers and human resources to apply restorative justice practices to promote healing and understanding, and less distress.
Stand Against Racism unites our community across cultures, experiences, and politics to mobilize for anti-racist action in Maine.
SAVE THE DATE April 10th, 2025 – USM Lewiston Maine Campus
Find Stand Against Racism on Facebook
Eliminate Racism. Empower Women.
YWCA Central Maine has the experience you need to lead change and build DEI&I capacity at your organization. Since 2019, over 3,000 people have participated in our workshops, filled out a proprietary Organizational Equity Health (OEH) audit, requested customized facilitation, retained us for leadership coaching and consulting, and more.
We’re not new to this, we’re true to this. It’s our mission.
Trainings & Workshops
Through our Training & Facilitation program, we offer workshops on the most requested Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (JDEIB) themes to meet the needs of our partners, which have included community organizations, schools, non-profit and for-profit boards, businesses, government agencies, and more. Our workshop series moves beyond awareness and towards action by building knowledge that can shift attitudes and behaviors. Our expert facilitators guide participants through a multi-step process of personal reflection, knowledge development, and communication and culture building. Our facilitators have experience in the workshop content, education, and facilitation.
The YWCA foundational DEI&I series can be offered as a half-day training seminar or in a three-part series (60- and 90-minute workshops available). Each workshop covers an important foundational topic (Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, and Identity) that will introduce participants to the key vocabulary and concepts necessary to engage in deeper work and conversations. Additional and customized workshops covering sector-specific and special interest topics are also available to meet your organization’s needs.
Workshops are currently offered online or in person and are priced on a sliding scale based on organizational size and sector. Please email justice@ywcamaine.org to connect with our Equity & Justice Team for full workshop descriptions, to discuss pricing, and/or to request a customized workshop for your organization.
Organizational Equity Consulting
Diversity without equity, inclusion, belonging, intersectionality, justice, and sustainability is not enough. Through our Organizational Equity Consulting services, YWCA Central Maine helps organizations move beyond diversity & equity statements to create the meaningful cultural shifts that will truly support and sustain inclusive policies and practices.
Not sure where to start? YWCA Central Maine will support your organization every step of the way, from assessing internal needs and capacity to identifying goals and collecting data at various checkpoints to ensure that the objectives are met and change is ongoing.
YWCA Central Maine’s Organizational Equity Consulting packages are priced on a sliding scale based on organizational size and sector, as well as your history with DEIJB, ultimate objectives, and timeline for work. Please contact the Equity & Justice team at justice@ywcamaine.org for more information on this program, pricing, or to schedule a consultation.
Advocacy
YWCA Central Maine advocates for public policy solutions to improve the lives of women and their families and create safer, healthier, more equitable communities in Maine.
We work in collaboration with community partners and our national organization, YWCA USA, to advocate for issues to advance our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women locally and nationally. We also monitor and educate stakeholders on policy issues that impact women and girls in our state, including as active members of several Maine coalitions fighting for gender and racial equity.
Do you have a coalition invitation, sign-on opportunity, or advocacy effort related to racial and gender justice? Let’s chat about how we can work together to maximize our collective mission impact in Maine. Please email Chief Program & Impact Officer, Tiffany Salter to discuss.