YWCA Asheville is joining the 2019 Women’s March in Downtown Asheville, taking place on January 20, and YWCAs across the country will be participating in local marches across the country, with support from the national office, YWCA USA.
YWCA has partnered with the Women’s March since its original activities in January of 2017, and the organization believes the mission, unity principles, and values of the Women’s March strongly align with YWCA’s work to eliminate racism and empower women, particularly women of color, and the many issues that have defined YWCA’s mission for 160 years. As an organization focused on advancing racial justice and empowering women, YWCA USA has been a contributor to the Women’s March policy agenda as an active member of the Racial Justice committee.
“As we have for 160 years, YWCA will continue to stand up and speak out—not only through marches and rallies, but through our policy advocacy and the critical services we provide to women and families across the country,” said YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are pleased to see strong statements denouncing anti-Semitism and bigotry posted on the Women’s March homepage and social media platforms, and we firmly believe YWCA’s work and mission are directly aligned with core issues that are central to the Women’s March policy platform. YWCA will continue to do the hard work with all of our partners to build a truly inclusive, intersectional movement. YWCA has worked to advance these critical issues for over a century, and we won’t stop now.”
“The YWCA Asheville will march in solidarity with women, girls and allies across our city, state and nation. We recognize the complexity of movement building is real, but those complexities will not stop us from our work to address racism, sexism, religious intolerance, and all disparities that do not uphold the dignity of all people,” noted Beth Maczka, YWCA Asheville CEO.
Speakers will include Civil rights activist Mandy Carter and journalist Dr. Liz Colton, daughter of the late Marie Colton, the first woman to serve as speaker pro-tem in the NC General Assembly. As YWCA moves forward in preparation for this critical gathering, the organization is determined to make sure the issues that have driven their mission for 160 years continue to stay at the forefront of national dialogue and policy agendas in Raleigh, Washington, DC, and beyond. Across the country, local YWCAs continue to provide essential services and programs, and to raise their collective voice on racial justice and women’s empowerment issues. The organization is united with the Women’s March in the overall aim to harness the power of women and communities to create transformative, inclusive, and long-lasting positive change.
About YWCA USA
YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We are one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.
YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for 160 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls. Learn more at www.ywca.org.