""A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." "

– Jackie Robinson 

All Challenge Days

Welcome to day 15

Topic: Allies and Advocates, Edition 2

Challenge yourself today to discover your courage and strength in uncomfortable instances.

Reminder, no matter who you are or where you are on the journey, you will not be perfect. Try to digest the information slowly and go at your own pace. Allow time for reflection and avoid feeling pressured to tackle everything.

Advocates and allies alike embrace the essential beliefs that our lives are interconnected, and that progress is possible.

Stepping into your power and outside of comfort zones interrupts the patterns we see in our daily life; this is one action an equity advocate and ally can do to make lasting impact in someone’s life .

In “The Racial Healing Handbook,” Dr. Anneliese A. Singh reminds us of the importance of being purposeful: “You need the intentional mindset of, ‘Yep, this racism thing is everyone’s problem-including mine, and I’m going to do something about it.’”

Becoming an equity advocate or ally starts by challenging internalized ideas and assumptions. We can learn about ways Black people and other people of color have advocated for change. We can interrupt current patterns of prejudice against other racial groups. For everyone, it is an ongoing practice and process.

Challenge Menu

Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

In this uplifting Ted Talk, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, a Nigerian-American author, speaker, and digital strategist shares three questions to ask yourself if you’re teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down. Jones also encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable. She wants us all to leave this world better than we found it. (11 minutes)

The Future We Deserve: How Philanthropy Can Support Our Next, Most Diverse Generation

Dr. Starsky Wilson powerfully describes the connections between child well-being and racial justice and outlines the many ways in which philanthropy can invest in a more equitable future for today’s youth. (18 minutes)

No. You Cannot Touch My Hair!

Be the change! Sometimes becoming an ally and advocate can be as simple as saying two words. Learn how by listening to Mena Fombo share her story in this witty and compelling TEDxBristol Talk. Fombo shows us the thread between intrusive touching, ignorance, and racism. We must call out these incidents. Fombo says: “We are not animals in zoos – #DONTTOUCH​”. (16 minutes)

‘Solidarity, Not Charity’: A Visual History of Mutual Aid

From helping to free slaves in the 1800s, through the efforts of Callie House to create pensions for Black workers, to school breakfast programs in the 1960s and Puerto Ricans organizing neighborhood trash cleanups in East Harlem when the city refused sanitation services, neighbors and strangers have a long history of joining together in solidarity to support one another. Check out this visual history from Bloomberg City Lab to learn how mutual aid societies have been a part of the DNA of racial equity advocates.

Social Justice Philanthropy and Giving

Learn about ways you can be an advocate through your philanthropy. Social justice philanthropy focuses on the root causes of social, racial, economic, and environmental injustices.

 

Start a Social Media Campaign

Get involved in with groups like Color Of Change, an organization helping people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 7 million members, Color Of Change moves decision makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people, and all people, until justice is real.

Unite for More

Behind our work at United Way of Greater Atlanta, there are people like you who get involved to ensure a better future for our children and community.

Getting involved with United Way is easy. Pick your path by volunteering or advocating.

Take Action

Today in Greater Atlanta nearly 500,000 children live in communities lacking the basic opportunities and resources needed to thrive. Lives born with pure potential are too often offset by the disparities that a zip code or race produces, holding us back for an equitable Greater Atlanta.

The Racial Equity and Healing Fund
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Thank You

The following organizations have provided funds to support the United Way Racial Equity and Healing Fund. 

Anthem
Assurant
Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation
Gas South

Genuine Parts Company
Global Payments Inc
Printpack
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
Southern Company Gas

Target HQ
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Coca-Cola Company
Truist