View as Webpage April 2023 Newsletter

April 2023

Hello

Amanda,


Social Workers need a seat at the power tables


When Shirley Chisholm made her bid to become the first African American president 50 years ago this month, she had no illusions that she would win the democratic primary. What she wanted to prove was that racism and sexism were no longer barriers to building a political coalition of poor and working people whose concerns the other candidates were ignoring.

“I stand before you today, to repudiate the ridiculous notion that the American people will not vote for qualified candidates, simply because he is not white or because she is not a male,” Chisholm said in her declaration speech. “I do not believe that in 1972, the great majority of Americans will continue to harbor such narrow and petty prejudice.”


Chisholm’s campaigned against the ills of poverty – homelessness, unemployment, inadequate healthcare, poor quality schools - yet, she wasn’t pessimistic about America’s institutions, just about their leadership. “I happen to believe that institutions basically are not contradictory to many, many human rights. It’s the men and women who live within these institutions or carry out the laws or implement the laws.” Now, Americans are losing faith in the very institutions themselves. According to the Gallup polls, the country has lost confidence in church, state, school, media, the Supreme Court, police, and the presidency.


During her concession speech she warned us, “... the republic is in trouble. It hasn’t always treated everybody well.” Not surprisingly, her solution for change always included a call to bring diverse voices to the table of power to enrich the decision-making process and to engage disconnected stakeholders. But we packed away her campaign message of the threats of economic inequality and exploitation.


A half century later, as our country still reels from a pandemic, an economic shutdown and a mental health crisis, Chisholm’s wise counsel is needed more urgently than ever. Nonprofits are the keepers of America’s safety net but according to a 2021 report from the nonprofit board development organization BoardSource, there is a disconnect between boards and the communities they serve. About half of chief executives also complain that they lack the right board members with which to build trust with the communities they are tasked with serving.


This is why social workers need to be seated at the country’s tables of power. They are on the frontlines daily providing critical help with scant resources to help the most vulnerable. Social workers are best positioned to challenge ill-fated policy decisions, to advocate for holistic, community centric approaches for delivering human services and to honestly evaluate a program’s effectiveness.


Perhaps most importantly, social workers can serve as an early warning system about an organization’s vulnerabilities – clearly.


What we can’t do is confuse hiring social workers, such as embedding them in police departments across the country, with giving them a meaningful voice.


When Chisholm lost the democratic primary for presidency, it showed America had opted for the domestic status quo where social issues like addiction, disease, and unemployment are treated like enemies to be eradicated instead of struggles that required thoughtful sustained assistance. We declared a war against poverty, a war against cancer, a war against drugs, war against domestic terrorism – a path that has produced not a reduction in our social problems but a country constantly at war with itself.


Chisholm warned about the cost of not changing: “. . . part of the reason for the disquietude, the anxiety and the concerns of the American people have to do with the fact that their tax dollars that are being paid into the federal treasury are not being returned to them in terms of what it is that they should get out of this government, which is their government, and which is supposedly government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”


Ultimately Richard Nixon defeated McGovern. Chisolm returned to Congress and did what she had always promised to do when she became the nation’s first African American woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968.

“I have no intention of just sitting quietly and observing. I intend to speak out immediately in order to focus on the nation’s problems. " If we are going to turn people into believers of the American dream again, Chisholm told us, “. . . there have to be people who say, we dare.”


If we are going to restore faith that America is a country of social workers, we will have to be as courageous as Shirley Chisholm, dare to follow her lead and do as she once quipped, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW

Executive Director

TODAY: PHRC Social Justice Lecture Series event

Fair Housing Month

By: Stephanie Chapman

Assistant Chief Counsel


I was the least senior Regional Assistant Chief Counsel in the Harrisburg Regional Office when I was “asked” if I was interested in transferring to Central Office to work exclusively on housing cases. Back in 2004, PHRC was structured a little differently than it is today. There were two attorneys assigned exclusively to housing and commercial property cases, and all housing cases state-wide were assigned to those attorneys. When I was transferred, I had no housing or commercial property experience, but HUD had a very robust training program, and my partner attorney was a long-term experienced housing attorney. It did not take long for me to become familiar with the area of law.  


This was the beginning of my awareness of the importance of stable housing. Housing or the zip code in which one lives determines much more than which post office delivers your mail. The school your children attend in the Commonwealth is determined by where you live. Job opportunities, crime rates and public services, like emergency services and internet, are all dependent on where you live. Every part of someone’s life as well as those of children are determined by your zip code.


Housing complaints, as well as complainants, are among the most difficult and complex cases the Commission handles. Complainants that have lost or are about to lose their housing are many times distraught, embarrassed and traumatized. They are many times in emergent situations as they have nowhere to live. The Commission does have injunctive remedies available for those facing immediate eviction.  Reasonable modification and reasonable accommodation are some of the complex issues alleged and investigated. 


April is designated as Fair Housing Month but to me every month is Fair Housing Month!  

Women & Fair Housing

By: Brittany Mellinger

Fair Housing Training & Outreach Coordinator


As we make the annual transition from March to April, switching from celebrating Women’s History month and all the ways women have contributed to our world, to acknowledging the stark realities of our housing inequalities in Fair Housing Month, it can feel like a bumpy ride. The unvarnished truth is there is still a lot of work to be done to support equal opportunity in housing for women. 


When we look at systemic housing issues for women, we see women, especially women of color, face much higher eviction rates than the general population. Women still are paid less than men and are much more likely to be employed in lower-paid industries, such as childcare, retail, and homecare. With lower income and less wealth, it’s difficult to compete in a tight marketplace for rentals and homes for sale. Women are more likely to face sexual harassment from landlords, property managers, maintenance workers and others in their housing. Women are also more likely to experience intimate partner violence and domestic violence, which often has devastating effects on their credit, finances, housing history and ability to secure quality housing within their means after leaving an abuser. 


When we look at other factors that increase housing barriers for women, we see that limited English proficiency, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, familial status, living with a disability, or a history of involvement with the criminal justice system can make finding quality, stable, affordable housing nearly impossible. And this often has impacts on the next generation, as the majority of families being raised by single parents are headed by women. The housing conditions that impact women often impact children as well.


However, just looking at the challenges that women face in housing would lead to an incomplete picture of how women interact with our housing system. Throughout the Commonwealth, there are strong female leaders working to combat housing inequalities. Nearly all of PHRC’s fair housing initiative program partners are headed by women who have spent their careers fighting for housing justice: Angela McIver, at the Fair Housing Rights Center of Southeastern PA, Rachel Wentworth at the Housing Equality Center, Jaime Milligan at the Fair Housing Law Center, and Megan Confer-Hammond at Fair Housing Partnerships in Greater Pittsburgh. Women like Laura Willmer-Rodack at Self-Determination in Housing Pennsylvania are advocating for individuals living with disabilities to have access to safe, affordable, accessible housing. Women like Jennifer Lopez, at the Friends Association in Chester County, are leading the charge to prevent evictions and housing insecurity. An increasing share of affordable housing developers are being led by women seeking to address vital housing affordability needs in their communities. And looking within PHRC, in addition to the women serving in senior leadership positions, all of our housing teams are headed by strong female leaders working to investigate and eradicate housing discrimination– Jodi Bradley in Pittsburgh, Gloria Richardson in Harrisburg, and Taiwan Martinez in Philadelphia. So, while there is much work to do to overcome the barriers embedded in our housing systems, I have great faith in our ability to continue to work together for change. 

Upcoming Fair Housing Month events

More Fair Housing Month action

  • Let’s Make Unfair Housing History
  • 10-11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 3
  • PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter will give the keynote address during this virtual webinar hosted by the Tri-County Suburban Relators.
  • Fair Housing in Action Forum
  • 5:30-7 p.m. on Monday, April 3
  • United Lutheran Seminary- Gettysburg Campus, Valentine Hall, 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA.
  • This is an in-person conversation hosted by the Adams County Advisory Council to the PHRC at United Lutheran Seminary, featuring fair housing information and local housing resources. 
  • Fair Housing & Civil Rights Conference
  • 12-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11
  • presented by the Massachusetts Fair Housing Initiative
  • PHRC Executive Director will be offering the keynote address. 
  • Registration for the full virtual conference is available here.
  • Community Fair Housing Celebration
  • 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11
  • hosted by Kennett Area Community Services & state Rep. Christina Sappey
  • PHRC staff will provide book readings and fair housing materials at this community event.
  • Renters Rights Education and Action Forum
  • 12- 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 15
  • panelists include leaders from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh Union of Regional Renters and the National Coalition for a Civil Rights to Counsel.
  • Event is happening in person at Barco Law Building Room 101, 3900 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh
  • Boxed Lunches will be available.
  • Fair Housing Month Summit
  • 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 22
  • hosted by Tenfold
  • PHRC Director of Housing & Commercial Property, Adrian Garcia, will participate in the Pink Rose Fair Housing Month Panel, discussing current housing issues and protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. 
  • Attendees may participate in person at the Rivertown Pride Center, 324 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA or online
  • Additional summit details are available here.
  • Fair Housing Connection Summit: Bridging the Gap Between Programs, Policies, & People
  • April 28 & 29
  • hosted by the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations & other local partners.
  • Pittsburgh Regional Director Lyle Wood will participate in a panel discussion on fair housing rights and staff will have a booth to share fair housing materials. 
  • The Fair Housing and Commercial Property Division is also hosting two listening sessions with the state legislature. One is for constituent affairs staff members to discuss current and emerging housing needs. The second is for state lawmakers to learn more about what fair housing protections exist and what policies can be implemented to improve housing access.

2022 PHRC Annual Report


The 2022 PHRC Annual Report is now available. PHRC had a strong year in 2022 and this report is a representation of all the hard work everyone at PHRC is doing every day!

Read More

What is the PHRC?

By Amanda Brothman

Communications Director


I'm sure I'm not alone in hearing this question and others, "Who do you work for?", "What exactly do they do?" As Communications Director, one of my goals is to make PHRC more well-known. My hope is by promoting the work you do on social media, press releases and even newsletters like this one, we can reach those who are in need and facing discrimination. If they don't know we exists, they don't know we can help.


Executive Director Lassiter asked me to create an infographic that we could distribute that would help explain the Who, What, Why and How of PHRC. This infographic tries to touch on all the important topics of our Commission.


I'm very happy to be able to release this graphic and I hope it will be useful in the future when you are asked, "What is the PHRC?"

The influence of culture

By Kurt Jung

Director of Enforcement

As a young elementary student, I remembered going to school and learning that Christopher Columbus was a great Italian who discovered America. By fifth grade we all learned about medieval England, the Crusades and the Age of Exploration. We learned about how the great powers in Europe expanded their empires by sending the Crusaders to the Middle East to conquer the Holy Land in the name of the Pope. We learned about how many European explorers travelled the world to conquer distant lands in search of gold and power; how the European powers sought to colonize the entire world and become rich and powerful.


Throughout our education, we also learned about great European painters and sculpturers like Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, Van Eck, and Van Gogh. We learned about the great European composers Bach Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. We studied the piano, violin, guitar, flute, clarinet and French horn. We read Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Homer’s The Iliad, and Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. We even studied the empires of Greece and Rome, and how important they were in world history. Such studies of Western culture were supposed to increase our cultural literacy and help us understand the history of our America and the world so that we could be productive citizens. 


My high school English course was named the “Creative Spirit of Man.” It was a study about the writings of European and white American literature and covered a study of European and American artists, most of who were all male. We spent the year learning about ancient Greek and Roman structures and how they influenced the architecture of the Western world. We were assigned a research project of the period of art starting from the European and Medieval period and ending with art in the twentieth century. I remember asking my English teacher, if I could do my research paper on Asian or African art. She smirked and said, “You will not find much on the topics because there were no significant artists that she knew of.” It was then that I realized that we were being indoctrinated to believe that only great artists, musicians, writers and leaders came from the western world and white America. 


I recently asked some friends, “How many Asian or African classical or modern composers do you know?“, “How many African or Asian classical painters or sculptors can you name?” They thought hard and were unable to even name one classical composer or artist. When I asked how many Western classical composers and artists, they were able to name Bach, Beethoven, Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci without a pause. Why is it that our educational system focuses on the Western European and American culture and not on the creative spirit of all people? Why does the average American not know about the Egyptian composer and oud player Riad Al Sunbati or Zimbabwe’s Mbira and Kalimba player Stella Rambisi Chiweshe or Chinese composer and erhu player Hua Yanjun?

I can hear everyone asking, “What is an oud, mbira, kalimba, and erhu?” These instruments pre-dated the invention of the guitar, violin, and piano by thousands of years, yet few in America know about the rich history of these instruments. The mbira was created over 3000 years ago. Such notions of importance of Western culture, history, art and music leads many to believe that the rest of the world’s cultures are insignificant and the history, culture art and music of one area of the world is somehow more superior.


If children are taught about the diverse, culture, history, writings and music of the world, they could appreciate and understand people from around the world and provides the opportunity to see the humanity in all people. Why should not our children learn about musical instruments such as the koto, the cuatro puertorriqueño, the Doumbe, or cora? Why should not they learn about the culture, history and art of the great civilizations in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America prior to the arrival of the Europeans? The Pakistani businessman and author Sayed Ali Raza once said, “Experiencing and understanding different cultures is the first part of acceptance.

The Amy Wax problem

By Todd Schwartz,

Philadelphia Regional Office

 

You may have heard about the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey School of Law, Law Professor Amy Wax. Wax has been accused by students of making racist, sexist and xenophobic comments, which includes, but is not limited to saying that America is better off with fewer Asians and less Asian immigration; black students rarely graduate in the top half of their class; black students are inferior to white students, and of course she took jabs about the “woke” culture in academia and that not all cultures are created equal. Lovely.


Is her incendiary speech protected under the first amendment? According to former University of Pennsylvania Law School graduate Apratim Vidyarthi, the answer is no. Vidyarthi suggests that her remarks prohibit her from fulfilling her duties as a professor, thus making her situation an employment and workplace issue. “Wax cannot fulfill her role as a professor, nor adhere to the university’s behavioral standards, which include being “fair and principled” and nondiscriminatory. The fact that she hasn’t stopped to change her racist behavior indicates that previous consequences imposed on her were inadequate, and she cannot be counted on to be objective and fair toward her students. Her small seminars are implicitly off-limits to those worried that they will be treated as though they are obsequious, inferior, or incapable of succeeding because of their race.”

Perhaps the most vexing obstacle that the University of Pennsylvania faces in removing Professor Wax is the tenure conundrum. In higher education, tenure is the golden parachute, a permanent academic appointment that according to the American Association of University Professors, “safeguards academic freedom.” The Association goes on to say that a tenured position “can only be terminated for cause or under extraordinary circumstances,” such as a financial emergency or if a program gets discontinued. Wax, of course, has denied saying anything detrimental or racist to students, and her supporters say she is being targeted for her conservative views. Nonetheless, in addition to limiting her teaching curriculum, the Dean of the Law School, Theodore Ruger has requested a faculty hearing that would consider imposing a major sanction on Professor Wax that could result in her discharge from employment at Penn. Professor Wax has countered by recently filing a grievance against Dean Ruger citing that he is stifling on her academic freedoms and requests that Penn end Ruger’s bid for sanctions.


Penn is currently doing everything it can without firing her. An analysis by the Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn’s student-run newspaper, found that Wax’s courses had under-enrollment for at least six semesters compared to other courses offered. During the Fall Semester in 2022, only two out of a maximum of 14 students enrolled in Wax’s LAW 9560: Conservative Political and Legal Thought which was the least enrolled class of all the law schools’ seminars this fall, except for two other classes that had no enrollments and were canceled — including Wax’s LAW 9250: “Liberty, Responsibility, and Neuroscience.” Because it appears the student body is largely protesting her obnoxious-racist comments by avoiding her curriculum, I would say that her contributions to the university community are marginal, at best. 

Self-compassion

By:Waydee Rivera

Team Leader, Harrisburg Regional Office

Self-compassion is giving yourself the same compassion you would give to others. I have found having self-compassion is one of the hardest things for us all to do. Why? Because it is easy to be harder on yourself. We are our hardest critics. When I think of self-compassion, I immediately thought of our new employees who just underwent the PHRC Compliance Training and remember myself during my training.


I started my training a month after I began my employment here. I had just retired from working 20-plus years in the criminal justice field. I have always felt my passion and purpose was helping others.  I went into the training wanting to absorb as much information as I could and become an effective investigator. During my process of wanting to succeed as an investigator, I became impatient with myself trying to learn the procedures of analyzing cases. It was stressful and I became frustrated with my work. I realize that my attitude was not going to allow me to engage with Complainants and give them the attention that was owed to them at PHRC.


Researchers suggest that self-criticism predicts avoidance behaviors, loss of self-esteem, negative perfectionism, and procrastination. It is believed that a self-compassionate employee’s mindset produces benefits that spread to others. Being kind and nonjudgmental toward the self is a good practice for treating others compassionately. Everyone hates making mistakes, but when you have self-compassion with yourself, it allows you to learn from your mistakes. With self-compassion, you are more willing to correct those flaws and ask for support to help better your work performance. Self-compassion permits you to be kind to yourself and in return, you are more likely to be considerate of others. I believe having compassion for us will incite us to be more obliging while assisting our Complainants. It helps us to be more conscious of our shared humanity. 

I started to feel I was growing as an investigator when I had more patience and care for myself. It motivated me to find ways to connect to those seeking our help for social justice. I encourage new investigators to practice self-compassion as they navigate their new journey here at PHRC.

PHRC mourns the death of disability rights icon Judith Heumann


By: Darlene Hemerka

Hearing Examiner


Judith (Judy) Heumann was a disability rights activist and was known as the “mother of disability rights.” Heumann contracted polio in 1949 and began using a wheelchair for mobility.

 

At age five, Heumann not allowed to attend school because she was considered a fire hazard. Heumann studied education in college and passed her written and oral teaching exams. However, the Board of Education denied Heumann her teaching license because she failed the medical exam. Heumann sued the Board of Education and was the first wheelchair user to become a teacher in New York.

 

She was one of the leaders of the independent living movement in the United States which began in the late 1960s. The goal of the independent living movement was to assist people with disabilities to live in the community with whatever supports they needed instead of in hospitals or institutions. Decades later, then President Obama appointed Heumann to serve as the first special advisor for international disability rights at the U.S. Department of State. Heumann died on March 4, 2023.

 

To learn more about Heumann’s life and the disability rights movement watch the documentary Crip Camp on Netflix or read Heumann’s memoir, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.

Thrilled to embark on a new journey with the PHRC

By: Khera Bowman

Education and Outreach Coordinator


Hello, my name is Khera Bowman, and I recently joined the Commission as an Education and Outreach Coordinator. I am thrilled to fully embark on this new journey that the PHRC has paved for me. I was born in Woodbridge, Virginia, lived in Delaware, and currently reside in York, Pennsylvania where my parents moved myself and three older brothers. Although the majority of my family now lives in Florida, and overseas, I call York my home.


My willingness to learn, accept new challenges, and take on more than I know is how I came across the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. I am beyond thrilled to learn more about the commission and be devoted to the work I do, not only for myself but for others. Working with the PHRC team is an eye-opening experience. Not only have many employees worked with the Commission for many years, their dedication and wealth of knowledge to the work is what motivates me to be an open book and never stop learning. I am appreciative of the outreach events I have attended thus far, and the knowledge presented through different speakers I have encountered.


I joined the PHRC to advance my career, professionally and personally. I knew the journey I would embark upon would be challenging, but one I could handle. I knew I would have to burst out of my shell, and I knew this would be the perfect way to do so. From attending York College of Pennsylvania and earning my bachelor’s degree in mass communications, I ended up in education before I could even get out of education. While attending college, I worked at an after-school program and after graduating as a coordinator with Communities in Schools. This eventually led me to becoming the communications coordinator for an inner-city school district.


I never knew communications would lead me back to education. With so many paths in the communications world, I am excited for my position within the PHRC, and I look forward to connecting with many people in my education and outreach efforts. 

PHRC Recent Events

On March 1, PHRC held a Social Justice Lecture Series event at Lincoln University featuring Dr. Eddie Glaude. During a reception before the event, Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter presented Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. with the PHRC Social Justice Award for his courage to fight for equality for all.

On Wedesday, March 15, PHRC visited Acting Secretary of PA Department of Labor & Industry Nancy Walker and her team. Recently PHRC offered DEI training for their leadership team.

This month, PHRC held a meeting with spiritual leaders of the Chinatown Community to discuss community concerns. The meeting was held at the Philadelphia Regional Office.

On Saturday, March 25, ED Lassiter delivered the keynote during the World Affairs Council in Harrisburg's International Women's Conference & Fashion Show.

On International Women's Day (March 8th), PHRC partnered with YWCA York to host a Women's History Event at York College. Thank you, Melissa Harris-Perry for an inspiring and honest conversation about race, gender and politics. At the beginning of the event, PHRC was pleased to presented Dr. Harris-Perry with the PHRC Social Justice Award.

Wednesday, March 22, PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter joined state Senator Art Haywood at East Stroundsburg University. as part of the ongoing Ending Racism on College Campuses Initiative. They met with President Kenneth Long and student leaders.

On Friday, March 24, PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter gave the keynote speech during the 53rd Annual PA Black Conference on Higher Education. It's the oldest Black Professional Higher Education organization in the nation.

On Thursday, Marh 30, ED Lassiter delivered the keynote during the City of York Human Relations Commission Diversity Dinner.

During the last week of March, several members of the PHRC staff were in Las Vegas for a conference. PHRC is always learning and working to improve!

During the last week of March, four members of the PHRC staff joined the Maryland Civil Rights Educational Freedom Experience. They retraced the Freedom Trail visiting Lorraine Motel, the Legacy Museum, the home of Medgar Evers, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and many more. They also learned about significant events o the American Civil Rights Movement.

Outside PHRC events

Stop the Violence Pittsburgh is hosting the 2023 Black Health Equity Summit on Saturday, April 8. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, SPIRIT OF PITTSBURGH BALLROOM, 3rd Floor.

Summit will include the following panels:

  • 11 a.m. PITTSBURGH BLACK INEQUALITY
  • 12:15 p.m. BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH- Maternal & Infant Mortality
  • 1 p.m. BLACK HEALTH DISPARITY
  • 3 p.m. THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE- Eat to Live, Don't Live to Eat
  • 3:45 p.m. BLACK GROUP ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
  • 4:45 p.m. JOB TRAINING/READINESS for the 21st Century
  • 5:30 p.m. BLACK BUSINESS MATTERS-What We Need to Know
  • 6:15 p.m. NOT-SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING-STRAIGHT GENTRIFICATION:
  • 7:30 p.m. DR. UMAR JOHNSON



REGISTER TO ATTEND: HTTPS://PGHBLACKHEALTHEQUITYSUMMIT.EVENTBRITE.COM


Action Conversations on Race

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh: Center for Race & Gender Equity

Every third Wednesday of the month 12-1pm EST


April 19, 2023: Cannabis and Racial Justice

From Reefer Madness to the War on Drugs, cannabis prohibition has disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, namely as a key contributor to mass incarceration. Our panelists discuss if legalization and criminal record expungement can redress the systemic racism of cannabis prohibition policies and drug law enforcement. Looking toward a more equitable future, panelists also envision ways to center racial justice within the burgeoning medical marijuana industry.


May 17, 2023: Antisemitism and White Supremacy

Antisemitic violence is deeply connected to white supremacy culture. In collaboration with National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Pittsburgh, our conversation addresses the rise in antisemitism as well as racism against Jews of color as we seek opportunities to unite against white supremacy.


21-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge and 18th Annual Race Against Racism

YWCA Harrisburg


April 3 - April 29, 2023

The race supports the YWCA's mission to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The funds we raise are crucial to sustaining our racial justice programs throughout the year ahead. Click here for more information.

YWCA York 17th Annual Race Against Racism

Saturday, April 29th at 10:00 am, at 320 E. Market Street, York, PA.

More information available here.

YWCA Lancaster 25th Race Against Racism

April 29, 2023

9 a.m. at Musser Park, Lancaster City

More information available here.


Want to share any upcoming events? Send events to ambrothman@pa.gov.

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