Racial Justice Forum
May 10, 2024 | 9am – 1pm
Join us for the Building Bridges: Arizona Forum for Change, a dynamic platform designed to tackle pressing issues surrounding racial justice and equity. Our forum will delve into four key topics: Bodies, Women’s Financial Empowerment, Gun Violence, and Transportation, with a special emphasis on how these intersect with Mental Health and Advocacy.
Join us for this transformative event that will raise awareness about inequities, promote understanding, and inspire actionable steps toward systemic change. The agenda features keynote speaker, Jeri Perkins, and an engaging panel discussion with a special emphasis on how racial inequities intersect with Mental Health and Advocacy. Be part of the conversation to create a more just future for all of us.
This event is empowered by:
Panelists & Keynote
Jeri Perkins
Ms. Perkins is an empathetic Behavioral Health Professional and Mental Health Provider. Her unique approach challenges clients to not let barriers prevent them from gaining tools to enhance their quality of life. She specializes in racial issues, trauma-informed care, intersectionality of identity, and root cause issues.
Rachel Caballero
Rachel brings over 17 years of experience in credit unions to the table. Her journey spans various roles, from Branch and Contact Center management to her recent position in Marketing. Rachel also dedicates her time to teaching financial wellness with local nonprofits and community colleges.
Candace Lew
Dr. Candace Lew, MD has over 25 years practicing OB/GYN in the East Valley and 10 years in global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as a technical advisor and director for an iNGO, working in developing countries in SubSaharan Africa and West and South Asia, building local capacity to provide and advocate for sexual and reproductive care.
Julie Cruz
Julieta is committed to prioritizing equitable access to transportation for families across Arizona. Before joining the Hobbs Administration, Julieta was part of the Government Relations Team at Valley Metro, where she built meaningful partnerships to move current and future infrastructure projects in Maricopa County.
RJ shannon
RJ Shannon has served on community advisory boards with Phoenix law enforcement, the Phoenix Human Relations Commission, and is a founding and active member of Healing Racism. Currently, she serves as the state lead for Arizona with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a national gun violence prevention organization.
The Until Justice Just Is campaign will take place throughout the entire month of April, with the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge, a critical component of the campaign, running April 1–29.
Join a community of like-minded, like-hearted people through our FREE, self-guided Racial Justice Challenge. People at all levels in their social justice journeys are encouraged to participate.
Building Bridges Forum
The exploring does not stop there! After the Challenge, participants and community members are invited to attend our summit, connecting us with local leaders to learn what actions we can take to affect change. Save the date below.
JOIN THE Challenge
April 1 – 26
The Racial Justice Challenge is your chance to address systemic racism head-on. Each weekday, you will interact with a daily activity (reading an article, listening to a podcast, etc.) that will build or further ignite your understanding of systemic racism and discrimination.
Each year, we cover a different topic per week of the Racial Justice Challenge. The weekly topics that will be explored during the 2024 YWCA Racial Justice Challenge are:
There are many ways to get involved with YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix
Your voice matters as we stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities. Whether you have time, talents, or treasures to contribute, learn how you can plug in to the YWCA community.