YWCA McLean County to Host Humanity Summit

YWCA McLean County will host a Humanity Summit on Thursday, November 17 at the Memorial Center on Illinois Wesleyan University campus from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Country Financial is the primary sponsor of the 2016 YWCA Humanity Summit.

The Humanity Summit is the big sister of the Racial Justice Summit, an event YWCA hosted for several years. The summit will create a space for our community to grapple with important questions of cultural and systemic oppression (racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia), and challenge participants to grow as allies in the struggle for justice.

What to expect at the Humanity Summit:

·   A community of experts: The Humanity Summit will truly be a community driven conversation. Rather than slate a roster of presenters, we are calling on participants to bring their experiences, ideas and a spirit of collaboration as we move this important conversation forward together.

·   An evolving and shared understanding: Together, we will develop our understanding of oppression and privilege, determine the costs of oppression, create shared principles of allyship and commit ourselves to taking meaningful action.  

·   A space for you: Throughout the summit, there will be breakout groups specific to the identities who make up our community. A member of the corresponding community will facilitate each breakout session. Breakouts include women/femme (gender), people of color (race), people with disabilities, trans/gender-queer (gender) and LGBQ (sexual orientation). In addition, there will be a breakout for participants who do not identify with any of these groups.

“Oppression costs us all,” said Jenn Carrillo, YWCA mission impact director. “And even though we didn’t create these problems, we do have a responsibility to ourselves, as well as to each other and future generations, to address them.”

Registration for the Humanity Summit is now open and will continue through Monday, October 31 or until the event has reached capacity. The cost includes lunch and is $8 for students, $30 for the public and $60 for anyone wishing to obtain CEUs. Additionally, a ‘Pay-What-You-Can’ option is available for those who wish to attend but are unable to pay the full registration price.

To register for this powerful conference, become a sponsor, make a donation or learn more, please visit ywcamclean.org/humanity or contact Emily Fisher at (309) 662-0461, ext. 298 or ywdevelopment@ywcamclean.org.

November 17 Humanity Summit Addresses Systemic Bias

The November 17 2016 YWCA Humanity Summit will serve as a space for the community to grapple with important questions of cultural and systemic oppression (racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia), and how Twin Citians can grow to become allies in the struggle for justice.

Register before Friday, October 7, and get $10 off registration!

 Student: $8 (pricing stays the same)

 Standard: $30 (earlybird: $20)

 CEU: $60 (earlybird: $10)

 A pay-what-you-can option is available for those who are unable to pay full price for registration.

Oppression is taking lives and destroying communities. Every day, accounts of violence against people of color and a resurgence in hate crimes are in the headlines. Below the surface, institutionalized marginalization and cultural repression of “the other” are quietly killing our communities.

 Oppression costs us all. And even though we didn’t create these problems, we do have a responsibility to ourselves, as well as to each other and future generations to address them.

What to expect at the Humanity Summit:

• A community of experts: The Humanity Summit will be a truly community driven conversation. Rather than slate a roster of presenters to lecture an audience, we are calling on you to bring stories of your experiences, your ideas, and a spirit of collaboration as we move this conversation together.

• An evolving and shared understanding: We don’t have all the answers. Collectively, we will develop our understanding of oppression and privilege, determine the costs of oppression, create shared principles of allyship, and commit ourselves to taking meaningful action.

• A space for you: Throughout the summit, there will be breakout groups specific to the various communities we are a part of. Each breakout will be facilitated by a member of the corresponding community. Breakouts include women/femme (Gender), people of color (race), people with disabilities, trans/gender-queer (gender) and LGBQ (sexual orientation). In addition, there will be a breakout for folks who don’t identify with any of these groups.