Eye on WNY: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge Invites All to Become Allies

Now more than ever, reducing racism and discrimination in our communities is a top priority. One innovative method is the Western New York 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, a program offered by United Way of Buffalo & Erie County to promote the change needed for a more equitable social system. Participation is free and open to the public. Organizations may participate as well as individual community members.

By developing a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and our community, the 21-Day Challenge provides experiences through mindfulness and a sense of justice. The program aims to help people:

• Be more self-aware of their own implicit biases
• Learn about racism and the trauma that surrounds minorities every day because of racism
• Begin to be mindful of each individual’s power to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion

“In light of the racially motivated attack on May 14, it was important to United Way of Buffalo & Erie County to re-introduce the WNY 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, to bring to the forefront systems which have endangered people of color and begin discussions on what is needed to create equitable systemic community change,” says Jerome Singletary, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Community Outreach and Advocacy Manager.  

For 21 days, an email is sent to participants with a daily topic to consider, resources on the topic, and prompts for further exploration including journaling and reading. Topics include racial disparities in healthcare, financial racism, housing inequity and segregation, historical trauma and discrimination that may lead to PTSD, and ways to become an ally.

“The 21-Day Challenge is a thoughtful approach to recognizing and addressing how racism is present in our lives and the interpretations of well-intended responses,” says CTSI Community Engagement Core Director Laurene Tumiel-Berhalter, PhD, Director of Community Translational Research, Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “It is practical and non-judgmental, using justice as a frame of reference. I really enjoyed participating in the challenge and looked forward to my daily email."

For more information or to accept the challenge, visit uwbec.org/21daychallenge. To learn more about upcoming events and new community resources offered by United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, join the organization’s mailing list at uwbec.org/weeklynewsletter.