21-Week Equity Challenge

21 Wk Challenge LogoThe 21-Week Equity Challenge is a powerful opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and our community.

We are grateful to the more than 10,000 participants who joined us on this journey, and we are so impressed the continued engagement of so many in the weekly challenges. We’ve created a quick post-Challenge survey that asks you to share your final thoughts on the experience, including questions to help us improve the Challenge in the future. Once you complete the survey, you’ll have access to a participation certificate. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

 

How it works:

  • Individuals are encouraged to take on the challenge themselves, or form groups for discussion and reflection.

  • Those who signed up will received an email at the beginning of each week for 21 weeks, starting Monday, February 1 through Monday, June 21, 2021.

  • Weekly topics take participants through a journey that starts with understanding internalized racism and explores how racism permeates person-to-person interactions, institutions, and social structures.

  • The experience is intended to deepen understanding, suggest ways to act, and helps launch what we hope will be a lifelong commitment to improving equity and inclusion in our communities.

Weekly Emails (archived)

Tools & Resources

Why:

United Way Fox Cities' mission is to build a stronger, more caring community for EVERYONE. The stark reality of racial disparities, racism, and inequity throughout Wisconsin calls us to recognize, understand, and act against racism and racial inequity.

While the pandemic reinforces the fact that every person's health is intertwined with the health of others in their community, racial and ethnic disparities observed in state health data demonstrate that Black, brown, Indigenous, and other communities of color are suffering a disproportionate impact, and bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the 2020 Wisconsin ALICE Report found that nearly 66% of Black households and 48% of Hispanic households fell below the ALICE threshold compared to 32% of white households.

This year, our country again confronted the painful, long-standing reality of racial inequity and the deadly results of racism and injustice that permeate so many communities. We saw that confrontation come to a head in our communities and on our streets – and in this difficult moment, we’ve seen our local United Ways rise to the challenge of acknowledging and confronting racism in their communities.

We know that when we Live United, we must Live United for everyone.

We’re grateful for those who have led the way in their communities, not just to acknowledge the inequities and injustices, but to do the work and commit to active anti-racism. The 21-Week Equity Challenge is just one step toward personal and community growth.

We invite you to join the 21-Week Equity Challenge, designed to help people better understand the issues surrounding equity and inclusion, and challenge your thought process.

Share the Challenge

Below are some sample posts and graphics you can use to promote the 21-Week Equity Challenge through your social media channels. Feel free to use these as they are or to change them to fit your style.

  • General Promotion: 

    • Post: Join folks across the Fox Cities uniting to learn and grow together for the #EquityChallenge - a 21 week exercise to deepen understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and communities. The challenge starts Feb 1st. Sign up at http://bit.ly/21equitychallenge.

    • Image: Download the image for social media

  • Personal Promotion:

    • Post: I just signed up for the  UWWi-hosted #EquityChallenge! Join me in better understanding inequity and racism in our community by visiting http://bit.ly/21equitychallenge.

    • Image: Download the image for social media

About the Logo

The United Way of Wisconsin (UWWi) Challenge logo is a call to unite in learning and growth, and work toward anti-racism in our community. With inspiration from the 21 Day Equity Challenge of Central Iowa, UWWi worked with an advisory group to select the image of the raised fist, calling on the gesture’s core meaning of unity and solidarity. Learn more about the history of the gesture. 

About the Challenge

The 21-Week Equity Challenge is adapted from the work of Debby Irving, racial justice educator and writer, and  Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., Director of the Privilege Institute in Green Bay, WI. Ms. Irving and Dr. Moore designed the challenge to not only help people better understand the issues surrounding equity and inclusion, but to do so in a way that would build a long-lasting habit of learning by stretching it over 21 days. 

United Way of Wisconsin adapted the concept to 21 weeks, encouraging participants to engage with a topic throughout the week, revisiting the questions and taking time to engage with the materials.

This challenge offers an opportunity to learn and expand your thought process. There may be media outlets, celebrities, reporters and sources you don't typically connect with or adhere to, but that is part of the challenge. Remember to begin with an open mind and willingness to explore.