Ramiah Jackson Shares How the YWCA Eradicates Racism

And the network is celebrating Black History Month in honor of priceless contributions to the betterment and welfare of us all. Let’s shine brightly on the 2023 theme of resistance as we uplift the efforts of so many who endeavored against great odds to show us the light. Maybe we walk side by side to heal the past. So we can step forward together. We love you and love each other. That’s our statement for the month, folks. So we’re glad that you’re joining us in celebration of all of the amazing, wonderful things that are happening and spaces around us that sometimes we’re not even aware of. Right, we’re not even paying attention to it. And so we’ll talk about some of the fun things that go on over the YWCA and why we want to know about that in a moment. But first your mind, we want to hear from you. What are your superpowers? And how are you using them for good?

Ramiah Jackson:

So why do we say our mission is to eliminate racism and empower women, how I connect to that is being a black woman, really. And it’s something that I’m passionate, obviously passionate about, my whole life has been a black woman, but doesn’t really mean being able to create spaces and places where people can show up authentically as themselves. And that as I have the role of overseeing volunteers, I want to create that for our volunteers as well. And creating those spaces where they can come and be themselves. And so I feel like I get to be a part of that at the YWCA. And then I get to help orchestrate that for others, right, who in the different works and the assets that we do in the programs, and just being able to even find volunteers to connect into that. But also being able to help change the environment, and rights of the world. And just representation really does matter as being able to connect with people on that level.

Tonya Dawn Recla: 

I love that. Beautiful. I love that you mentioned that representation matters, particularly in co-creative environments. Right? And I think that that’s where we should start getting really specific in our language. Right, because we can argue representation doesn’t matter. Clearly, it doesn’t because we’ve gotten along this far right we’ve survived this Long. If you don’t want to acknowledge it, you don’t have to. But it does create all kinds of ripple effects, right? If you’re okay with those unintended or intended consequences, then it’s you don’t have to write it doesn’t matter. 

However, many of us aren’t okay with that anymore, where we’re saying we’re not okay with this, like, we would simply rather not participate any longer in participate in that way. Right? Like, like we’re trying to take, I’m gonna take my toys and go home, like, I don’t want to play in your little playground as it sucks. No, thanks. It’s not fun. I’m not doing it any longer. And I think we can all appreciate the feeling that way from time to time, right? 

And so the big question again, comes into it like, okay, representation matters a whole lot in co-creative environments, right? Based on what was our desired outcomes on, many of us are wondering, how do we get to share this beautiful planet, and cohabitate together? In a way that doesn’t feel so soul-sucking? Right and terrifying? Like, can we do that? Maybe, right? So, so I’m being flippant, but we’re gonna run to a break. But I want to tease a little bit when we come back, we’re going to talk about representation, right? And how to do that in a way that’s not icky, right, that’s not kind of smarmy. And we have all kinds of words that we don’t even need to bring up about all kinds of ways that we’ve tried to make this happen. But there is a way that we’re drawn together, there’s a way to attract. And there’s a way to make spaces. And there is a way to cultivate environments that just naturally draw people in folks, it’s not difficult. And it’s so incredibly delicious when we allow the richness of all of us to come together. But it takes a little bit of intention, right, where Maya comes in. And it takes a little bit of thought and a little bit of planning and some discussions and some willingness to look at things that we’ve done in the past, right? 

And so we’re going to talk about all of that and how to do that. You know, when like, about in groups and out groups like who what groups you belong into which ones you kind of could be working on the inner circle of which ones you can support from the outer circle, but you don’t really belong in the inner circle, because you’re not really part of the group. How do you do this in a responsible fashion? We’re gonna talk about all that when we come back from the break. Before we do remind us where can people go to find out more about what’s up with the why or what you’re up to. Or whatever? Where do you want to send folks?

Ramiah Jackson:

Yes, I do want to send folks to our website or Instagram, or Facebook. We’re all over on ywcaaz.org. 

Tonya Dawn Recla:

Great crew over there. We want to give a shout-out to everybody over there Debbie’s running the helm. If you haven’t had a chance to connect with that fine individual and the Big Vision shining over at the YWCA here in the metro Valley, take a chance to go over there. Ramiah, thank you for being here with us. We’re talking all about how Ramaiah Jackson shares how the YWCA Eradicates Racism, all part of our Black History Month special, if you haven’t had a chance to get over superpowerexperts.com and get signed up for our next experience, you can do that while we take a little break here. This is how you get to have that experience of your own internal space, right, that calm that place where we get to go to where our creative element is alive. And well. That’s just ours. Right? That is the core of our superpowers, right? We have to know that first, folks. So go have that experience. It’s our gift to yours. It’s a free event. We encourage you to join us. We will be right back after the break to hear more about how Ramiah Jackson shares how the YWCA Eradicates Racism. Stay tuned, we’ll be right back.

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