5 Easy Ways to Take Action for Racial Justice in Pittsburgh This Spring

By YWCA Greater Pittsburgh

With warm weather approaching, it’s a great time to reconnect with your community and get involved in activities that support your values. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of ways you can take action for racial justice in Pittsburgh this spring.

• Educate yourself

When making a commitment to anti-racism, educating yourself about racial discrimination in all its forms is a vital first step. When you sign up for the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge, you’ll get a month of daily digital anti-racism challenges to help you learn how to take action for racial justice in your community. We recommend signing up with a friend and discussing daily challenges over coffee! The Challenge begins April 17. Sign up now!

• Hit the ballot box

As we have seen with the election of Pittsburgh’s first black mayor, voting can make a real difference in our communities. It’s also important to remember that local elections can have as much impact on your day-to-day life as congressional or presidential elections – if not more! Don’t miss the next local primary election coming up on May 16, 2023 from 7 AM to 8 PM.

• Put your money where your mouth is

As we know from studying Pittsburgh history, decades of segregation and discrimination have created huge wealth disparities in our city. Help balance the scales by donating to a local nonprofit lead by people of color or buying from minority-owned businesses.

• Speak up

One of the most important things you can do to stand against racism: don’t stay silent! If you encounter racism at home, while out with friends, or at work, speaking up can have a huge impact.

• Diversify your media

It’s easy to end up in a rut, only consuming TV, movies, and social media accounts featuring people who look like you. By making an effort to diversify the media you take in every day, you’ll naturally gain more understanding and empathy for the experiences of communities outside your own. As a result, you’ll be better able to question stereotypes and break down barriers in your own life.

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