The 2026 UJJI Challenge
April 6 – May 4
For 21 days, you'll explore
The history and future of voting rights
How voter suppression impacts communities
What’s happening right now in voting access
What each of us can do to strengthen democracy
Every piece of daily content helps build lifelong habits for advancing racial and civic justice. Think of it as cardio for your brain and an opportunity to exercise our civic muscles, too.
About the Racial Justice Challenge
The YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. The Challenge works to foster personal reflection, encourage social responsibility, and motivate participants to identify and act on ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
For four weeks, daily challenge activities (reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience, etc.) are posted in the Challenge app and website, allowing participants to connect with one another, discover how racial and social injustice impact our communities, and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. Each week covers a different topic related to equity and social justice. Daily activities are not posted on the weekend.
2025 UJJI Theme and Topics
Last year’s theme, Equity in Action: Exposing Myths and Redefining Justice, was about challenging the false narratives that uphold systemic racism and inequality while reimagining what true justice looks like. It called us to move beyond awareness to action—dismantling harmful myths, to uplift lived experiences, and create conditions where dignity, equity, and opportunity are a reality for all.
The weekly topics explored during the 2025 YWCA Racial Justice Challenge were:
The age of misinformation deeply affects racial justice by spreading false information, biased stories, and reinforcing stereotypes that shape public opinion and policy.
Interpersonal racism happens in everyday interactions where racist attitudes are shown, whether intentionally or not.
This topic looks at how systemic racism impacts access to the American Dream for people of color, focusing on obstacles like economic inequality, housing discrimination, and access to education.
The racialization of crime refers to how racial biases and stereotypes affect people’s perceptions of crime and shape criminal justice policies.
Previously known as the Stand Against Racism Challenge or 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge, the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge was developed by YWCA Greater Cleveland in 2019. YWCA USA is excited to be partnering again with YWCAs across the country to offer this unique virtual learning community to participants across the country.
YWCA USA has a long and proud history of advancing justice within and outside the organization, from modeling a more diverse leadership representation to striving for fair housing where all people can live harmoniously in the same neighborhoods. We are proud to continue to build on our momentum for advancing justice, and the YWCA Racial Justice Challenge is a critical component in realizing this vision.
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. I want to join the movement for racial justice with YWCA and hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Join us and YWCA in advancing justice — until justice just is.