WHAT:  For 127 years, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles’ mission has been to Eliminate Racism and the Empowerment of Women. In the wake of protests fueled by the tragic death of George Floyd, a Black man murdered callously at the hands of a White public servant, our nation is finding itself grappling with a reality it can no longer avert, a painful reality steeped with long-standing racial injustice. The unrest that has unfolded in this country brought forth by long-standing structural racism and profound racial inequalities that can no longer be dismissed or brushed with eloquent prose or speeches. This is a painful awakening but a necessary call to action as we find ourselves standing at the intersection of social justice. On June 26th, the YWCA GLA will convene a Virtual Town Hall “Standing in Solidarity.†The virtual conversation will address the most recent Justice in Policing Act of 2020 and the current state of our country.
WHO: President and CEO of YWCA GLA, Faye Washington will open the Town Hall with a message of solidarity and Call to Action. Washington’s 32-year government record of management, personnel administration, legislative and budget policy development, strategic planning and implementing budgets of over $3 billion created the landscape for her groundbreaking tenure of leading the YWCA GLA in its mission. Washington sits on the Boards of: City of Los Angeles Work Force Development, Los Angeles City South Park Business Improvement District, Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles and City Club Board of Governors. Washington’s contributions to the community have earned her many recognitions and awards, including The National Association of Women in Business Owners (NAWBO).
Pat Harvey, Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist, will serve as the moderator for the online event. Harvey is a news anchor at CBS2/KCAL9 in Los Angeles. U.S. Congresswoman of California, District 37, Honorable Karen Bass, will be a special guest at the Virtual Town Hall. Bass, who is serving her fifth term representing the 37th Congressional District, serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. As a member of the House of Judiciary Committee, Congressmember Bass is working to craft sound criminal justice reforms as well as protect intellectual property right infringements that threaten the economic health of the 37th District. Congressmember Bass also serves as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Guest speakers include: Dr. Melina Abdullah, co-Founder of the Los Angeles Chapter of Black Lives Matter, Avis Ridley-Thomas, co-Director of the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles and Days of Dialogue, Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Assembly Member California, 54th District, Honorable Nury Martinez, President of the Los Angeles City Council, Capri Maddox, Executive Director Los Angeles Department of Civil and Human Rights, Kristin Clarke, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Justin Sanders, co-managing partner of Sanders Roberts LP, Carl E. Douglas, President at Douglas/Hicks Law, Angeline Chen, YWCA Board President Pasadena, Tanis Crosby, YWCA Executive Director, Silicon Valley, Terra Russell Slavin, Los Angeles LGBT Center Director of Policy and Community Build, and Jorja Leap, Director of UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership.
WHEN: Friday, June 26th, 2020 at 10 am – 12 pm PST
WHERE: The virtual production will be hosted on a private website created especially for the YWCA GLA Virtual Town Hall. The online event will be recorded and available via YouTube, and all other social media platforms. The conversation will also be streaming live on Facebook.
To register, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ywca-greater-los-angeles-virtual-town-hall-standing-in-solidarity-registration-109738203922.
