Racial Justice and Gender Equity Institute

Social Justice Protest, Youth Services, YWCA San Antonio

The Racial Justice Institute (RJI) exists to achieve racial justice and healing by eliminating systemic barriers faced, especially by women of color. The RJI promotes:

  • Narrative change, by changing the conversation through greater awareness and understanding of race and gender

  • Behavior and practice change, by empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and empowering organizations and companies to change to support individuals, especially women, of color 

  • Systemic change by advocating for policy reforms to support individuals, especially women, of color.

Eliminating Racism

Racial Justice Education and Advocacy

Our Racial Justice Education and Advocacy program’s primary goal is to support our community by providing the following services and products.

Comprehensive and customizable training and summits addressing the barriers faced by women of color,

  • Providing advocacy and education to all community members.

  • Racial Justice Virtual Library is an online, easily accessible compilation of articles, books, and podcasts with the purpose of educating and supporting community members who are interested in learning more about racial justice and advocacy.

  • Racial Justice Toolkit and consultation is designed to assist professionals in successfully navigating multicultural settings and interactions in the workplace.

  • Community collaborations focused on supporting communities of color and assisting in bringing about awareness and barriers.

Empowering Women

Economic Justice Education and Advocacy: Our Economic Justice Education and Advocacy program’s primary goal is to support our community by providing the following services and products:

  • Wage Equity Awareness Campaign

  • Comprehensive and customizable training and summits addressing the barriers faced by women, more specifically the occupational segregation of women in the workplace, dismantling glass ceilings, re-valuing the work historically and traditionally performed by women

  • Providing advocacy and education about women in the workforce

  • Community collaborations focused on bringing about awareness and grassroots changes

  • Systemic change working with policymaker

Economic Justice Education and Advocacy:

Our Economic Justice Education and Advocacy program’s primary goal is to support our community by providing the following services and products.

Narrative Change & Storytelling

  • Why can't they just?

    “Why Can’t They Just…?” shares the stories of women, served by YWCA and within the YWCA community, who have been experiencing poverty – from intergenerational to situational – and explores the systemic barriers that prevent them from living better lives and realizing their goals.

    To learn more about this project visit our microsite “Whycanttheyjust.org

  • Telenovela La Cuenta Pendiente / Outstanding Balance

    Through powerful storytelling and culturally relevant narratives,  La Cuenta Pendiente (Outstanding Balance) explores themes of racism, sexism, wage inequality, domestic violence, immigration struggles, poverty, and the challenges of single-parent childcare. The series highlights the lived experiences of women and families navigating these hardships while showcasing the strength of community collaboration as a pathway to justice and equity.

    Learn more about this project.