Have you ever heard terms like: Wage Gap, Gender Pay Gap, or the Motherhood Penalty? Have you ever wondered why women tend to earn less than men, especially women of color? At YWCA Greater Green Bay we held our 2022 Stand Against Racism Community Campaign April 28 – May 1, 2022 to educate our community and spark action related to these issues.
Over the course of four days, we gave community members the opportunity to learn and take action against racism and sexism by signing pledges, viewing webinars, and walking through our life-size board game. Participants gained tools to talk with their friends, family, and colleagues about the persistent barriers women and people of color face to equal pay and actions we can all take to close the gap.
The event began with a proclamation by Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich! Leaders and community members participated by visiting the event and/or signing pledges, including Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, US Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Wisconsin Representative Kristina Shelton.
The Game of Equity
Our life-sized board game took place in Jackson Square Park. The game was an educational experience that helped participants see how existing gaps in pay affect members of our community, while also providing action steps to get involved and make a difference.
Among other actions and contributions, a number of children’s books were donated to the YWCA with stories reflecting the diversity of experiences of children in our childcare program so that everyone has the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the books they read.