Our Community
YWCA Glendale and Pasadena, in partnership with Black in Glendale formed the Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale in June 2020, building upon the momentum of June 2020’s historic march and vigil to center Black lives in Glendale. Today, the Coalition comprises committed community members, activists, educators, students, parents, neighbors, and faith leaders dedicated to addressing systemic racism and inequities in our community.
The Coalition is currently focused on using the Glendale City Council’s 2020 Sundown Town Resolution as an advocacy tool to address institutionalized and systemic racism in the areas of housing, policing, and employment in the City of Glendale.
We welcome anyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in Glendale to join our efforts.
The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee of the Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale is responsible for designing, coordinating, and organizing racial justice strategies, plans, and activities that promote racial equity in our local government.
As a policy and social change coalition, the Steering Committee works to reach the Coalition's goal of educating and influencing local decision-makers to change the City of Glendale government's rules, policies, and institutionalized practices that directly impact the lives of BIPOC and LGBTQI+ residents in the areas of public safety, housing policies and procedures, and visibility in Glendale. The Coalition's diverse partners meet monthly to plan direct action, hear from our members’ communities, and guide cross-coalition work through an intersectional lens.
Standing Committees
Public Safety/Policing: The Public Safety Task Force prioritizes the safety and well-being of Black lives in Glendale. Its partners support research that shines a light on existing policies and practices that impact Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and other racialized groups. Furthermore, the Public Safety Task Force brings recommendations to stop policing practices that criminalize Black and Brown youth and adults.
Housing Justice. The Housing Policies and Procedures Task Force advocates for housing policies in Glendale that protect renters, who comprise over two-thirds of Glendale residents. Our advocacy takes into account the legacy of racist redlining in Glendale, which restricted poorer residents of color to inferior housing in South Glendale, as well the environmental and health impacts on our neighbors who live in historically-segregated neighborhoods today.
The Local Government Policy Change Task Force prioritizes the operationalization of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as markers of City accountability. This group identifies opportunities for improved administrative accountability around hiring, retaining, and promoting a diverse and inclusive city workforce. We believe the city government should look like the city it represents. Our ultimate goal is achieving racial equity. Our accountability work also includes the Glendale Unified School District, the City’s largest employer.
External Affairs/Communications: The Communications & External Affairs Standing Committee develops and implements a communication plan to sustain partner involvement, engagement, and growth using multidirectional channels. YWCA Glendale and Pasadena currently staffs these efforts as the coordinating agency. The Standing Committee facilitates and promotes relationships among partner organizations by developing means for Communication/Spokesperson; meeting facilitation and coordination; effective decision-making processes; fiscal sponsor and funding accountability; support problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation of actions; and staffing of Coalition meetings.
