Organize Your Butterflies - 48. Silence is Compliance: Understanding Allyship in Practice with Autumn Gupta and Bryanna Wallace, with a spotlight on YWCA Olympia

48. Silence is Compliance: Understanding Allyship in Practice with Autumn Gupta and Bryanna Wallace, with a spotlight on YWCA Olympia

07/17/20 • 48 min

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features an exciting and refreshing conversation between Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta, who are the founders of Justice in June, a digital compilation of resources making allyship a lifestyle habit, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA. As the world shifts to normalizing conversations surrounding anti-racism work and what allyship in practice looks like, Bryanna and Autumn have developed a platform in which individuals can take responsibility for learning ways to be intentional allies within this practice. The former college roommates and best-friends have been outspoken activists on social media and are leading the way for digital organizing and generational change. For more information on how to be a proactive ally, check out JusticeInJune.org And, be sure to follow them both on Instagram @autumngupta and @brybry1217! As we continue our conversation on allyship, YWCA USA recognizes the collective power of our national network of local associations committed to anti-racism work on the ground. YWCA Olympia, which practices a shared leadership model with Hillary Detamore, Chief Executive Officer at The Helm, made this commitment to centering racial justice work six years ago and hasn’t looked back since. As this episode’s spotlight, we are so proud of how they are challenging their local community of Olympia to think critically about racial disparities. For more information visit https://www.ywcaofolympia.org/.

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47. The Power of Influence: The Native American Women Narrative During a Health Crisis with Nikki Pitre

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a dynamic conversation between Nikki Mitre, Acting Director Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA. The historical milestones of Native American women have shaped America’s history. Today, they continue to make strides - despite the challenging environment of this nation - especially within the global pandemic. Young women from tribes across the country have come together to use their collective power and influence to work on behalf of their communities. In Nikki’s role at the Center for Native American Youth, she is responsible for spearheading initiatives to promote leadership within the Native American population’s youth. Be sure to listen to find out how Native Youth are responding to COVID-19, recommitments to the outdoors, and leaning into culture and intergenerational strength. For more information on Nikki, be sure to check her out at https://www.cnay.org/bios/nikki-pitre/!

Next Episode

49. We are Only as Strong as Our Most Vulnerable Places: The Value of CDFIs with Maurice Jones

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies explores how COVID-19 has affected low income communities across the country, and the ways in which community investment though (Community Development Financial Institutions) CDFIs is helping provide support during these challenging economic times. With their distinct niche as financial institutions with a mission driven bottom-line, CDFIs do so much more than just provide access to capital. Episode guest Maurice Jones, President of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) chats with Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA about these important institutions, the significance of community investment, and the future of rebuilding commercial spaces in places where they’ve been historically overlooked. For more information on how LISC is helping out, be sure to check out their website and follow Maurice on Twitter @LISCMaurice!