WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The YWCA USA is a founding partner of the January 17-19 Days of Service sponsored Presidential Inauguration Committee and many of its nearly 300 local associations will host community service projects and discussion sessions to increase racial tolerance.

Some YWCAs will combine traditional service activities with the discussion sessions by charging "admission" in the form of a canned good for the association's food bank, a children's book for association's child care program or other such activity to support local program efforts. To participate in a local YWCA service event or discussion, individuals can check the Presidential Inaugural Committee's USA Service Web site, http://www.usaservice.org/page/content/eventsearch.

"By promoting the National Days of Service, the YWCA both honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrates the historic Inauguration of America's first Black president," said Loraine Cole, PhD, YWCA USA's CEO. "While this election was a monumental statement of how far America has come in race relations, it did not mark the end of racism in this country. We all still need to engage in serious and honest conversations about the very difficult topics of race and racism."

Racial justice has been part of the YWCA mission throughout its 150 year history and the organization has been involved in every phase of the civil rights movement since the abolition period. Eliminating racism, in addition to empowering women, has remained part of the dual focused mission of the YWCA and continues to be a priority concern for American women.

According to WHAT WOMEN WANT, a recent YWCA-sponsored national public opinion poll, significantly more younger women (ages 18-29) than older women (50% v. 31%) say racial, ethnic or religious discrimination will be a major obstacle to their own progress in the next 10 years. Further, 77 per cent of younger women, compared with 54 percent of older women, want the new President to address civil rights and racial justice as priority issues during his first year. The survey also found that Black women more often cited economic challenges as major obstacles to their own progress during the next 10 years than did White women. See http://www.ywca.org for the survey report.

The YWCA USA is a national not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to social service, advocacy, education, leadership development and racial justice. Established in the United States in 1858, the YWCA is the oldest and largest national organization dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls and the elimination of racism. Through nearly 300 local YWCAs located across the nation in almost every state, and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the YWCA reaches 2.5 million women and girls, as well as their families. Globally, the YWCA USA is part of an international movement at work in 122 countries serving 25 million women and girls worldwide. For more information, visit our Web site, http://www.ywca.org or call 202-467-0801.

SOURCE YWCA USA