In June 2020, the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) stood in solidarity with the peaceful protesters across the world who demand racial justice, equity, and inclusion. GOPC committed to better acknowledging how decades of racism have resulted in Ohio’s most disinvested neighborhoods being disproportionately communities of color and pledged to do its part in dismantling the structures that perpetuate this reality through continued research, advocacy, and the organization’s business practices. While GOPC staff work collectively every day to provide tools and policies to support Ohio’s disinvested neighborhoods, individuals have also made personal commitments and taken action to become impactful allies.

On December 10, 2020, GOPC’s Manager of Research, Lindsey Elam, will graduate from the YWCA’s Leadership for Social Change program, designed to educate and empower the next generation of women leaders whose passions align with the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Over 11 months, Lindsey and 24 other women in their 20’s and 30’s participated in educational sessions to understand how discriminatory practices, policies, and beliefs produce various forms of inequity and prepare for speaking up and acting out on behalf of themselves and others.

Workshops were led by grassroots, political, community-based, educational, and nonprofit experts from organizations that create social change (e.g., Christie Angel, YWCA’s CEO; Kimberly Minor, Bumbershoot’s CEO; Attorney Stephanie Hanna, Founder of The Other 85; LC Johnson, Founder of Zora’s House; and Columbus City Councilmember Elizabeth Brown, among many other incredible women).

While the deadline for 2021’s Leadership for Social Change program has already closed, the YWCA will be accepting applications for the 2022 cohort in the fall of 2021. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this impactful program, visit: www.ywcacolumbus.org/what-we-do/educate-empower/lsc/

GOPC is very proud of Lindsey’s participation and commitment to the program and congratulates her on her upcoming graduation!

Cover Photo Courtesy of YWCA Columbus