A program encouraging St. Joseph residents to commit to eliminating racism takes place Friday.
The YWCA will hold their 20th annual ‘Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism.’
Ellen Kisker is the Prevention Educator at the St. Joseph YWCA. Kisker said the YWCA has partnered with the NAACP to put on the program each year as a way to bring the community together.
Kisker said, in addition to breakfast, the mayor’s proclamation, speakers and a performance by children from St. Francis Temple, there will be presentations of the Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award to a community citizen and a scholarship to a Missouri Western State University student.
“She was born in 1898 in West Virginia but she moved to St. Joseph,” Kisker said. “She was a teacher and she had a Master’s degree from Howard University. She was an active politician, she was active in civil rights in St. Joseph and throughout Missouri and eventually became the president of the state NAACP. She is the one who developed Brookdale East Apartments and she’s always been involved with zoning and planning commissions and human rights committees. She was recognized throughout the area as a dynamic leader. She was just way ahead of her time in becoming politically active.”
Kisker says this day of commitment is important because its goal is to encourage citizens to make the commitment every day.
“It’s important that we celebrate this day hoping that people will take it home with them and keep it in mind every day of their lives that we want St. Joseph to be a society where there is no prejudice, no bias, no bigotry,” Kisker said. “That can start with our own individual selves in how we think and how we act, how we interact among our family and our closest circle of friends, our coworkers, our city at large. I think it’s really important that we look continuously within our own heart and mind that if we notice any signs of racism, that we do what we can to stop it and that we, on a daily basis, make sure that all those we come into contact with, we are sensitive to their backgrounds and culture.”
The Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism begins with breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Friday with the program beginning at 7:30 at the YWCA Terrace Room, 304 North 8th Street. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the YWCA at (816) 232-4481.