Join us the 4th Monday of month for a conversation. Courageous Conversations explores issues of race in Rock County. Topics are selected each month based on current events and the issues people of color are currently facing both locally and nationwide.

The conversations are moderated by members of YWCA Rock County’s racial justice team, as well as members of the Diversity Action Team of Rock County.

Courageous Conversations are currently being held virtually via Zoom. Courageous Conversations is held the fourth Monday of each month from 5:30pm – 7 pm. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

(Please note, Courageous Conversations will be recorded and placed online. Members of the media are also invited to attend. If members of the media are present, an announcement will be made at the beginning of the meeting.)                                                      

February Courageous Conversation
Topic: Exploring the Reading Wars
Monday, February 24, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../register/WGHzrYEBSzG1emzP_Iq5dw

Read Your Heart Out, celebrated in February, is a literacy and community engagement program founded by Michelle Belnavis and Andreal Davis in Madison, Wisconsin. It began as an initiative to promote a love for reading among students, particularly in schools with diverse student populations. The program encourages families, educators, and community members to come together for special reading events, celebrating literacy and cultural representation in books. In honor of Read Your Heart Out we will explore how children are learning to read.

Throughout the state and nation, there are feverish debates about how best to teach children to read. The struggle over how large a role phonics should play in reading education is almost 200 years old, predating the modern expansion of public education in the US. This debate is often dubbed “The Reading Wars”. White supremacy is the driver of the history, pedagogy, psychology, and policy of The Reading Wars, impacting Wisconsin children today with the implementation of Act 20. This presentation will give a brief overview of these topics, including Act 20 and its potential to disproportionately harm children of color, and offer a vision for an antiracist reading and education system.

Together, we’ll discuss the relevance of his words in today’s context, and consider how we can apply his messages of justice, equity, and love in our own lives and communities. Come ready to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue as we honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

March Courageous Conversation: Doing Well While Doing Good

Monday, March 24, 2025: 5:30 p.m.  – 7:00 p.m.

Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WGHzrYEBSzG1emzP_Iq5dw

How can we align our financial decisions with our values? Join us for an engaging Courageous Conversation on socially responsible investing. At this month’s Courageous Conversation we will explore how individuals and organizations can achieve financial success while making a positive impact on society. From ethical investment strategies to understanding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, we’ll discuss practical ways to build wealth while promoting sustainability, equity, and justice.