AWAKE Stands Against Racism

Since we started as a nonprofit organization in 2013, AWAKE’s mission has been to advocate for the advancement of women and children in Tennessee. The health, safety, and success of women and children have been under-prioritized in our state which is why we dedicate our work to education and policy change. Over the past few months, there has been a collective reckoning in our country as we face the reality of violence, white supremacy, and systemic racism. Although these experiences are not new, the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have caused more people to wake up to the persisting racism that exists at all levels of society. 

At AWAKE, we view our role in standing against racism through our organizational model of change-making: Our “house model” informs our strategic focus on issues that adversely affect women and kids on both the macro and micro levels. The "roof" of our model is shaped by efforts to promote positive policy change across the state. The "foundation" is our educational curriculum that teaches children and adults how to become self-advocates and advocates within their homes and communities. The “walls” in between are shaped through volunteer training and participation, which reinforce all our work. By addressing societal change from both a top-down and bottom-up approach, we are effectively improving the future of all Tennesseeans.

Gender discrimination and violence against women are not exclusively gender issues. Multiple dimensions of identity, including race and class, compound with gender identity and result in experiences of disadvantage and inequality. As a result, the health, economic security, educational attainment, and political participation of Black women in particular are disproportionately impacted. We believe that our specific focus uniquely positions us to bring light to the ways racism and sexism work together to marginalize and disempower members of our society.
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As AWAKE continues to grow and work toward positive change for all Tennessee women and children, we commit to listening, learning, and leading inclusively on these issues. If you want to join us in these efforts, we encourage you to fill out our involvement form. If you have feedback on our work, suggestions about how we can improve, or questions about our approach, please reach out to our Executive Director directly at kellinowers@awaketn.org.