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YWCA Dash and Bash Entertains, Educates and Empowers

Over 400 people participated in 2018 - the Bash's inaugural event. The bash includes fun, food, entertainment for the whole family, with an emphasis on the Latinx culture. There is a pointed reason for that focus.
Jennifer Mccarthy - Longmont Observer
Karen-Dash-and-Bash-photo-7
2018 YWCA Dash & Bash participants gather for a community mission. (photo courtesy of YWCA)

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Entertainment and education are key partners at the 2nd Annual YWCA Dash & Bash held on September 29 at the Boulder Reservoir. The focus of the public event is empowering women and fighting racism. Participants can choose between a 5K or 10K run, with a fun run for children.

"We are actively recruiting now for individuals and teams, and there is no registration cost to anyone," says Brittny Wilson, vice president of development and marketing at YWCA .

Over 400 people participated in 2018 - the Bash's inaugural event. The bash includes fun, food, entertainment for the whole family, with an emphasis on the Latinx culture. There is a pointed reason for that focus.

"Our organization's mission is Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women," says Wilson. She points out the YWCA's origins in the Women's Suffragette Movement and Civil Rights progress.

"It is a misnomer that racism does not exist in Boulder County," Wilson says. "Only 8% of our elected officials are people of color. People of color will tell you racism exists, if you ask."

According to the City of Longmont, Community and Neighborhood Resources Manager, Carmen Ramirez, there are needs that are sometimes overlooked and often dismissed through subtle microaggressions. She feels it is important for Boulder County residents to identify those microaggressions, which might be as subtle as not publishing important brochures about flooding in Spanish for the local Hispanic population, or as obvious as asking someone where they are from.

"Are we defensive, or do we want to learn?" asks Ramirez. She sees current positive change in local activities. "It's where I see change - in community-driven events."

The YWCA addresses the needs of the Latinx community in Boulder County with programs such as the Latina Achievement Support and Reading to End Racism. "To fill in the gaps [of these programs], we must have fundraisers," Wilson says. The YWCA hopes to beat last year's fundraising with a renewed goal of $60,000.