LEWISTON — YWCA Central Maine will present Stand Against Racism 2017 on Sunday, April 30, from noon to 4 p.m. at YWCA Central Maine, 130 East Ave. 

The YWCA’s sixth annual event is a full day of education, dialogue and action around racial justice. This year’s theme is “Women of Color Leading Change.”

Stand Against Racism is a signature event of the YWCA USA and an anticipated 750 Stand Against Racism events will take place nationally around public policy advocacy, community education and public proclamations. The event will include several powerful small-group workshops led by local students and activists. 

Portland activist Hamdia Ahmed will give the keynote address.

Ahmed is a lifelong activist and has worked on behalf of the Adopt A Future program by the United Nations Association of the United States of America and the U.N. Refugee Agency, which works to provide resources to educate children in refugee camps. She is currently a student at the University of Southern Maine.

Stand Against Racism will also feature the unveiling of a newly created mural by the Lewiston High School 21st-Century leaders in the YWCA gym.

Student leaders will offer presentation and performance on their work creating a large-scale mural on the theme of Women of Color and Leadership. The presentation will discuss their work researching contemporary and historic women of color leaders and activists, the artistic process and what leadership means to them.

The mural was created with support from Bates College Department of Art students and faculty.

All are welcome and childcare will be provided upon request. 

FMI, updates, childcare: nbornstein@ywcamaine.org, www.facebook.com/events/1921855377843906.