2026 Equity Challenge
The Equity Challenge is a powerful opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and our community.
Welcome to Heart of Indiana United Way’s annual Equity Challenge! We’re so excited to have you join us as we continue to grow together toward equity and justice.
Over the years, we’ve made great strides on this shared journey toward unity. As we begin this year’s challenge, we honor the work that has come before us and look forward to continuing this important work alongside you.
Our community has spoken—and now it’s time to act.
In 2024, United Way partnered with community foundations and neighbors across our region to listen deeply through Heart to Heart Talks, using the Harwood Institute’s trusted Community Conversations model. In 20 dynamic sessions, we heard from voices too often left out—sharing what truly matters: safety, belonging, and support for those facing hardship.
That shared wisdom created a path forward toward a more connected, resilient community—one where every person is seen, valued, and supported.
The Hope In Action Equity Challenge is your opportunity to be part of that next step.
This challenge invites you to learn, reflect, and take meaningful action to help turn our community’s hopes into real, lasting change.
If you believe listening leads to understanding—and understanding leads to action—this challenge is for you.
👉 Sign up today and help move hope into action. REGISTER NOW!
United is the way we build the community our neighbors told us they want—and deserve.
How does the challenge work?
- 100% FREE to participate
- Each week, participants will receive 3 emails with thought provoking resources to choose from.
- Daily topics include Understanding Privilege, Belonging and Intersectionality and many more.
The experience deepens understanding, suggests ways to take action, and helps launch what we hope will be a lifelong commitment to improving equity and inclusion in our community
Starting on February 2nd, you will receive an email each week with curated resources on topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. You’ll have the option to read an article, watch a video, or listen to a podcast—each taking just 10-15 minutes of your time. Engage with as many resources as you like, and take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned.
Materials may be accessed here or by registering for an automatic email send. Registration is open at any time. You will receive three emails each week for six weeks. Each day’s content will be linked below when released.
We know that when we Live United, we must Live United for everyone.
Investing in equity is necessary expand both our incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion into our organizational practices and culture, as well as to create sustainable change in our region.
Deepening our understanding of race and equity doesn’t happen overnight. Yet, learning how to develop or strengthen our race equity lens is a key part of bringing equitable change to our communities.
By registering here, you’ll receive three email prompts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning for four weeks with readings, videos, and podcasts that explore specific topics including privilege, institutional and structural racism, and microaggressions.
More about the challenge:
The 21 Day Equity Challenge is adapted from the work of Debby Irving, racial justice educator and writer, and Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., Director of the Privilege Institute in Green Bay, WI. Ms. Irving and Dr. Moore designed the challenge to not only help people better understand the issues surrounding equity and inclusion, but to do so in a way that would build a long-lasting habit of learning by stretching it over 21 days.
United Way of Washtenaw County (Now United Way of Southeastern Michigan) introduced the challenge into the United Way network.
We’ve adapted the concept to 4 weeks, encouraging participants to engage with a topic throughout the week, revisiting the questions and taking time to engage with the materials.
This Challenge is meant to help develop and strengthen our race equity lens as we learn from new and different perspectives, deepen understanding, share ways to take action, and help launch what we hope will be a lifelong commitment to improving equity and inclusion in our state and communities.
We recognize that every person is on their own journey of understanding equity and inclusion. It is our hope that no matter where you are on this journey or what your lived experiences are that you can gain something new from participating in this challenge.