If an extraordinary woman like Michelle Obama can speaks openly about the painful racism she endured as First Lady, can you imagine how racism effects the everyday woman. As a CEO of a nonprofit, I have had the opportunity to have many conversations with women all over the country about how racism – spoken and unspoken – has hurt to the core. It has stifled growth of some and propelled others to greatness. Although racism can be a difficult conversation, I applaud Michelle Obama for not being silent about her pain. For more than 110 years, the YWCA of Houston has been on the forefront of eliminating racism, advocating for racial justice and civil rights. Our programs and services increase awareness, build coalition and strive to transform inequities in areas such as housing, health initiatives and leadership. I encourage you to Read former First Lady Michelle Obama’s article here and be empowered to be resilient in the face of racism.