June 11, 2020
The collective will to champion change for racial equity and social justice is something we have
never seen before. This is a moment of time we cannot let pass.
Robin Jenkins, a long-time human resources professional in our community, made a powerful
appeal at a recent meeting. “Yes, all lives matter. But this country has demonstrated centuries of
hatred toward Black people. As a community we seem to be able to act on all kinds of injustice
but never able to make sustainable change in the way Black Americans are treated. If not now,
when? Too many tomorrows have come and gone.”
Even with the current pledges of support, the real question is How long can we sustain the much-
needed focus to complete this work? Transforming racism into equity will take substantial effort
and commitment. This work can be uncomfortable. Even now, many people are confused. Many
don’t know what to say, what to ask, who to ask, or how to express their discomfort. Many feel
they're walking on eggshells. This kind of uncertainty will impact people in different ways,
depending on their mindsets and previous experiences with diversity.
To get through this current trauma and emerge better than we were, the load needs to be spread
around. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have carried the weight for too long. When we spread it around, the burden doesn't get passed on to some other group. Instead, it gets shared. With many people doing the lifting, the work becomes lighter, and we WILL achieve a society where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive.
All of us have our own work to do - from the inside out.
CultureALL intends to become a powerful partner. Let's work together to examine the
data, acknowledge who’s not able to live their best lives, and have the courage to act in order to
minimize the gap.
We are SO READY to move to the next level. We are ready to change CENTURIES of attitudes and behaviors that have denied people their basic rights.
ARE YOU READY TOO?
CultureALL is working on its own transformation as well. We recognize that it’s not enough to simply be “not racist.” Each of us is committed to becoming anti-racist.
"The only way to address implicit bias is to seek out differences and get to know people whose life experiences are different from our own. Keep pressing forward. There's more work to be done. The way to move ahead is to learn about and understand one another. When we know each other’s stories, we care about each other.
The ultimate goal of CultureALL is to elevate individuals' behaviors and attitudes to a higher level of acceptance and collaboration for the benefit of our region.
For our society to grow and prosper, we need to value every culture. We want to build a community where everyone is welcome because everyone is welcoming – that includes a place of belonging for all people no matter their age, gender identity, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, class, ability, native language, or nationality.
Diversity shouldn’t divide us – it makes us stronger when we make space for diverse voices and perspectives and capitalize on our differences. "
Book Recommendation
Ibram X Kendi: How To Be An Antiracist
Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America, but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.
Resource Guide
We have collected several great books, links, videos, and other resources to help our community to learn more, understand deeper, and listen better so that we are all elevated to be our best. We hope you find these resources as helpful as we have. We will continue to share resources that we think are helpful. Please send us what is helping you and your family navigate these important topics.
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