Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter.
Over the past few weeks all of us have felt the anguish of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. I know my head and heart are focused on seeing and listening to leaders in our Black community throughout our city and country. I hear the frustration, sadness and anger and calls for transformation and restorative justice.
As a white led organization we must be accountable to the community, especially communities of color. While I paused in my response, knowing that my voice was not important in that moment, the Ballard Food Bank was not silent in our action. As a team we came together to discuss how we want to be accountable in our work, how we want to show up as an anti-racist organization, and how we want to be an ally to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
The fact is we have work to do. As a white leader I’m listening, digging in to understand what it means to be vulnerable in conversation and accountable in action. We must actively work to dismantle racism as individuals, a team and an agency. We need to be responsive and accountable to the communities we serve, especially communities of color.
As an organization, we believe access to food and hope is a basic human right. We advocate to end food injustice and poverty. We are clear that it is our responsibility to address the impact of racism. The food and economic systems we participate in are based in systems that promote racism and oppression versus equity and justice.
Our mission to ensure everyone has access to food and hope calls us to work in partnership with communities of color, to speak out, take action and elevate the voices and efforts that are focused on dismantling racism. As an organization we commit to:
Listening and amplifying the BIPOC voices that must be heard.
Being vulnerable in conversation and accountable in action.
Investing in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work for our staff, board and volunteers.
Advocating to dismantle systems of oppression that are based on white supremacy and institutional racism.
Working together, we can become an equitable and just society. We hope you join us in participating in the statewide day of action in support of all Black lives on Friday, June 12.
In solidarity and peace,
Jen