A Statement of Solidarity
For the past ten months, we have dealt with two horrible diseases at the same time: a worldwide viral pandemic that is ravaging the health and wellbeing of our families and neighbors, and white supremacy and institutional racism that tears away at the fabric of our community. Individually, these diseases seem insurmountable; experienced together, they highlight the injustices and deep divides in our community and our nation.
This country is reeling from the aftermath of a domestic terrorist attack last week in our nation’s capital. The attack on Wednesday is wrong and we must work to ensure these threats to our democracy do not happen again. In this moment, we invite you to pause and reflect on how we arrived here, and why white supremacy, white privilege, hate and civil injustices remain so undeniably visible in our country.
We are again reminded that institutional racism and white superiority continues to underscore the growing inequities in our communities for people of color and other marginalized populations. This is evident in our fight against COVID-19, in our outreach efforts, and as we observe the unrest in our nation’s capital.
MACAA stands united with those calling for dismantling white supremacy, demanding racial justice and access to the same freedoms for all people, and we recognize that change begins within – within each of us, around our dinner tables, in our communities, workplaces, and places of worship.
Our Agency remains committed to advancing the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion journey, and re-affirmed our values as the foundation of our efforts moving forward which support anti-racists attitudes, values, and beliefs. We have deepened relationships with our community partners and together aim to seek solutions to dismantling white supremacy, institutional and systemic racism locally and regionally. We believe this work will inspire hope for the future, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live.
Most importantly, we understand that with the events that have happened over the course of the last ten months and years before, we have to do more. We have begun to ask ourselves:
What barriers exist within our processes, policies, and procedures that need to be removed to better serve our communities of color?
How do we formally apply a racially-responsibly and equitable lens to all that we do?
How do we use our voice as a community leader to amplify those who are marginalized?
These are hard questions to answer and challenging conversations to cultivate. However complex, the time is now. MACAA will continue to champion racial awareness, racial responsibility, equity, inclusion, and justice for all. Please join us: stand together, advocate for change, and strive to improve the quality of life for everyone.
For more information on our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, please visit Our Commitment to DEI page.