June 4th, 2020
Dear Friends,
California Poets in the Schools shares the outrage that people across the world are feeling at the deaths of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and all Black victims of systemic racism, police brutality and oppression. Our country has delayed racial justice for 400 years. No one should be shocked to see people across the nation take to the streets now - in frustration, despair, grief, anger and also, in solidarity. California Poets in the Schools stands against violence and racism and for equity and justice.
California Poets in the Schools is committed to learning from and listening to Black voices as we move our organization into the future. Change is required and we recognize that our organization has work to do. Here are some concrete actions that we are committed to achieving in the coming two years:
- Amplify young black voices, speaking their truth, through outreach, publications and broadsides
- Ensure that our board and staff mirror the diversity of California’s residents
- Finalize and make public an organizational Equity and Inclusion Statement
- Offer training to staff, board and Poet-Teachers in anti-racist strategies and implicit bias awareness, as it pertains to our work and our personal lives
If you have other ideas to help our organization to take action in the name of racial justice, please share them with us.
In Solidarity,
Meg Hamill
Executive Director
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