Letter to LT Community: We Stand Together for Change
Dear LT Community:
We face a defining moment. It is inescapable that our region and nation are suffering from the effects of systemic racism which perpetuates structural violence, poverty, and health disparities. Black and African American members of our community are under siege right now. We see you and we care about you. We stand together with you in anger, fear, sadness, and grief.
We are committed to changing the systems and structures that perpetuate racist inequities and are a part of a long history of injustice and oppression. While we don’t have all the answers, we are committed to working toward solutions that not only address the current incidents that have sparked the recent protests, but also address the root causes. It is our charge -- as leaders in this community and in partnership with all members of our community -- to find ways to foster sustainable change.
This work is personal, organizational, and systemic. The LT community is diverse, active, and committed. Many of you have been engaged in this work a very long time. As an organization, LT continues to learn how to cultivate leaders who can work with others to end racism. We know there will always be more work to do. We also know that we need to do more now.
Many of you are asking for ways to be more involved. Next week our website will feature two new pages. The first will provide an overview of LT’s approach to racial equity work to date and outline our focus on strengthening our efforts. The second will be devoted to resources and actions that you can take no matter where you are in your journey or in your organization.
Our behaviors, conversations, and actions matter. Leadership matters. We cannot be complicit in systems that hurt members of our community. As Corey Booker said, “peace is not merely absence of violence, it is the presence of justice.” Let us use our power and privilege for justice.
In community,
Grace Chien, LT’98, LT Board Chair
Sue Bennett, LT’94, Executive Director