Dear Friends –
Like all of you, I’m devastated by the tragic killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, feeling a mix of anger, outrage and deep sadness. Racial inequity has been a reality in America for generations, including in access to the food we eat and healthcare we receive. At Community Servings, we envision a world in which everyone has access to the nutritious food they need for health and wellbeing as a fundamental right, and we will continue working hard to achieve that goal.
However, as an organization and individuals, we are making a public pledge to do more. The repeated killing of innocent Black Americans forces us all to challenge our complacency and raise our voices in solidarity with our African-American friends, co-workers and neighbors. In the coming days and weeks, we will engage with our DEI team to determine how Community Servings can further strengthen our response to these issues internally and externally.
In the meantime, I want to offer my personal condolences and sympathies for the pain that many of you are experiencing, knowing that George Floyd’s death is not an isolated incident in a deeply flawed America.
Where we go from here is uncertain, but I do know that we must come together to do better for communities of color in Boston and across the country. It’s clear that we must become stronger allies and push harder for meaningful change. It won’t be easy. Self-reflection and betterment practice takes time and patience.
Additionally, I encourage you to take advantage of the many resources available to help show your support. A few that I’ve personally found helpful include Black Lives Matter, The Massachusetts Bail Fund, the Innocence Project, and Campaign Zero. Other ways to start making an immediate impact include purchasing take-out or gift cards from one of the many Black-owned restaurants in our community, or essentials and services from local Black-owned businesses.
There’s a lot of work to do, but I hope you’ll join me in taking these first steps in helping to bring about meaningful change so that members of Boston’s Black community, and others who’ve been marginalized because of the color of their skin, feel safe, heard, and valued.
I know that together, we can create a world where true equality is possible.
Sincerely,
David
David B. Waters
CEO
