One of the pillars of Northwest Ohio Community Shares is a commitment to social justice. With the recent murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, it is important we use our voices to stand for justice and put a stop to the systemic racism that is seen every day. We must listen to those whose voices have not been heard and stand with those fighting for equal rights.
We urge those in power in the communities we serve to listen to the voices of anguish around you. We implore you to examine the systems in our communities that perpetuate racism and actively work to dismantle those institutional conveyors of inequality. We and our partner organizations continue to support and encourage our community to use their voices for change and amplify those voices who have yet to be heard. Silence perpetuates the acceptance of what is going on in the world. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Shares of Northwest Ohio Board President Harvey Savage adds: “As I reflect on the events of the past week, I am reminded of the many times it seems that we have been here. Another death of a black man at a policeman’s hands. This inhumane act was appalling. Will we ever be able to accept that there is only one race, the human race? We are one. The color of one’s skin does not make him another race. Community Shares will not be silent.”
