We at Pushing Boundaries continue to be heartbroken, horrified, and enraged with the events of this past spring and summer. This time has held deeply stressful and traumatic events for all of us, but particularly for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community, colleagues, clients, family and friends. In addition to maintaining a deep commitment to our work while battling Covid-19, it is paramount that we continue to battle racism in every form.
Additionally, we want to acknowledge the depth and breadth of these issues. As Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW, SEP says, “These events are not episodic, they are systemic.” We are deeply saddened that it has taken the horrific murders of our fellow citizens of color, captured on film at a previously unprecedented rate, for us to rise up. For those of us who are white, we may be crestfallen, but we are also aware that we are all participants.
As an organization, our closure has resulted in the delay of our messaging but it in no way diminishes its necessity nor our commitment to being part of the solution. And, in some ways, keeping this front of mind feels critical. If anything, we need to hold this awareness now more than ever, and not let up our diligence, dedication, and commitment to allying with our BIPOC community.
We at Pushing Boundaries pledge to do the following:
Signal that PB is a welcoming, inclusive place for clients of all backgrounds.
o With signage, messaging, and focus of communication, social media, and newsletters.
o Community outreach.
o Actively working to elevate the voices of our BIPOC clients, stakeholders, and supporters.
-Diversification of our staff and board as well as working to amplify BIPOC
presence in positions of leadership in 2021 and beyond.
Increase the awareness about “Culturally Aware Care.”
o Looking at all care through an anti-racism, anti-oppression lens.
o Holding awareness that inequity permeates at every level and working to dismantle those inequities in real time.
Increase access to care.
o By working to extend and expand existing scholarships.
o Create new, internally funded scholarships.
o Exploration with community partnerships.
Discuss/educate about health inequity
o Racism is a Public Health Crisis.
o Adding an Advocacy section to our web site.
-NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) – data on racial
disparities in health outcomes.
-Adding resources and links.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
