This past week has been devastating, with the murder of George Floyd painfully following so many others who were also victims of state-sanctioned violence. Systemic racism and white supremacy need to be stopped. The impact of what is going on across this country, across Portland, and in our neighborhoods is – all-at-once – deeply traumatic, long overdue, relevant and impossible and it feels wildly inappropriate to just jump back to business-as-usual. Going back is not an option.
At RACC we are working to create an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible organization. The process is long. For many it is painfully slow, and for others, still inadequate. While we have had successes making our programs more equitable; we are struggling to center the voices of those that have been systematically marginalized. We have blind spots.
As the leader of this organization, I know I must do more, do it better, and do it now. Recognizing and acknowledging structural inequities that exclude individuals and communities from opportunities based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography is not enough. We must act to counter those inequities and biases in ourselves and our work. I commit myself and this organization to stand in solidarity with others who are doing this work.
This is the time for our community to come together and take action for justice. Whether we are standing shoulder to shoulder, supporting from behind or leading from the front – there are many ways that those who are non-BIPOC can, and should, show up. I hope you will join us as we stand with artists, activists, organizers, and communities working together to make change.
– Madison Cario, Executive Director
RACC has developed a list of places your money or your volunteer time can have a direct impact for Black communities – local, regional and national organizations where you can show up, connect, donate, volunteer. Please share:
Don’t Shoot Portland
https://www.dontshootpdx.org/about-us/
Black United Fund
https://www.bufor.org/about
For over 30 years, Black United Fund of Oregon has been committed to providing financial support and life-changing programs for low-income communities and communities of color in Oregon. The ultimate goal of the Black United Fund of Oregon (BUF) is to increase opportunities for growth by encouraging philanthropic activity in our state and putting funds in the hands of organizations providing resources for underserved communities.
Coalition of Communities of Color
https://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/take-action
The Coalition of Communities of Color’s mission is to address the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism, and inequity of services experienced by our families, children and communities; and to organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice and prosperity.
PAALF
https://www.paalf.org
The Portland African American Leadership Forum helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our civic participation and leadership to achieve those alternatives.
NAACP of Portland
https://pdxnaacp.org
The NAACP of Portland works to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminating racial hatred and discrimination.
The Urban League of Portland
https://ulpdx.org
The Urban League of Portland’s mission is to empower African-Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life.
The MRG Foundation
https://www.mrgfoundation.org
The MRG Foundation believes in the power of collective action to change the world.