We Stand Up Against Racism
Youth Homes Therapeutic Behavioral Services Team
At this moment in time, our world is challenged by two pandemics. One we all know by the name COVID-19 – it is new and finally seems to be loosening its grip. The second is the plague of systemic racism that has impacted the lives of Black communities for hundreds of years. Our community is hurting and in pain. The demonstrations and protests that we are seeing in our streets and in our communities are the result of a collective voice that cries: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Day in and day out we bear witness to the traumatic impact of societal oppression, racism, and social and economic injustices experienced by the youth and families we work with. Youth Homes is a trauma-informed organization that practices and promotes a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. This is why we stand in solidarity with those who stand up and fight against systemic racism.
Internally we are having conversations about how we, as an organization, can do better to create an inclusive environment that creates safe spaces for all employees to feel heard, seen, and valued. It is imperative to do this work with our employees so that they, in turn, can support and guide youth through their healing.
While as an organization, we still have much to learn and do in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, we are committed to doing better. We must do better.
Actions we continue to take include:
Remaining committed to operating an inclusive organization. This means creating an environment where all employee’s voices are heard and valued.
Continuing to stand against any form of intolerance enacted upon staff members. This includes racism, bigotry, and any form of discrimination.
Continuing to provide high-quality training on important topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Seeking guidance from Youth Homes affinity groups to guide leadership in how Youth Homes can continue to be an inclusive, healing, and trauma-informed organization.
Using our collective voice to stand with those who seek justice against injustice. To be silent is to be complicit. We will not be silent.
These actions are just the beginning in working towards long-term changes, you have our word that we will do the work that is necessary to support the collective effort to dismantle racism and support Black communities as we journey to end the pandemic of systematic racism.
