Dear Families and Staff,
Tuesday afternoon we anxiously waited and witnessed former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, found guilty by a jury of his peers for the killing of George Floyd. Knowing a guilty verdict will not bring “Floyd” back, the family deserved to see accountability and justice.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
For over 200 years now deep-rooted structures and systems have lent themselves to injustice and inhumanity; they must be addressed with vigilance and intentionality. Extraordinary circumstances experienced this past year have had a profound impact on each of us. The pervasive anxiety and stress endured by those who have been victims of racism throughout history impact their wellbeing and health. It is our time to speak up and stand together. EOCF will continue leading with our hearts and doing the phenomenal work we do to connect, empower, and transform the lives of children and families.
Our children and the children we serve are watching and experiencing these events and looking to us for answers. It is important that we respond to their questions, comments, or concerns patiently and appropriately. More importantly they need to see that speaking against injustice is an honorable and noble thing to do and we each play a significant part in creating a compassionate and empathetic world.
EOCF maintains a steadfast commitment to delivering inclusive programs and minimizing parity gaps across all of our services. We are committed to ensuring there is a safe environment for students, staff and parents to learn more and lead with our hearts. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you for helping to push change in our community for a just, enlightened, and compassionate humanity.
With Gratitude,
Rekah T. Strong MSW
Chief Executive Officer