What We Do Next Matters

As our communities begin to process the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, many feel a deep sense of grief, emptiness, anger, and ongoing fear.

What we do next, matters.

Fraser acknowledges that

• black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have experienced deep and prolonged trauma from systemic racism and its entrenched effects on housing, education, socioeconomic status, healthcare, and employment.
• white citizens have a responsibility to look inward, to learn, to enact change, and to stand beside our communities of color in this fight.
• conversations about race can be uncomfortable but are vital to changing systemic racism issues.

We all need to be part of the solution. There are many ways to contribute:

• Support a local foodbank or clean-up effort
• Donate funds to rebuild lost businesses and neighborhoods
• Learn how to talk about racism
• Read
  • My Grandmother’s Hands  
  • White Fragility 
  • The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
  • Caught by Marie Gottschalk
  • Between the World and Me by Ta- Nehisi Coates
  • The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
  • How to Be an Antiracist- by Ibram X Kendi
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in A World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• Listen (podcasts)
  • 1619 by the New York Times
  • About Race
  • Code Switch by NPR
  • The Diversity Gap
  • Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
  • Pod for the Cause

As an organization, Fraser understands that eliminating racism is a lifelong process, and that the pain from centuries of abuse and discrimination lingers. We are listening and collaborating with staff and community about how Fraser can better align our social contract to support BIPOC in our community, organization, and staff by addressing disparities, eliminating barriers, and delivering more culturally responsive services.

Call us if we can help you: 612-446-HOPE (4673), Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.