Our Call to Community, Renewed

March 25, 2021

Last June, amidst outrage, turmoil and calls for profound change following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, The Community Foundation issued our “call to community.” Unequivocally rejecting all forms of racism and violence, we underscored our commitment to doing the intentional and never-ending work of affirming the inherent worth and value of every member of our community. And now, in the wake of growing acts of anti-Asian violence in various cities including Atlanta, San Francisco and New York, we join the chorus of voices affirming that racism threatens our community and must be eliminated.

The Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American communities have long been the target of a toxic mix of prejudice and hatred. In this time of COVID, Asian Americans have been singled out, and anti-Asian bias incidents and deadly violence have dramatically increased.

Even amid signs of hope in this season of medical, political and meteorological change, we must not be lulled into silence. As President Biden said in Atlanta last Friday: “Silence is complicity. We have to speak out. We have to act.”

The Foundation speaks out by reiterating our commitment to building a future of greater opportunity and equity in which the scourge of racism is not tolerated. We act by tackling the structural barriers to equity that have impeded the health, safety and wellbeing of members of our community for far too long.

Let all of us in Greater New Haven speak out as one in condemning racism and racial violence in the strongest possible terms. Let us act together in undertaking the urgent daily work of strengthening connections, embracing and supporting those on the margins, and creating a future of greater inclusion and equity here in our community.

Once again, that is our call to our community.