Anti-Racism Statement

We, at Volunteers of America Eastern WA & Northern ID, stand in solidarity with people in our community demanding justice for all marginalized individuals. We are devastated and outraged by the continued devaluing of Black lives.

Volunteers of America (VOA) condemns the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. According to Stop AAPI Hate, Asian-Americans report, Asians were targeted in nearly 3,800 hate incidents in the past year. Stop AAPI Hate was formed in March of 2020 to prevent discrimination during the coronavirus pandemic.

Volunteers of America stands with the Asian American community and all disenfranchised and marginalized communities that have experienced racism, hate, and discrimination. We strongly condemn racism in all forms and we remain steadfast in our commitment to create a world of greater justice and hope for all.

Our hearts go out to the families and communities of those who have been harmed or have lost their lives from hate crimes and discrimination. We stand with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community and all others to stop hate.

In our work, VOA sees first hand the impact that systemic racism and bias has on our community and country through a disproportionate number of black and brown individuals experiencing homelessness, evictions and housing instability. We are devoted to standing in opposition to white supremacy, violence, and the historical brutalization of marginalized peoples.

VOA’s mission explicitly states that we uplift all people in order to help others rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. In order to make this happen, we commit to dismantling racism and fighting for racial justice. We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and with others who are working for change through peaceful protest and advocacy.

As VOA supporters, please join us in this work to actively become anti-racist. Help us stand together in solidarity and join us in our fight to uplift the historically marginalized and disenfranchised.

VOA highly recommends the following resources to read and act on as we move forward to support and commit to this movement in our community.

• Rachel Cargle is a public academic, writer, and lecturer (​www.rachelcargle.com​). View her Public Address on Revolution: Revolution Now
• Brené Brown’s podcast ​Unlocking Us​ ​examines concepts related to empathy and vulnerability in episodes like ​Brene on Comparative Suffering ​and ​Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist
• Watch Dr. Martin Luther King’s daughter, ​Rev. Bernice King on ending systemic racism
• Subscribe to Black Lens and support Black owned and operated businesses:http://blacklensnews.com/
• 7 Ways You Can Demand Justice for George Floyd​ ​from the Peace & Justice
• Action League of Spokane

VOA recognizes that this is only the first step in our commitment to this work and as we listen, we will continue to respond in ways that represent the value we feel for our Black community.

Thank you to our staff diversity, equity and inclusion staff training sponsor, Union Pacific!