Black Lives Matter Statement from NZ Staff Directors
Silence right now is not acceptable. Neutral Zone stands in unequivocal solidarity with Black Lives Matter:
“Enough is enough. Our pain, our cries, and our need to be seen and heard resonate throughout this entire country. We demand acknowledgment and accountability for the devaluation and dehumanization of Black life at the hands of the police. We call for radical, sustainable solutions that affirm the prosperity of Black lives. “ - Black Lives Matter 5/30/20
We condemn the current state-sponsored violence against our Black communities and inequities of power and resources. We recognize that white supremacy culture in this country is built on more than 400 years of institutionalized and systemic racism and we understand that we need to continue doing anti-racist work by fighting white supremacy and other oppressions that cause systemic trauma for our Black teens.
We know that our own leadership, especially white staff, need to learn how to strengthen our role as allies and accomplices, to help dismantle institutionalized and systemic racism in order to bring justice and equity for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
We publicly commit to centering BIPOC and following their leadership at the Neutral Zone. We promise to make Neutral Zone an anti-racist organization, to uplift youth voice and decision making, and to shine a light on our teens who are already brilliant and beautiful exactly as they show up every day.
We call upon other youth serving organizations to join us. Neutral Zone is committed to the following actions:
Build a racial equity task force centering BIPOC youth to drive our racial equity work at the Neutral Zone
Assess Neutral Zone organizational structure, governance and program practices to ensure we work toward anti-racism and equity across the center*
Hold weekly space for Black teens to come together in a supportive healing space
Provide ongoing anti-racist and ally training for white board of directors, staff, volunteers, and teens to continue to disrupt racism and be supportive allies and accomplices
Partner with local chapters of Black Lives Matter, March for our Lives, local Black Student Unions and other organizations centering and uplifting black youth
Create space intentionally centering the needs of BIPOC teens in the LGBTQIA+ community
Build on our programs supporting BIPOC youth to successfully transition into adulthood through education and employment experiences
Lori Roddy, Executive Director
Ramona Parker-Muhammad, Finance and Operations Director
John Weiss, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Suzie Staley, Associate Director
Amy Milligan, Development Director
*We will assess using the Educational Justice and Transformation Assessment Tool
