The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd have once again shown the tragedy and injustice that results from racism – individual, institutional and systemic.
If there’s one lesson that should have been learned from the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown and other Black Americans across our nation, it’s that there is no room for silence. We each have a responsibility to Black Americans in calling out and working against racism wherever we see it, at home and beyond. We believe leaders have a responsibility to help create change – through policy and systems change, by listening to and amplifying the voices of Black leaders, by standing up and speaking out as allies.
As leaders trained by FOCUS St. Louis, you are uniquely positioned to help start – and continue – the conversations and help make the connections that can ultimately lead to positive change. Racism has no place in our community and our country, and we are all accountable for rewriting our future.
Dr. Yemi Akande-Bartsch
President & CEO
FOCUS St. Louis