Baldwin Center Statement June 2020
[NOTE: This letter was distributed June 9, 2020 to Baldwin Center newsletter subscribers and contacts.]
These are clearly times like none we have seen before and I find myself longing for the wisdom of Solomon as we navigate this convergence of Covid19 and societal unrest. Words are insufficient to capture our feelings, but the staff at Baldwin talked about our fears and concerns:
For our children of color
For our families
For our communities
We know as Baldwin supporters, you share our concerns.
When we developed our Poverty: It’s Complicated training which focuses on health disparities, poverty and bias little did we realize within a few years we would be engulfed in all these issues at such a magnified level. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “There comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July and left standing amid the piercing chill of an alpine November.” Existing health and economic disparities and visible social injustice are a November in our community, and in other communities like ours.
We know where we stand. We refuse to be stopped by this alpine chill. We have always known that feeding people meets a basic need but we also understand that hunger goes beyond food.
We all hunger for justice and equity
We all hunger for opportunity and inclusion
We all hunger for safety and peace
At Baldwin we hope to prevail. We understand this is a defining moment for our nation and we remain deeply invested in the community we serve and are persistent in our commitment to justice, equity and inclusion.
We are steadfast to our vision of a thriving community with engaged citizens. Our promise is to provide the tools necessary for individuals and families in need to become vibrant, productive community members. We value honesty, respect, integrity and compassion. We believe in the strength of human dignity and the resilience of the human spirit as we continue to feed, clothe, educate and empower.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Longley
Executive Director
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