Published
May 26, 2022
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It is unbearable to find our country here again. Ten years after Sandy Hook shook our nation to its core. Ten days after Buffalo in which 10 Black patrons of a grocery store were killed in an act of racialized hate. With so many lives taken, and so little action in response, one must ask if we truly value life in this country if we are unwilling to protect our children and our elders.
When senseless tragedies like this happen in schools, it erodes the psychological and physical safety that is core to the learning process. Our K-12 Education work is rooted in the belief that schools and classrooms must be safe, affirming spaces in which students and teachers are able to form bonds that empower students to build resilience, shape a positive identity, and grow academically, socially and emotionally. Many of our grantees are speaking out today, calling for solutions that prioritize the safety of students and educators, and we are working to support them in getting their voices heard.
We know schools are supposed to be safe places where we nourish minds. We know grocery stores are supposed to be safe places where we nourish bodies. We know houses of worship are supposed to be safe places where we nourish souls. We must hold our elected officials accountable for ensuring the safety of our citizens while upholding our commitment to justice.
