Alliance Governing Board Statement — June 10, 2020
The Alliance Governing Board would like to start this meeting with a public statement regarding our stance on eradicating systemic racism in our nation, our city, and our own organization.
Quite simply, Black lives matter.
Alliance is an organization founded to pursue social justice and serve those who have been
systematically oppressed and denied a high-quality public education. We unequivocally stand
united with our Black and African American scholars, families, staff and communities during this
tragic and painful time. We understand that this is not an isolated moment in history. This
tragedy and pain have been felt by our Black and African American communities for decades.
The difference now is that people outside the Black and African American communities,
including members of the Alliance organization, are finally paying attention.
After witnessing the ongoing murder and brutalization of Black and African American citizens
perpetuated and sustained by white supremacy, we are –– at long last –– earnestly aware that
it is not enough to be “not racist.” We must be actively anti-racist. We can and will do better for
our communities of color, because this is both a fight for educational equity and a fight for
Black and African American lives.
Our promise to our scholars, families, staff, and communities is that the fight for educational
equity and justice for all will not end when the protests end. The deaths of George Floyd,
Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and all those who came before them will not be in vain.
We will continue our mission to develop the next generation of activists and leaders at our
schools, to empower them to work toward a more just and equal society. We are also
committed to dismantling institutionalized racism of all forms, starting with our own
organization. This is our responsibility, and our great purpose.
The Governing Board commits to the following initial steps toward combating racism. This is
only the beginning of our journey, and we will continuously reevaluate to best meet the needs
of our Alliance communities.
- Renounce white supremacy and racism, specifically anti-Blackness prevalent in all
organizations, including our own. We will not ignore how racism has shaped educational
institutions and outcomes. - Create opportunities for our scholars and staff to elevate conversations about race.
- Lift up the voices of Black and African American staff, scholars, families, and communities. This includes a commitment to greater Black and African American representation at all levels of our network.
- Review our organizational commitments with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion lens and change practices that may harm those who identify as Black or African American.
Quite simply, Black lives matter.
Alliance is an organization founded to pursue social justice and serve those who have been
systematically oppressed and denied a high-quality public education. We unequivocally stand
united with our Black and African American scholars, families, staff and communities during this
tragic and painful time. We understand that this is not an isolated moment in history. This
tragedy and pain have been felt by our Black and African American communities for decades.
The difference now is that people outside the Black and African American communities,
including members of the Alliance organization, are finally paying attention.
After witnessing the ongoing murder and brutalization of Black and African American citizens
perpetuated and sustained by white supremacy, we are –– at long last –– earnestly aware that
it is not enough to be “not racist.” We must be actively anti-racist. We can and will do better for
our communities of color, because this is both a fight for educational equity and a fight for
Black and African American lives.
Our promise to our scholars, families, staff, and communities is that the fight for educational
equity and justice for all will not end when the protests end. The deaths of George Floyd,
Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and all those who came before them will not be in vain.
We will continue our mission to develop the next generation of activists and leaders at our
schools, to empower them to work toward a more just and equal society. We are also
committed to dismantling institutionalized racism of all forms, starting with our own
organization. This is our responsibility, and our great purpose.
The Governing Board commits to the following initial steps toward combating racism. This is
only the beginning of our journey, and we will continuously reevaluate to best meet the needs
of our Alliance communities.
It is easy to make bold statements about reform. The difficulty comes with the doing. As a
Governing Board, we will hold ourselves and the Alliance network accountable for these
resolutions and pledge to provide regular updates on our progress.
As a first step towards these commitments, we will be announcing virtual forums that Board
members will be holding for scholars, families and staff, at the end of June, to hear from you on
these issues, so please look out for the announcement of the dates.
La Junta de Gobierno de Alliance quisiera comenzar esta reunión con una declaración pública
sobre nuestra postura sobre la erradicación del racismo sistémico en nuestra nación, nuestra
ciudad y nuestra propia organización. En pocas palabras, las vidas negras importan.
Alliance es una organización fundada para perseguir la justicia social y servir a aquellos que han
sido sistemáticamente oprimidos y se les ha negado una educación de alta calidad. Nos unimos
inequívocamente a nuestros estudiantes, familias, personal y comunidades negras y
afroamericanas durante este tiempo trágico y doloroso. Entendemos que este no es un
momento aislado en la historia. Esta tragedia y dolor lo han sentido nuestras comunidades
afroamericanas y negras por décadas. La diferencia ahora es que las personas fuera de las
comunidades negras y afroamericanas, incluidos los miembros de la organización de Alliance,
finalmente están prestando atención.
Después de ver el asesinato y la brutalización de ciudadanos negros y afroamericanos
perpetuados y sostenidos por la supremacía blanca, somos, por fin, muy conscientes de que no
es suficiente ser “no racista”. Debemos ser activamente antirracistas. Podemos y lo haremos
mejor para nuestras comunidades de color, porque esto es tanto una lucha por la equidad
educativa como una lucha por la vida de los negros.
Nuestra promesa a nuestros estudiantes, familias, empleados y comunidades es que la lucha
por la equidad educativa y la justicia para todos no terminará cuando terminen las protestas.
Las muertes de George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor y todos los que vinieron antes
que ellos no serán en vano.
Continuaremos nuestra misión de desarrollar la próxima generación de activistas y líderes en
nuestras escuelas, para capacitarlos para trabajar hacia una sociedad más justa e igualitaria.
También estamos comprometidos a desmantelar el racismo institucionalizado de todas las
formas, comenzando con nuestra propia organización. Esta es nuestra responsabilidad y
nuestro gran propósito.
La Junta de Gobierno se compromete a los siguientes pasos iniciales para combatir el racismo.
Este es solo el comienzo de nuestro viaje, y reevaluaremos continuamente para satisfacer
mejor las necesidades de nuestras comunidades de Alliance.
- Renunciar a la supremacía blanca y el racismo, específicamente anti-negra/afroamericana prevalente en todas las organizaciones, incluida la nuestra. No ignoraremos cómo el racismo ha formado las instituciones educativas y los resultados.
- Crear oportunidades para nuestros estudiantes y empleados para elevar las conversaciones sobre la raza.
- Alzar las voces de los empleados, estudiantes, familias y comunidades negras yafroamericanas. Esto incluye un compromiso con una mayor representación de negros y afroamericanos en todos los niveles de nuestra red.
- Revisar nuestros compromisos organizacionales con una lente de Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión y cambiar las prácticas que pueden dañar a aquellos que se identifican como negros o afroamericanos.
Es fácil hacer declaraciones audaces sobre la reforma. La dificultad viene con hacer. Como Junta de Gobierno, nos haremos responsables a nosotros mismos y a la red de Alliance por estas resoluciones y nos comprometemos a proporcionar actualizaciones periódicas sobre nuestro progreso.
Como primer paso hacia estos compromisos, anunciaremos foros virtuales sobre estos temas que los miembros de la Junta llevarán a cabo para escuchar de estudiantes, familiares y empleados, así que estén atentos al anuncio de las fechas.
