More Tragedy and Our Call for Change

The recent tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas is yet another sad example of the heavy cost borne when intolerance mixes with violence. Our hearts break with each tragic loss of life, from Buffalo, NY, to Laguna Woods, California, to untold struggles that flare into violence around the world, too often innocents are the ones who pay the ultimate price.  

At times like these it is natural to feel overwhelmed by the senseless loss of life, closely followed by anger about why it keeps happening. While all feelings are valid, it is important that we come together to encourage everyone to channel those energies into resolve. Resolve to take action and resolve to make a positive change so fewer of these incidents ever sees the light of day. 

I am proud to say that members of our Employee Resource Groups—Blacks@Progress, ASPIRE and Unidos have come together and will be making donations to three organizations—Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund, fva the National Center for Victims of Crime, Stop AAPI Hate, Sandy Hook Promise—in support of the Latinx, Black and Asian communities that have experienced the unimaginable pain and loss of the past few weeks.

No matter where we live, who we love, where we worship or go to school, we must be free to live our lives proudly and without fear. We are better than this. Let us all continue to live our inclusive values, deeply rooted in respect for all peoples.