Excruciating: A statement by Pedro A. Ramos, President & CEO

Monday, June 1: Statement by Pedro A. Ramos, President & CEO:

“Let us acknowledge this fact: the moment is excruciating.

The injustice, the violence and the uncertainty – it is affecting all of us in deeply personal and unique ways.  As we’ve confronted the COVID-19 epidemic and its devastation in marginalized and vulnerable communities, we have witnessed the killings of three African-Americans, most recently George Floyd in Minneapolis who died at the hands of the very peace officers sworn to protect him.

We condemn the killings, the broken systems of justice, and the entrenched discrimination that feed them. We also understand and must be concerned about the extraordinary social and economic impact that our neighbors in our cities’ metropolitan areas face if we don’t seize the opportunity to work together across geography, demography, and sectors.  As a community foundation that is foremost about the wellbeing of all our neighbors, we will redouble our efforts as a funder, fundraiser, partner, civic leader, a supporter of justice and equity to push harder, faster, and more effectively to realize our long-held values.  This is a call to action for me, our organization, and our whole team – a call to action that will indeed reflect on our success in our second century.”

June 2 statement: WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?: STATEMENT BY PEDRO A. RAMOS, PRESIDENT & CEO