Letter To Community R/E Recent Events
Dear Community,
Our work at Lake Erie Ink: a writing space for youth is to encourage and support youth voice. Now is time for us to use our own voice to state, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter. We condemn the violent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and many others that we are not listing here. We stand against the legacy of systemic racism, ongoing brutality, and anti-Blackness that has shaped our nation.
As an organization built on the power of writing, we know that words can hurt, but words can also heal and give hope. The mission of Lake Erie Ink is to provide opportunities for creative expression to all youth in our community. We read and hear the pain in the writings of so many of the youth we serve that we know the critical need for this outlet.
Words are powerful. Helping youth find and use their words is central to our mission. But words alone are not enough.
So, we commit to providing space for youth to express themselves, a space free of hate and violence, and one that encourages youth to imagine and build community.
We commit to ongoing education and discussion for our staff and board on what it means to be an anti-racist organization, and how we put those values into action.
We believe that when young people feel supported and heard, they thrive in ways that enable them to stand up for themselves, to stand against hate, and to speak up for what is right.
If you know a young person needing a place to express themselves, let them know that we are here and we are listening.
Sincerely,
Amy Rosenbluth, Executive Director
Lisa Rosenthal, Chair, Lake Erie Ink Board of Directors