GVP stands with Black lives

by Jennie Jiang | June 18, 2020

Global Village Project stands in solidarity with the Black community and all those protesting and fighting for a more just society.

The incidents of deadly racial violence that we have witnessed over the past few weeks have put on full display the realities that Black people in this country face daily. All of us at Global Village Project are outraged and heartbroken over the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and Ahmaud Arbery. Their unjust deaths and the worldwide protests which have followed are a call to every one of us that we cannot afford to stay silent or complacent any longer.

These recent deaths are not isolated events. They are the latest in a long line of acts of racial violence, some of whose victims’ names we know – Alton Sterling, Trayvon Martin, Rodney King, Emmett Till – and many we don’t. They are the result of the racism and prejudice that are entrenched in our nation’s institutions, across the criminal justice system, housing, healthcare, and education, which systematically devalue and marginalize Black lives. As a school founded on the principles of educational equity, we recognize the toll that inequity takes on the lives of marginalized peoples and condemn racism in all its forms.

Systems of oppression may have been built over generations, but they are ours to dismantle. Now is the time to speak up and take action. Here are some steps that any members of the GVP community can take:

Educate yourself with anti-racist resources. We have been discussing Black Lives Matter with our students during our summer book club sessions.
Sign this petition from the Georgia NAACP to join their We Are Done Dying Campaign.
Donate to community bail funds and organizations dedicated to fighting racial injustice, such as the Equal Justice Initiative and Black Lives Matter.
Vote, and encourage others to do so as well.
Speak up against racism and injustice wherever and whenever you see it.

At Global Village Project, we remain committed to fighting educational inequity and empowering young leaders of color through our mission and impact. As an organization, over the past year and a half, we have grown our intentional stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our most recent strategic plan and practice. We are working diligently to critically assess our programs and ensure that our commitment to DEI, including racial equity, is integrated into our policies and backed up with powerful actions.We urge everyone in the Global Village Project community to dream a better world with us – one that is more just, equitable, and prosperous for everyone. We must work together to make that world a reality. Black Lives Matter.

The Global Village Project Team