Page 7 - Summer Newsletter 2020

CHALENGINGTIMES.
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Litearcy Centerremains open to the students and families who
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ThehorifyingdeathofGeorgeFloydatthehandsofa Minneapolispoliceoficerisyetanothertragicreminder ofthebiasandviolenceagainstpeopleofcolorthatexist inoursociety.Likesomanyothers,Iwasangeredbythe video – the aggresion ofone oficer,the perceived indiferencedemonstratedbythreeotheroficers.Thisal to o s o o n fo l lo w in g th e d e a th s o f B re o n n a T a y lo r in
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A n d y e s , a s W a s g in g to n ia n s , w e ’v e h a d o u r s h a re o f tragic incidents due to some ofthe policies oflaw enforcement,thetenserelationshipwithcommunitiesof color, and the inherent bias em bedded in our justice
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A t W L C , w e p ro v id e s u p p o rts a n d s e rv ic e s fo r v u ln e ra b le c itiz e n s a n d th e ir families— manyofwhom arepeopleofcolor.Alofourwork,together,isbased on ourcommitmentto the conceptthatevery individualis empowered to participateinandhaveaccestothefulbenefitsofoursociety,includingthe protectionsofsocialjustice.Unfortunately,we,asasociety,haveoftenfailedour blackandbrowncommunities.Whatweareseeingacrosourcityandthecountry is that people are sad, angry, and dem anding change. M any of us m ay be
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Asanorganization,wevaluediversityandinclusionaboveal.Dr.MartinLuther KingJr.said,“Injusticeanywhereisathreattojusticeeverywhere.”Wemustwork togethertocontinuetoprovideanenvironmentwhereeverypersonisvaluedfor whotheyareandfeelsafeandsupportedataltimes.And,mostimportantly,we m u s t c o n tin u e to s ta n d to g e th e r w h e n a n y m e m b e r o f o u r c o m m u n ity fa c e s racism,discrimination,bigotry,oroppresionanddemandaccountability.
Wemustdoalwecantoensurethesevaluesarefurthered,whilecontinuingto keepourselvesandthosewesupportsafe.Wearemourningfriends,familyand people we supportlostto COVID-19.Many have been impacted financialy th ro u g h lo s t jo b s a n d re m a in c o n c e rn e d a b o u t th e fu tu re . S a d ly , th e p h y s ic a l distancefrom eachothermakesitmorechalengingforustocometogetherto supporteachother.Weapplaudthosewhohaveraisedtheirvoicesandsupport theirpasionatebutpeacefulprotests.
n requireoursupportandservices.Whilemanysupportsandservicesarebeing providedvirtualy,weremaincommitedtoourmision–toraisetheliteracylevel ofadultsinWashington,D.C.,sotheymayfunctiononthejob,inthefamilyandin society.Thankyouforyourongoingsupportofourwork.Pleasebesafeand remainingoodhealthduringthesechalengingtimes.
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washlit.org SUMMER2020 5