Funds for Bail Project & The LoveLand Foundation

***Although we've reached our goal and have donated $3,218.00 to The LoveLand Foundation and $3,218.00 to The Bail Project, I will monitor this fund and continue to seek matches for financial contributions where possible.  I encourage continued consideration and digging deep. 

I also encourage you to join me in the ways that you are able to continue to challenge yourself in regards to your race and privilege, and to considering coming up with an accountability plan for yourself for your actively anti-racist growth. we are in this journey together, so if i can be of support to you, please let me know.

in solidarity and support of all Black lives,
rachel***


White friends and family:

There is much to say, and even more to listen to (ask yourself, are you listening to the right voices? I’m talking about BIPOC voices). I am reflecting on my relationships (personal and professional), life experiences and privileges, moments where I have totally missed the mark as a white person, and the ways I can continue to challenge myself in my whiteness through both big and small actions. More to come when the time is right.

I am challenging myself to consider more rigorously the ways in which my whiteness has benefited me, and to take bigger steps where I can. As a monetary starting point, I wil be matching donations up to $1,000 towards two organizations: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/, focusing on supporting communities of color, including a fund to provide therapy for Black women and girls and https://bailproject.org/, a national revolving bail fund designed to combat racial and economic disparities in the bail system. I will also be exploring the possibility for a match for the overall donation if possible. . With additional support, we are now able to add an additional $1,000 to the total if we can reach the new goal of $4,000.

As my sister Emma said, given the long history of accrual of “money, power, and privilege by no work of merit of our own- given to us as a result of the systemic harming and killing of black and brown people for hundreds of years- this is blood money, and we have a debt to give it back. Even if it’s inconvenient, or challenging, or difficult. Even if we’re slightly less comfortable as a result. None of the hard work we’re called to do as white people is more difficult than being a black or brown person living (and fighting not to die) in the united states. None of it.”

I know there have been many statements of verbal solidarity and sadness/anger, and I encourage you to take a step further and support folks battling the pandemic of racism, emotionally and physically, day to day. Even if you already make a monthly donation, or feel you’ve “done your part”, we haven’t done enough. I ask you to join me during this moment in time, while also considering your plan for longevity—acknowledging that a monetary donation is not a replacement for holding ourselves accountable, but an important way to work in solidarity against systems that need challenging and destruction.

Please join me. If you have hesitations, questions, or want to talk through any of the hard stuff, I am a message or text away.