A Message to Our Community in Support of Equality, Dignity, and Justice

Dear Elk Hill Family,

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it well more than half a century ago: ‍

“We may have come here on different ships. . . But we are all in the same boat now.‍

At Elk Hill, our youth come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Each child enters our services with different experiences and skill sets. The Elk Hill Board of Trustees and our Leadership Team believe that our clients benefit from a culture of inclusion that respects and supports youth and families of all backgrounds, races, nationalities, and genders. We also believe that these factors should not be a determination of how we treat one another. None of us should tolerate or endure racism and discrimination.

We celebrate the diversity of our community and believe that every one of our clients, families and staff members should feel valued, respected, and safe. Embracing these principals and caring for others--that is who we have been as an organization for 50 years, that is who we are today, and that is the promise that we will carry forward.

Our community is experiencing a very turbulent time as our country deals with the effects of a global pandemic and the social unrest caused by tragic events like the one in Minnesota. The protests and riots that have followed, including those across our state, underscore the depth of our divisions. What we are seeing across the country is heartbreaking. While we do not condone violence, we know inequity and injustice persist.

Therefore, we stand with those who are working non-violently for racial harmony and social justice. We condemn the behaviors that devalue, denigrate, or cause harm to any member of our society. We call on all members of our community to take action in some way: by reaching out to local leaders, by listening and learning, by participating in non-violent activities, by becoming an advocate for social justice, by voting, and by supporting organizations that are working for social change.

We know this is not just a national, state, or local issue. This is a societal issue. We at Elk Hill stand ready, willing, and able to be a part of the solution. We will engage in the challenging discussions regarding the issues of race and equity. We ask that you join us as we look to renew our commitment in working with our youth, as well as ourselves and our community, to address our shared responsibilities in ending these structural injustices.

For those of you who are interested in deepening your knowledge on anti-racism work and aren't sure where to start, we offer you a resource list HERE .This document has been complied by many, and is intended to help you and children engage in understanding and dialogue to begin to breakdown racial injustices.

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