Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Dear Friends,

A recent post by the President of the John A. Hartford Foundation rang true for me.  Here’s an excerpt from Terry Fulmer’s statement:

The deep stain of racism continues to blot out our country’s ability to live up to our highest ideals and we have been confronted once again with the reality that racial injustice is a matter of life and death. Whether the context is police brutality or the COVID-19 pandemic, structural racism and historical inequities are woven into our societal fabric. It is up to all of us to acknowledge this and respond by unraveling those patterns and weaving a new future together. 

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from the Birmingham Jail

 

Casa de la Luz Foundation envisions transforming the end of life experience into the final act of living well, for all in our community.  One of our core values is compassion.  Merriam-Webster defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it”.  My question to you, and of myself, is: what actions can we take to alleviate the distress of our neighbors who face hatred for no other reason than the color of their skin.

Here are a few ideas to get us started:

• Educate ourselves by reading and asking questions
• Support businesses owned by people of color
• Show up for one another at peaceful protests, memorials and other important public gatherings

One of the things I love most about living in Tucson is the sense of community.  Each and every one of us can contribute to creating a more just, equitable and safe community by choosing to take action.  I invite you to join me on the journey…

Julie Evans, Executive Director