The Fire is Catching. Are You Going to Help Fan the Flames?

Dear REACH Community,

“It is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” – Frederick Douglass, July 5th, 1852

A REACH Board Member recently shared this quote and asked, “The fire is catching. Are you going to help fan the flames?”

REACH’s answer is Yes.

How?

By taking action.

We must transform our mindset, policies, and practices.

We must create better ways for REACH to be accountable to the people and communities we serve.

We must center the leadership of those most impacted by injustice and amplify their advocacy for systemic change.

This is not new work. But this moment is a reminder that we must significantly accelerate our efforts and take risks that we haven’t taken before.

In the memory of–– George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Kendra James, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Keaton Otis, Quanice Hayes and so many more––we must fight to create a future where Black Lives DO Matter.

It’s time to fan the flames and act.

Dan Valliere, REACH CEO

Rebbecca Maese, REACH Board President