2020 is a year with new seasons. In place of spring and summer, there have been pandemic and protest. Now, there is the season of the postal service, and soon there will be the polls.
Demonstrate
There may be fewer demonstrations in the streets, but that doesn’t mean that racial injustice has been solved or that we can move on. This is just the beginning. The nation continues to struggle through unknitting centuries of systemic racism and there are a thousand ways for you to stay involved, as an individual and within your organization.
Participating in a protest makes you a visible statement against police brutality and racism. If you are unable to take part physically, you can use your online platforms to help reach people who aren’t sure where to find educational resources.
Educate
At Cloud Foundry Foundation, we’ve compiled a living document where we share resources on race education with one another to continue the conversation. The list includes books, essays, and podcasts we’ve consumed in our personal time, as well as professional resources like workshops we’ve attended, manuals, best practices and playbooks. Individually and collectively, we are committed to continuing our education about racism in the tech industry and far, far beyond.
Sharing and building a document like this extends the conversation into everyday interactions with your colleagues, enables you to hold one another accountable and fosters an inclusive professional atmosphere where these topics are not off limits.
Donate
Recently, Cloud Foundry Foundation donated to five organizations whose missions, visions and achievements we wholeheartedly support. We wanted to call attention to these organizations and the important and different work accomplished by each.
The below information is paraphrased from each organization’s website.
- The Bail Project: The Bail Project™ National Revolving Bail Fund is a critical tool to prevent incarceration and combat racial and economic disparities in the bail system. 100% of online donations are used to bring people home. Since bail money comes back to the Project when cases close, they are able to recycle every dollar donated at least twice per year.
- The Marshall Project: The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system.
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund: America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.
- People’s Breakfast Oakland: Grassroots Black socialist political organization which serves the houseless community essential resources. Founded in 2017, the organization has fed, provided clothing, and hygiene packs to over 5000 Oakland residents.
- LoveLand Therapy Fund: With the barriers affecting access to treatment by members of diverse ethnic and racial groups, Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy.
These are a fraction of the organizations doing vital anti-racist work. Please do your own research on what organizations you’d like to support. We suggest starting with the Black Lives Matter list of places to donate.
Stay safe, strong and open.
