2021 In Review: A Letter From Our Voices For Change Committee

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit” – Banksy

As we wrap up 2021, The Voices For Change Committee would like to take the time to acknowledge where we have come from, what we have become, and what kind of future we see for ourselves, our company, and the world around us. 2020 was a year of unrest for social justice, as well as individually, as we continued to navigate the pandemic and its direct and indirect impacts on our society and our own ways of life.

In 2021, the committee decided to follow Banksy’s advice and rest, not quit. We pivoted from internally educating staff about systemic racism, unconscious bias, and the intolerance in the world to celebrating diversity, spotlighting culture, and learning about the beauty of our unique differences. In our company channels, we followed the rhythm of national monthly observances and shared clothing, recipes, music, geography, influential people, and more. In December 2021 we brought an incredibly insightful speaker, Gianni Crow, to share with us his native upbringing as a day keeper and inspire our team to feel like the tribe and family that we truly are.

A focus on wellness and positivity felt like rest to our souls, while carrying the torch of change, education, and tolerance. While our influence is small, within the walls of our company, its impact is huge. Creating safe spaces to learn and grow together not only helps our company, but the individuals within to spread love and acceptance to those they touch in their own lives and our communities.

In 2022, The Committee will be meeting to plan out the next year in a way that allows us to reach more staff, bring new elements of change, and connect with the world around us. We will schedule staff meetings to watch videos together, propose unique ways to spend our education budget, find fundraising opportunities for our clients working in social spaces, and collaborate on ways to be introspective about the change needed for our company to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible.

We hope you are inspired to join our work wherever you are and in any and every circle you have influence in. When asked how to create change, Gianni Crow told us that what you want and seek, is what you need to become. These wise words from his grandfather’s teachings will inspire the committee for the future we see and want in 2022.

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