Yadkin Riverkeeper stands ready to support communities of color in mutual efforts to eliminate systemic, institutional racism in our community and country. We realize though, that as an organization and individuals, we are not where we need to be, but let us be clear: We support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Marc Yaggi, executive director of the Waterkeepers Alliance, in response to the unjustified killings of black and brown men and women by the police, has encouraged all Waterkeeper organizations to not only keep fighting for environmental justice, but also to fight racism and its root causes. His suggestion on where to start: Our own backyard. To quote from his statement, “Building a truly multiracial, inclusive environmental movement will also involve changing the culture of our organizations.”
During the past two years, YRK has developed a racial diversity, equity and inclusion plan and is implementing that plan. We have recruited people of color to serve on our board, hired a communications specialist to reach out to communities of color and are seeking opportunities to listen to those communities on their own turf and terms. We are fighting for environmental justice with the citizens of West Badin against Alcoa and are advocating for legislation and regulatory polices to protect communities of color disproportionately impacted by large scale animal operations. We also are striving to provide access to educational and recreational opportunities on the River for youth from communities of color.
But it is not enough for us to say the River belongs to all of us and that everyone needs clean drinking water. We must act on that commitment and ensure our organization reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and that our programs meet the needs of those communities.
We cannot change our institutional and cultural biases overnight, or hire or appoint our way to greater diversity, inclusion and equity. However, we can educate ourselves about the history of institutional and systemic racism in American society and the role we continue to play in upholding a system falsely based on white supremacy. YRK, with support from The Winston Salem Foundation, is doing that by supporting racial equity training for all our staff and board members.
While just a small step, it is an important one in building greater public awareness of the inherent disadvantages faced by communities and people of color and the advantages and privileges held by white people and organizations. We encourage all nonprofit leaders, and everyone for that matter, to sign up for racial equity training as a first step on your journey for racial justice and equality. It will open your eyes.
Going forward, YRK’s challenge – which we accept – is to build bridges with communities of color along the Yadkin River. To meet that challenge, we pledge to re-envision and reevaluate our racial diversity plan and develop a detailed plan of action that acknowledges our contributions to, and seeks solutions for, the social and environmental injustices that exist in our society.