Dear Connelly Center community,
It is with heavy hearts that we write this letter, as our city and nation collectively mourn the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless other Black citizens, and the violence inflicted on our Black brothers and sisters every day. We condemn violence in all its forms, and strongly support the peaceful protesters who are speaking up and speaking out.
Cornelia Connelly once said, “Sustain the true liberty of the children of God.” In this spirit, we humbly stand with every person who has added their voice in this call for justice. We will be blacking out our social media through June 5 in solidarity with protesters.
It is our duty to educate and encourage the next generation to continue the fight against racism. Our mission is to empower each girl to realize her potential – at its most fundamental, this means guiding her to become a thriving, socially aware member of her community. It also means building a society that embraces her no matter her race or background, and working to change the systemic barriers that face Black people and other people of color in our world.
Right now, we feel angry, we feel sad, we feel scared. Yet we can never forget that there is always hope – over the last week, we have seen hundreds of thousands of people join together in an effort to create a better world for themselves and for future generations.
We ask you as our students, graduates, families, and supporters to contribute your voice in any way you feel comfortable, while also continuing to be mindful of the increased spread of COVID-19 caused by dense gatherings. Educate yourself on systemic inequality and anti-racism, call your local and state representatives, contribute to grassroots organizations that support people of color, and speak up when you see injustice.
Our staff are always here to support students and graduates who want to talk through their experiences and worries. Below are some resources that may be helpful for adults and children to learn about race in age-appropriate ways. We hope you make use of them, and reach out for more when you need them.
With love and hope,
Caroline Erisman, Executive Director
Shalonda Neeley Gutierrez, Head of School
Caroline Erisman, Executive Director
Shalonda Neeley Gutierrez, Head of School