As you know this time in history has been heightened due to the violence in the past weeks, months, years and beyond.
Part of our policies include our Sea to Sky Removal Anti-racism Statement:
Further to our diversity and inclusion policy Sea to Sky Removal stands against racism in every form. We seek to create a diverse work environment that fosters intersectional relationships, learning opportunities and loving acceptance. We foster an environment for employees, customers and suppliers that is free from the insidious and debilitating effects of prejudice, discrimination and marginalization. Creating safety and security is in the DNA of our organization. We understand racism occurs with and without malicious intent. We commit to creating opportunities to face our own implicit bias through community engagement and workplace training programs. As a Corporation we recognize that the corporate community must take a leadership role in unearthing and challenging implicit bias to create a more equitable and just society. As Canadians, we are committed to being a part of the reconciliation movement with our Indigenous Canadian brothers and sisters. As environmentalists, we understand that the fight against climate change requires all forms of knowledge and action; especially the many skills, traditional knowledge and rebellious spirit of Indigenous peoples around the world. Sea to Sky Removal commits to cut ties with customers, partners and suppliers that do not share our commitment to battle racism in all its forms.
Last week on our social channels we paused to listen to the Black community and take time to educate ourselves.
Moving forward from this day on here are ways all of us can take action:
1. Start educating yourself by reading informational articles and books. Here is a lists that have been complied by numerous impactful organizations:
Books:
Articles and Other Readings:
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor
4 Steps That I and Other White People Can Take to Fight Racism
I’m a black climate expert. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet.
Watch Black stories and documentaries.
We watched Notes From The Field, it's a play which is filmed that is drawn from over 200 interviews with students, parents, teachers and administrators caught in the school-to-prison pipeline. Smith references several real-life events throughout, such as the death of Freddie Gray and an incident where a 15 year-old black girl was restrained by police. Despite it being a one-woman show, the play has Smith acting as 17 different people, each one telling their own story. It was very eye opening, very sad at times but incredibly moving. We are always in awe of people who can write, direct and act including playing 17 different characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttLWqMBG2Q
Another show we watched was Ugly Delicious, the “fried chicken” episode of Ugly Delicious is heavy and uncomfortable and spends nearly an hour addressing subject matter that is often glossed over by chefs and diners who don’t want to experience these moments. Fried chicken is a universal food. Different versions have come out of different cultures around the world. In America, unfortunately, it’s also a food tied to racist stereotypes that can be traced back to enslaved Africans cooking the dish for their captors.
https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80170368
2. If you can, donate to locally based organizations working to dismantle white supremacy and end police brutality like Hogan's Alley Society, Black Youth Hotline, and BC Community Alliance. Sea to Sky Removal donated to Black Lives Matter Vancouver.
3. Sign a petition, call representatives, share scripts and encourage others to do the same. Every signature makes a difference! We follow, Leadnow which envisions a just, sustainable, and equitable Canada, built and defended through the democratic power of an engaged public -> https://act.leadnow.ca
Most of these are US based;
#JusticeforFloyd: Demand the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder.
Call for Justice for George Floyd: Call Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison today and urge them to appoint an independent prosecutor to work under the Attorney General’s authority.
Justice for Breonna Taylor: Demand the arrests of the officers involved, and pay damages to Taylor’s family
Justice For Tony McDade: calling for justice for McDade and to spread the word
Justice For Regis Korchinski-Paquet: Get Mayor John Tory, MPP Bhutila Karpoche, and Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders to commit to a transparent investigation and to hold the officers involved accountable in the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet through firing and filing charges.
Justice for Sean Reed: Demand that the officers who killed Sean Reed be charged with murder.
Reclaim the Block: Tell Minneapolis City Council to defund the police.
Run With Ahmaud: Tell Joyette Holmes and the GBI to bring charges against the McMichael’s and William Bryan, and investigate and bring charges against Glynn County Police Officer Robert Rash.
We Are Done Dying: Support NAACP policy demands
4. Follow accounts that matter. We are learning just like you so we follow organizations that are leaders in this space. These are just a few accounts you can follow: Black Lives Matter, Color Of Change, Grassroots Law Project, Layla Saad and Brittany Packnett
We don’t have to be perfect to start. But we do need to be vocal and bring explicit conversations about race and racism to all of our stakeholders - the people inside our company, our customers and our communities. Let’s ask ourselves -- what am I doing today?
How am I educating myself and my stakeholders about structural racism?
How am I holding space to allow for conversations about structural racism in my company?
What practices does my company have in place to support Black and People of Color team members?
How am I supporting Black and People of Color business leaders that are in the B Corp community or other communities I’m a part of?
How am I supporting civic engagement to hold public leaders accountable and tackle structural racism in our systems of government?
It’s ok to not have all the answers to these questions. It is not ok for us to avoid seeking answers, or to avoid challenging ourselves and each other. We must go on a journey, together, to take action. We open the floor to you all during this time to get your thoughts, feedback, articles to read, films to watch, ways we can be more active and just become more aware.
We look forward to continuing this important conversation together.
Thank you,
Cinci + Chris
