We are stunned and grieving from the traumatic loss of Black American lives as a result of continued systemic racism and recurring police violence. We say the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others … We hear the voices of our fellow Americans crying for justice, and we renew our commitment to work every day to overcome the disparities that exist within our community and our society.
We recognize that racism does not only reside in individual hearts and minds. The violence and oppression that black, Indigenous, and other communities of color face are reflected in racial disparities in almost all areas of life and call for systemic and policy changes in our communities, our workplaces, and our institutions.
Racism and racial violence are reflected in our food system. Twenty-two percent of Black American households experience food insecurity, compared with 8 percent for white households and 12 percent for all U.S. households*. This is unacceptable and we in the food assistance community must do everything we can to redress these inequities.
The work of FOOD for Lane County is based on our values of compassion, inclusion, and collaboration. We are passionate in our quest to serve our community, we welcome everyone to the table, and we strive for a future where all of our community members are safe and treated with dignity and justice.
Black Lives Matter and we stand with them.
*Source: USDA Economic Research Service using data from the 2018 Community Population Survey Food Security Supplement, U.S. Census Bureau.