Dear Friends,

The past weeks have been difficult for all of us on the DASH team as we collectively reel from the murders and loss of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and thousands like them throughout the years.

Like you and so many around the nation, I have spent countless days struggling to come to terms with the constantly renewed pain of being Black and Brown in America. DASH is an organization led by a Black immigrant woman, with a board and a staff who are majority people of color, serving predominantly women, men, and children of color. As an organization, and as individuals, we are deeply impacted by these recent events, and by the decades of systemic and structural racism at play.

We are and will always continue to be committed to providing a safe place to anyone who needs it, but above all else, to those who are in our care, who are primarily people of color.

Over the past few months, as we have dealt with the immense challenges presented by the COVID outbreak, I have been tired, weary, even exhausted. But throughout it all I have never felt hopeless. Today, I am sitting in the dichotomy of being both heartbroken and heartened. 

I choose to hope that these terrible events will finally bring much needed and lasting change. But in order for that to happen, we need more than just headlines and outrage. We need long-term commitment.

Change is hard. Change takes time. Change is uncomfortable and it requires tenacity. 

We stand in solidarity with the voices calling for racial justice, and equity. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and people of color across the United States. We stand in solidarity with our staff, our board, and our survivors. And we ask our white partners and supporters to make a long-term commitment to being uncomfortable, to being allies and to challenging white supremacy. We ask you to bring a racial equity lens to your workplace, your families, and your communities. We ask you to show up, listen, educate yourselves and act in solidarity.  

Today, I grieve with you all. In the coming weeks and months, DASH will carve out dedicated time as a community to find intentional ways to use our voice to advance racial justice. We are and will always be committed to equality for all those in our care, and our community at large.

We stand together, ensuring home truly means safety for survivors and each other. 

In Solidarity,