Message to Gift of Adoption stakeholders -
families, volunteers, donors, and adoption practitioners
:
Gift of Adoption believes that a loving family is a basic human right of every child, everywhere. Since inception in 1996, we have awarded grants to unite children and families of all descriptions, free of discrimination and without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, age, or marital status.
As an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, Gift of Adoption acknowledges the systemic racism in our country and condemns all forms of racism and racial injustice. We join the nation and the world in mourning the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless members of the Black community unjustly murdered.
We are committed to reviewing our policies and practices, knowing we can do more and better to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to identifying and removing barriers that allow racial bias or prejudice, conscious or unconscious. We are confident that when all voices are acknowledged and heard our ability to serve children and families with the gift of adoption is strengthened.
To that end, we invite and encourage you to share your hopes, concerns, experiences, and ideas with us in this process by contacting Tom Southall, Vice-President of the GOA National Board and Chair of GOA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Team. Tom can be reached at 847-682-1775.
Your feedback will help inform the work of the National Board as it develops our diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and goals. In August we will provide an Executive Summary of the actions we will take as a result of feedback followed by periodic updates beginning in October.
We look forward to moving forward, together, in the spirit of openness, respect, and solidarity.
GOA National Board of Governors and GOA Chief Executive Officer
