To hear a child cry for their mother is heartbreaking. To hear a man cry for his mother in his last breaths is even more devastating. The collective anguish felt when George Floyd called for his mother is undeniable.

At Erikson, all of our hearts are heavy this week as the news continues to be filled with the impact of 400 years of racial injustice and systemic anti-Black racism in the U.S. Recent events— the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and now, George Floyd— painfully remind us that we still have a lot of work to do in achieving equity through an anti-racist agenda.

There are countless incidents like this, known and unknown, that permeate the daily lived experience of many Black people. In Chicago, we need to look no further for inequality than our own hometown over the past 90 days and how the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Black, Latinx, and Native American communities at disproportionate rates. 

Erikson’s Policy and Leadership Department continues to advance anti-racist work that leads to dismantling structural racism. We believe that work starts with focusing on a child’s early years and giving them the best start in life. Our partners include a cross-sector of leaders whose work intersects with various aspects of child development. Our collective efforts facilitate action that leads to public policy and systemic change with the goal of strengthening the foundation for a child’s growth and development, health, and happiness.

We appreciate you and look forward to connecting with you on ways to advance racial equity.

In partnership,

The Policy & Leadership Team