Dear King Street Friends,
Each month we share all of the exciting things happening here with you, and our plan for this week’s edition was no different. But the truth is, it has become increasingly difficult to share excitement in the wake of the recent horrific tragedies.
Today marks the two year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Then this past week, just two years later, 10 Black people were murdered while trying to grocery shop because of the color of their skin.
And yesterday, 21 people - 19 of them children who are the same ages as the kids we care for here at King Street - were murdered at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, a primarily Hispanic/Latinx community.
As an organization of educators who take very seriously our responsibility to care for the youth who come to our programs, the loss of that many children to gun violence shakes us to our core. We know how challenging it can be to help children cope with and understand the impact of violence, especially toward their peers. Today, our team is using this guide written by LiberatED, a tool for social-emotional learning, racial justice, and healing.
There is no making sense of what happened yesterday, and I know we all feel a range of emotions, from anger and fear to sadness and utter dismay. Our staff are unwavering in their care for the children and families we serve. We know that a lot of responsibility rests on our shoulders, and we feel the weight of that responsibility every day. I want you to know that King Street is here to support our community and do everything in its power to continue to keep our kids safe.
This tragedy may have happened over 2,000 miles away, but its impact has reached our doors. Today, all of us are wrapping our arms around the kids of King Street to remind them that they are safe and loved.
Thank you for being part of our community. I hope the news below will bring you light on this dark day.
