When you’re starting a small business, there’s a lot to learn. What you don’t know can hurt you, so from manufacturing costs to marketing strategy to tax law, you spend a lot of time educating yourself and striving to build the best company you can.
Over the last few weeks, it’s become clear that we — as a country, as communities, as a company — need to bring that same energy to learning how to be more aware, more compassionate, and better advocates for racial justice.
As a company and a family, we stand with our Black friends and neighbors. One of the ways we are showing our support is by making financial contributions to some of the many organizations working for racial justice. We’ve made donations to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, which hosts programs for Black and brown youth all over the country with the mission of ending structural racism, as well as The Loveland Foundation’s therapy fund, which provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy.
As a white mother, I know I have another important role to play in racial justice: I have to raise children who aren’t just open-minded, but actively anti-racist. This is a lifelong process that starts at home.
No matter how young your children are, they’re old enough to start having conversations about race and racism. If you’re not sure how to get started, don’t worry — neither was I! One of the good things that has come out of the rise in awareness over the past few weeks is that many wonderful resources are being widely shared. Here are just a few that I’ve found helpful:
- Embrace Race is a website that shares tips on teaching and talking to kids about race, including Be Active, Be Honest and Be Mindful. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- The “Standing Up To Racism” CNN town hall from Sesame Street and the "Why Do People Look Different?" episode of Storybots are good conversation starters featuring familiar characters.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- “Let's Talk About Race” is a beautifully illustrated, and simply told story.
It shouldn’t have to be said, but we are proud to say it: Black Lives Matter. We know that we have a lot to learn (and unlearn) — and we owe it to the little people we are raising to do everything in our power to leave the world better than we found it.
— Liza Savary
Founder
