We at the BCC are taking a moment in solidarity and will be pausing our usual content. The mission of the BCC is to mobilize the local community and partners to care for the environments we impact as climbers, and enrich the outdoor experience for all. There are real injustices happening to the Black community due to generations of oppression, and we feel that taking up space with anything unrelated will only further shelter us from this issue. The only posts you may see from us this week will be elevating Black voices and causes in our community and country.
Additionally, The staff and the board has donated $1200 dollars from our staff and board’s own personal checking accounts to contribute to a Black-owned climbing organization that provides programming for BIPOC youth. We have also donated another $400 to other national advocacy groups. To be clear, we are a nonprofit ourselves, and will be donating from our own personal funds. Charitable giving is a part of the core values of our board and staff and we have come together to support our community through tragedy before - This is no different. We encourage you all to do the same for organizations supporting similar work in our community. If you're wondering what else you can do to support, check out this link for ways to become informed, engaged, and to take action on a national level. https://www.obama.org/anguish-and-action/.
The work doesn't end here.
We are not where we want to be when it comes to dismantling systems of oppression. We have taken some small steps, but, when it comes to anti-racism there is always more to learn and incorporate into our daily thoughts and actions. In early May, our Executive Director held a "Diversity and Womxn of the BCC" meeting with the Board of Directors to discuss how we can build a bigger table to welcome more people into the community. We'll continue to assess structural changes so Black and Brown voices can thrive in our organization and community. The climbing community can do better. WE can do better. Black lives matter and Black futures matter.
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