This week I shared a few of my thoughts on current events internally and was encouraged to share externally as well...
The events of the past week have been a painful reminder of the depth of the inequality that still exists in our society. I am deeply saddened by the senseless killing of George Floyd and outraged by the many other examples of social injustice that we continue to see across our country. And like many of you, I have cycled through a range of emotions over the past week, including feeling anger, sorrow, fear and frustration.
First, it would be wrong not to speak out against the events that have occurred across our country in the past week. The killing of George Floyd and the riots across our country should be a call to all of us to stand and publicly express what we believe. Any form of racism, suppression or lack of accepting people for who they are is wrong. Communities of color in our country continue to endure discrimination, violence and inequality and too many of our institutional systems reinforce it. As a society we need to stare down this painful reality before we can really work together to systemically change and be better.
While nobody has all the answers to how we end racism and injustice in our society, we must start by acknowledging its pervasiveness and stand in unity together for justice and reform, not division and inequality. One of the reasons I signed the CEO Action Pledge for Diversity & Inclusion last year is that I wanted to codify my own personal commitment to the advancement of diversity and inclusion at Armanino. And I am thankful that the IDEAL Team is helping create an environment in which every member of the Armanino team feels respected and valued for their uniqueness and experiences.
But there is much more work to be done. The IDEAL Team is working on ways to continue the dialogue around racism and current events. I encourage all of you to make a personal commitment to do more to combat racism in our society; if you don't know where to begin, take a look at this helpful guide from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture. I am also pleased to announce that the Armanino Foundation will make $20,000 in grants to organizations that are helping to end racism and social injustice in our country. It's more important than ever that we support the important missions of these organizations and I thank the Armanino Foundation for its financial support.
In times like these, we must also tap into our humanity. Reach out to one another, check in and remember that one of the best things we can do for someone is to simply listen. We also have resources through our Employee Assistance Program that can help support our employees and partners who are struggling with all the turmoil that surrounds us today.
Finally, this is a moment to remember that we can have a positive impact on our communities if we come together and take action to make the world a more inclusive place for everyone. As I said, while we may not have all the answers, we know the path forward requires us to have compassionate and courageous conversations with one another in an open and honest manner. As individuals and as a firm, we must stand together for change. And, we must commit ourselves to doing our part to make our world a better, fairer and more just place for all people.
Matt
