The Fund for Lake Michigan stands in solidarity with those calling for racial justice, government accountability and an end to violence against our own citizens.
The horrifying and senseless killing of George Floyd, coupled with other recent incidents of brutality toward African Americans, has laid bare the systemic and pervasive racism that plagues our nation. At the Fund for Lake Michigan, we know these injustices also extend to the natural and built environment.
Across the country and here in Wisconsin, communities of color are disproportionately exposed to air and water pollution, flooding and unsafe drinking water. As a result, people of color experience higher rates of asthma, lead poisoning and other serious health concerns. These underlying conditions are one reason the COVID-19 pandemic has had such a devastating impact on black and brown lives.
For these reasons, we believe that racial justice and environmental justice go hand-in-hand. We will not succeed in our efforts at achieving equality unless we tackle both issues as one. Advancing our water quality mission also means promoting environmental, economic, and social justice. Partnerships with communities of color and work with organizations led by them are what drive many of our most meaningful projects.
To the underserved, we promise to lift your voices and embrace your efforts. We promise to check bias on a regular basis and listen intently with an open heart. We promise to have zero tolerance for violence in any form. And most importantly, we promise to do more to address the injustices of the past and help guide a new path forward.