June 2, 2020 – Revised April 26, 2021
The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids’ (YNPN-GR) mission is to empower emerging professionals to thrive, grow, and build community within the nonprofit sector.
Yet the recent events in Grand Rapids, and across the country, remind us that we cannot thrive beneath boots. We cannot grow when we cannot breathe. And we cannot build community in a system riddled with inequities.
We are not only saddened by the realities presented by systemic racism, we are called to action. YNPN.GR supports the Black Lives Matter Movement and is committed to using our collective voice, resources, and influence to create equitable change in our community.
We recognize the path towards systems change and an equitable future is long and complex. It will take time, we will make mistakes, but we are committed to anti-racism work. In the words of Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, “This is a marathon that no one wants to run,” yet it must be run and we ask you to run with us.
Please join us in taking these first steps toward correcting the wrongs our society and sector has allowed for decades:
Donate unrestricted funds to an organization or fund that is on the front lines of equity
Familiarize yourself and your organization with anti-racism resources
Engage your government officials at every level
- Tell them about the NAACP’s We Are Done Dying campaign
- Pay attention to Ending Qualified Immunity
VOTE
- Help hold philanthropy accountable; less than 7% of foundation giving went to nonprofits led by people of color in 2018
- Sign this petition asking Congress to enact legislation requiring foundations’ minimum payout to be doubled to 10% for the next three years