To our community:
We see you.
We see you for all that you are—strong, resilient, loving parents and children—and for all of your abundant potential.
As a mother, I know that when our children go out into the world, we want others to see them as we do: beautiful, bright, and full of promise.
And I also recognize the realities of systemic racism. Not everyone’s children are seen as mine are. Deep-seated bias—expressed in conscious and unconscious ways—carries real consequences, and children of color are criminalized early and all too often. Recent studies show that Black students in K-12 schools are more likely to be disciplined by school authorities and law enforcement than their peers of other races, even when engaged in identical or similar behaviors.
This, of course, leads to the cycle of racial inequity played out in a justice system that more often protects the privileged. It is difficult to imagine raising children in such an environment, but to do so is a courageous display of hope. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
… there will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. But difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future… Let us realize that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
Our audacious faith in the future is expressed through our love of children, our commitment to see their abundant potential, and determination to see them achieve their dreams.
At Children’s Institute, we will continue to empower our community with resources that allow them to achieve emotional wellness, educational success and economic mobility. And we are here to help them navigate personal and collective trauma.
If you or your children need support during this difficult time, we’re here for you.
When you are ready, contact us.
With my warmest regards,
Martine Singer
President & CEO
Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett
Suzanne Rheinstein