Statement from Community Bridges on Black Lives Matter #BLM and Racial Justice

At Community Bridges, we stand against the racism, social injustice and police brutality that are so clearly visible in our world today. In the last several weeks, we have seen frequent and significant racial tensions boil over. We have also seen a new push for reform that is demanding equality for black lives, and stands against anti-blackness and racism that have devalued humyn life for hundreds of years. As a result of such visual and horrific crimes against Black Americans at the hands of those who are supposed to be our peacekeepers, we are called to name and condemn these actions as contrary to our values of freedom, community and our commitment to serve. We also understand the tremendous pain and sadness that these incidents of systemic inequality and violence continue to perpetuate on the lives of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). These continued incidents of brutality of people such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor – or more recently, Sean Monterrosa – has caused stress, fear and anxiety during an already emotionally heightened time.

So we must seize this moment and actively work to change the systems that uphold and enable systemic racism in all its forms. As an organization, Community Bridges upholds true equity, and an important part of this work is to actively engage in the dismantling of white supremacy, and to continuously become better allies of justice. It is important for us to remember that there is no real start or end to these efforts, and that positive change comes from constant attention to these issues. We are experiencing a significant moment in our nation’s history and we must not let it pass without making significant and fundamental changes to how we all operate. We must ensure that moments like these are based on more than empty slogans. We must become catalysts to correct wrongs at all levels of society and seek justice for black lives, and as a result, all people. We must remove past approaches that have done more harm than good to ensure true liberation and freedom of racism – in all its forms – for ourselves and others.

Therefore, we affirm our commitment to support Black Lives Matter #BLM. We have deliberately waited to issue this statement because we wanted to give the space for communities directly affected to take the stage first before we amplified the message. As the largest social services nonprofit agency in Santa Cruz County we have a distinct responsibility to use our privilege by lending our platform, our voice and our support to this movement. By speaking up and sharing our voice through public affirmation, we signal that we choose the side of the oppressed over that of the oppressor. We will continue to let Black voices lead the way, but we will join them in the fight to abolish the current inequitable status quo plaguing our society.

Supporting the Black Lives Matter #BLM movement without translating this into actionable and meaningful changes to systems and processes within our own institutions will do little to create real change. Real change requires that we, at Community Bridges and within our community, actively work to remove all policies and systems that perpetuate white supremacy, gender inequality, bigotry and other expressions of systemic racism. We are also committed to eradicating anti-blackness and white supremacy from our own systems, as well as engaging in further introspection and analysis to change hundreds of years of learned and reinforced oppression.

Sincerely,

Raymon Cancino, Chief Executive Officer

The County of Santa Cruz is undertaking an effort to improve economic, racial, age, disability, gender, geographic and other forms of diversity within its commissions and committees.The County is hosting community workshops beginning next week to facilitate community conversations around County commissions and their purpose, including how and why to participate, the lack of representation and how this impacts the community, and the resources or support needed to ensure the diversity of our government reflects the diversity of our community.- Learn more about the County and County advisory bodies- Find out how and why you should participate- Let us know what resources or support are needed for participationJune 14, 6:00pmCapitola Branch Library2005 Wharf Road, CapitolaJune 21, 6:00pmZoom OnlyMeeting ID: 827 4502 8186Password: 128142June 16, 6:00pmWatsonville Center for the Arts375 Main St, WatsonvilleJune 22, 6:00pmSheriff's Community Service Center790 Green Valley Rd, WatsonvilleSpanish translation/interpretation, Light meal/snacks,Childcare at Watsonville locations and Gift cards for participants over 18 ... See MoreSee Less
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El condado de Santa Cruz está llevando a cabo un esfuerzo para mejorar la diversidad económica, racial, de edad, de discapacidad, de género, geográfica y otras formas de diversidad dentro de sus comisiones y comités.El Condado está organizando talleres comunitarios a partir de la próxima semana para facilitar las conversaciones de la comunidad en torno a las comisiones del Condado y su propósito, incluyendo cómo y por qué participar, la falta de representación y cómo esto afecta a la comunidad, y los recursos o el apoyo necesario para garantizar la diversidad de nuestro gobierno refleja la diversidad de nuestra comunidad.- Más información sobre el Condado y los órganos consultivos del Condado- Averigüe cómo y por qué debería participar- Háganos saber qué recursos o apoyo son necesarios para la participación14 de junio, 6:00pmBiblioteca Capitola Branch2005 Wharf Road, Capitola21 de junio, 6:00pmSólo ZoomReunión ID: 827 4502 8186Contraseña: 12814216 de junio, 6:00pmCentro de las Artes de Watsonville375 Main St, Watsonville22 de Junio, 6:00pmCentro de Servicios Comunitarios del Sheriff790 Green Valley Rd, WatsonvilleTraducción/interpretación en español, Comida ligera/meriendas,Cuidado de niños en Watsonville y tarjetas de regalo para participantes mayores de 18 años. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks to the funds the Monterey County Supervisors recently approved, more economic assistance is now available for families and individuals in Monterey County impacted by the winter and spring storms!You may qualify for a grant between $450-750 if you: • Have a monthly income between 0-200% of the Federal Poverty Limit • Were affected by the cumulative effects of recent disastrous weather events• Live in Monterey County Residents whose homes have been identified as Red and Orange tagged via the Monterey County's CalFire Assessment Map and those who are ineligible for FEMA and previous funding assistance will be prioritized.You do not need to apply for this grant if Community Bridges or Catholic Charities have already assessed or helped you receive economic assistance. We are actively reaching out to people already in our system and those who did not previously qualify for funds.If you have not applied for or received assistance through Community Bridges or Catholic Charities, please call us.Catholic Charities: (831) 316-9122• Serving: Residents of Salinas and South Monterey County; Chualar, Gonzalez, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, San Lucas, San Ardo, etc.Community Bridges: (831) 724-2997• Serving: Residents of the Monterey Peninsula & North Monterey County: Pajaro, Royal Oaks, Las Lomas, etc.For more information about this program, visit bit.ly/45QqSIUFor a list of all assistance available to families who the recent storms have impacted, visit communitybridges.org/emergency ... See MoreSee Less
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¡Gracias a los fondos que los supervisores del condado de Monterey aprobaron recientemente, ahora hay más asistencia económica disponible para familias e individuos en el condado de Monterey afectados por las tormentas de invierno y primavera!Puede calificar para una ayuda entre $450-750 si:• Tiene un ingreso mensual entre 0-200% del Límite Federal de Pobreza• Se fueron afectados por los efectos acumulativos de recientes eventos climáticos desastrosos• Viven en el condado de MontereySe dará prioridad a los residentes cuyas casas hayan sido identificadas como rojas y naranjas a través del Mapa de evaluación de CalFire del condado de Monterey y aquellos que no sean elegibles para FEMA y asistencia financiera anterior.No es necesario que solicite esta ayuda si Puentes De La Comunidad (a través de La Manzana) o Caridades Católicas ya lo evaluaron o lo ayudaron a recibir asistencia económica. Nos estamos acercando activamente a las personas que ya están en nuestro sistema y a aquellas que no calificaron previamente para recibir fondos.Si no ha solicitado o recibido asistencia a través de Puentes De La Comunidad o Caridades Católicas, llámenos.Caridades Católicas: (831) 316-9122• Sirviendo: Residentes de Salinas y el Sur del Condado de Monterey; Chualar, González, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, San Lucas, San Ardo, etc.Puentes De La Comunidad: (831) 724-2997• Sirviendo: Residentes de la península de Monterey y el norte del condado de Monterey: Pájaro, Royal Oaks, Las Lomas, etc.Para obtener más información sobre este programa, visite bit.ly/45QqSIUPara obtener una lista de toda la asistencia disponible para las familias afectadas por las recientes tormentas, visite communitybridges.org/emergency ... See MoreSee Less
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