Longview Statement on the Black Lives Matter Movement
We were founded in the late sixties on the premise that peace derives from a global sharing of respect and rights. It was a time of turbulent racial unrest in the United States, as well as global turmoil amidst the Cold War. The courageous movements of that time helped to dismantle centuries-old institutional barriers, but the work of building an equitable world and eradicating racism remains unfinished. The tragic and senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others before them lay bare how much work is left to be done to advance racial justice and build lasting peace. New walls have sprung up that impede equal justice for all.
We believe the starting place for changing attitudes is with children. For this reason, Longview and our grantees focus on opening the minds of America’s youth through education. We have witnessed the difference that equitable educational environments make to students’ self-perception and ability to see beyond their immediate surroundings, understanding they are - equally - integral to a thriving global community.
We take racial injustice and inequality seriously. We believe in idealism balanced with practicality. We are committed to:
- fostering diverse perspectives;
- valuing our differences and similarities, and remaining vigilant in advancing equity;
- continuous learning;
- humbly partnering with others to achieve our mission and vision; and
- seeking bold and lasting change grounded in the best available evidence.
As a board of trustees, we will endeavor to cultivate and fund global understanding opportunities for ALL students, that are grounded in proven teaching methodologies that value diversity of thought and identity. We will also continue our work with the Education Funders Strategy Group and #ED2020 to elevate these issues.
We will listen, we will learn, and we will support efforts to build a brighter future that means no child should have their destiny determined by the color of their skin or their zip code.