In response to the police brutality and racism that caused the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless other African Americans and people of color, ACEs Connection supports the worldwide protests demanding racial justice. Integrating practices and policies based on the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) — being trauma-informed — requires us to be racially just.
Our organization's vision is a world where all people thrive. Our goal is to prevent ACEs, heal trauma and build resilient communities. To heal from the abuses of the past and the present, implementing ACEs science requires individuals, families, communities and systems to address historical trauma and eradicate racism.
This work is personal, professional, and must be done by all organizations, including our own. We have made a start with developing an equity statement last year, below; doing staff training; developing a diversity, equity and inclusion tool for ACEs initiatives; and making sure that ACEs Connection gives continuous attention to the issues, the voices and the images of black and brown people. However, we acknowledge that the work of carrying out anti-racist practices and policies for our team and for ACEs Connection is ongoing, messy and overdue.
Therefore, we are committed to live and lead in anti-racist ways that promote our work of preventing adversity, healing trauma and creating resilience. This includes replacing policies and practices based on blame, shame and punishment with those based on understanding, nurturing and healing.
Equity Statement
ACEs Connection is an anti-racist organization committed to the pursuit of social justice. In our work to promote resilience and prevent and mitigate ACEs, we will intentionally embrace and uplift people who have historically not had a seat at the table. ACEs Connection will celebrate the voices and tell the stories of people who have been barred from decision-making and who have shouldered the burden of systemic and economic oppression as the result of genocide, slavery, family separation, forced relocation, mass incarceration, red lining and all other practices, policies and institutions that have traumatized marginalized groups. These groups include people of color, people living with mental health and substance use challenges, people living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQI community.
To learn more about racial trauma and how you can become a change agent, check out the following resources:
- Black Lives Matter: Resources
- Embrace Race Resources
- 10 things White People Can Do to Work Towards Racial Justice
- Resmaa Menakem
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathways to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies book, a Free Racialized Trauma Course and, OnBeing podcast, Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence - For Police Violence and Anti-Racism in America, from the Vital Village Resource Connection: Obama Foundation, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, Embrace Race and National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Prevention Institute: https://www.preventioninstitut...e-black-lives-matter
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