Anti-Racism Position

Serve & Connect is committed to bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve. We believe the bridges we are building must be supported by certain pillars. Of these pillars, committing to diversity, equity and inclusion is critical to the effectiveness of fulfilling our mission. However, for Serve & Connect to fully embrace our responsibility to this commitment, we must first acknowledge the deep pain and suffering that centuries of systemic racism have caused.

Racism has negatively impacted people of color in socioeconomic, psychological, and emotional ways that are not easily quantified. Racism has negatively impacted us all. Until it is removed from our society, we will never truly live out and fulfill the lofty ideals and principles upon which our country was founded. We can no longer idly standby and allow racism, in all of its insidious forms and manifestations, to continue to plague our country and stifle the hopes, dreams and well-being of millions of our citizens.

It has become more evident to us than ever, as an organization and individually, that being non-racist is not good enough. To be non-racist is to essentially do nothing in the face of racial injustice. We know better, we seek better and we will do better. Therefore, we commit ourselves to being anti-racist within our organization’s framework to eliminate racial injustice and systemic racism.

We acknowledge that we all have implicit biases that can manifest in a myriad of ways. However, we must also work to identify our biases and not allow them to impede us from exploring purposeful and empathetic ways to dismantle systemic racism within our spheres of influence and beyond. We will listen, learn, empathize, engage, and act in a manner that embraces diversity and fosters equitable and inclusive environments, regardless of artificial labels that are irrelevant to the content of a person’s character.

Our vision is to create safe and thriving communities where everyone is valued, respected and can exercise their unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We believe these unalienable rights should never be restricted or infringed upon based on a person’s race. We believe we can help make a difference by doing our part.

Together, we are better.