The past week (first week of June 2020) has been filled with intense and mixed emotions. While continuing to manage the impact of COVID-19, our country, and in fact, our world, has been overcome with the profound acceptance of its historic racism and its complete failure to achieve equity for all. The disparities are stark and exist in every aspect of society, from income to education, from healthcare to basic safety. The pain is real, and the trauma is lasting. As Jewish human service providers, the member agencies of NJHSA are humbled by the many roles they play in helping communities to thrive. Yet, the anguish and suffering that accompany historic racism present permanent roadblocks to those efforts.
Building off our recent 2020 Virtual Plenary Session (Brave, Bold Steps in Addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Age of COVID-19), NJHSA has begun thoughtful dialogue with member agencies to find meaningful ways to help advance responses to the challenges of racism. This work is essential and needs our collective input to be effective. If you would like to participate in a planning process that can help agencies toward action, please connect with Reuben Rotman. If you have resources to share on the topics of race relations, diversity, equity and related topics, please email Megan Manelli. A new folder has been established within the NJHSA Virtual Resource Library so we can learn from each other. NJHSA is committed to working together with its member agencies to do more to combat racism, to learn more about the impact of white privilege and to address racial injustice. Thank you for joining in these lifesaving efforts.
Judy Halper, Chair, NJHSA Board of Directors & Reuben D. Rotman, President & CEO
