A Message from our CEO

No matter your ethnicity, it’s never too early to begin the conversation about race and social justice with your children.  I encourage you to explore the resources in this article on our Online Help Center about how to talk to your kids about race, identity and social justice.

“It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us.” – Michelle Obama

Dear friends,

Our country, our state, our city, and our communities are hurting, because of a group of people who have shown a blatant lack of appreciation for the lives of our fellow Black Americans. 

On behalf of the Children’s Council of San Francisco staff and board of directors, we send our heartfelt condolences to the Floyd family, and to the countless families who have had to bury loved ones due to this type of inexcusable racial violence. 

This latest tragic event comes on top of so many dismaying trends, from families and children in cages to the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of us are experiencing feelings of hopelessness, fear, outrage and frustration. What will it take, today, to ensure a better tomorrow? What kind of world will we leave behind for our children? 

The toxic violence in our country hits home for me in a very personal way. As a Black woman with Black sons in America, I can never be free from the worry that my children could, at any moment, be profiled, harassed or wrongfully arrested by the very authorities charged with protecting and serving us. With the ubiquity of cell phone videos, more people across all racial lines are waking up to this persistent reality. Why does living in America come with this daily cloud of injustice over us? 

At Children’s Council, we are on the front lines with families and early educators every day, helping them work through economic struggles and issues of disparity. The resources and subsidies we provide are invaluable, but they are only one component of the support system they need in this turbulent climate. 

We have so much more that unites us than separates us, and we need to build on those similarities – to be the change that we want to see in this country. The fight for justice must continue. 

We know that change happens at the ballot box and through the actions of people like you. But the message needs to be conveyed from every audible voice: the patterns of hatred and violence that we have witnessed are not compatible with a democratic, equal, and just society. 

At Children’s Council of San Francisco, now more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment to stand with those who fight for justice, equality and peace.

In solidarity, 
Gina M. Fromer
C.E.O., Children’s Council of San Francisco