Dear Girl Scout families,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today. I want to speak to the recent events in our country that have impacted so many lives and continue to demonstrate deep-rooted racial injustices. I recognize that words alone may not be enough, but staying silent is not an option. Words matter. Action matters. As an ally, I don’t want to talk over the important voices of our community. I want to listen and learn and want us to do better.
I am proud to serve an organization which builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. At Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines, we believe in inclusivity and diversity and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all girls and families. In our organization, we stand firmly against racism in any form. We believe in being a sister to everyone. We must live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law and stand with our sisters and brothers any time when hatred and disrespect try to dominate.
The recent events that have happened with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others are extremely heartbreaking. Girls of all different backgrounds make up our Girl Scout family. As an organization which stands up for girls’ potential, we stand firmly against forces which harm girls’ potential. We oppose racism, and we stand with our staff, volunteers, girls, and families of the black community and with all of our members of color who disproportionately experience the insidious violence of racist, demeaning, and hateful comments, taunts, and acts.
I share with you what Girl Scouts stands for: A message from GSUSA CEO, Sylvia Acevedo.
“At Girl Scouts, we seek to instill in girls the fundamental values of respect for all, inclusivity, equity, and the belief that injustice anywhere is a slight to justice everywhere.
For more than 100 years, we have prepared girls to be leaders in our world, to speak up, speak out, and take action for fairness, equality, civility, and compassion for all people, and to arm them with the courage, confidence, and character they need to make our world a better place. Girl Scouts will always stand for justice, for respect, and for the inherent value and worth of each individual who makes up the beautiful and richly diverse tapestry of the United States.”
Inclusivity is a big part of the Girl Scout DNA. From the very moment founder Juliette Gordon Low first mentioned her plans to start Girl Scouts, it was set to be an organization not only for the girls of Savannah but also for “all of America, and all the world.” Racism and hate have no place here. Let’s all do better not just for our girls but for our country. I am confident that together Girl Scouts will continue to stand for justice and advocate for change.
For resources on how to discuss racism with your girls: Talking About Race
Please give each other grace and support.
Most sincerely,
Lisa M.K. Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts –
North Carolina Coastal Pines
.jpg.transform/cq5dam.web.1280.1280/img.jpg "fall-recruitment-web-rails")
