In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor - the latest victims in a long history of violence against Black people - we as the AHNA Board acknowledge the pain and grief felt in our community and the role we all play in working toward systemic change.
We know that long-term, sustained conversation and action are necessary. We've started that work as a Board by having an open dialogue about policing in our neighborhood and ways that we can actively seek to engage, empower, and uplift Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who live in Arbor Hills and surrounding communities.
Here are a few of the options we're actively exploring:
1) Making a financial contribution to a local organization that works to address issues that disproportionately affect BIPOC.
2) Seeking more diverse representation on the Board.
3) Encouraging renters in Arbor Hills to join the Association so their interests and voices are represented.
4) Using our events budget to support BIPOC-owned businesses.
5) Including more diverse faces and voices in our neighborhood newsletter.
6) Having a neighborhood-wide conversation about policing.
Our work isn't over with a single donation. We often remind you that your membership in this Association is important so we can add to our collective voice as we work with local officials on issues affecting our neighborhood. It's important that our voice represents all residents in Arbor Hills. If you have ideas about additional ways we can work towards that goal, please email Ashley Gibson at akgibson17@gmail.com. We're here to listen.