We Believe in Racial Justice

We Believe in Racial Justice.

Clark College Foundation believes Black Lives Matter. We deplore the killing of African American men and women, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and many, many others.

We stand together with Clark College against racism. Clark’s Board of Trustees has publicly spoken out against hate and all forms of violence and racial inequities. The foundation, which is a separate nonprofit organization and is part of the Clark community, will work alongside the college to disassemble systems of privilege and racism embedded in higher education. We pledge to do the same work within philanthropy.

What We Pledge to our Employees and Boards

Clark College Foundation pledges to continue to offer our employees access to training and resources on diversity, equity and inclusion so that they can develop and broaden their understanding of systemic racism.

We will continue to recruit and hire people of color and other non-dominant individuals for our volunteer boards and staff. The makeup of Clark College Foundation’s volunteer boards and staff should embody the community it represents—Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties. Clark County’s non-dominant population is 21% (2018) and Klickitat is 16% (2020) and Skamania is 7% (2010). The Alumni Board should reflect the student body at Clark, which currently consists of 32% students of color.

What We Pledge to Students, the College, our Community

Clark College Foundation pledges to support Clark’s black students and employees. We will continue to support all students of color, our indigenous population and other non-dominant students in their pursuit of higher education. We commit to building financial support through Promising Pathways: The Campaign for Clark College. We will raise funds to enhance programs, cultural awareness activities, scholarships and the services embedded in Clark’s Guided Pathways initiative.

We are listening carefully to the diverse voices at the college, including Evans Kaame, current Associated Students of Clark College president (student government). Evans wants voices to be heard to help “unpack the long history of injustices that minorities have been experiencing.” We encourage you to read his eloquent essay.

There is no place in our community for systemic racism, social injustice and hate. We stand with the college and our community in solidarity and will work for a better, more just society for tomorrow.

Respectfully,
Lisa Gibert, CEO
Eric Merrill, Board Chair