“We stand against violence and racism and for equity and justice. We embrace a culture of respect for all.”

A letter from our President & CEO | June 2, 2020

I am writing to you today hoping you are safe and well, yet knowing that most are experiencing pain and heartbreak as together we witness the outpouring of emotion that has been caused by yet another tragic death of an African American community member. The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and far too many others reinforce the cruel reality that an entire segment of our population remains vulnerable to prejudice, violence, and racism. Amidst the uncertainties in the country today, one thing is eminently clear: change is overdue. To change, we must do things differently. We must listen differently. We must understand differently. We must act differently. Now is the time to come together.

We stand in solidarity with those who are suffering and are grateful for the leadership of our local groups like Juneteenth Santa Barbara and CAUSE, who have been a resource to the Santa Barbara community as we seek to bring greater understanding, compassion and empathy about how systems of oppression are affecting Black and Brown people.

As the Santa Barbara Foundation works to build empathetic, inclusive and resilient communities, we know our work begins with protecting the dignity of every individual. We stand against violence and racism and for equity and justice. We embrace a culture of respect for all and we urge you to join us.

Jackie M. Carrera, President & CEO, Santa Barbara Foundation