For nearly two weeks, citizens of the United States have been raising their collective voices over recent events that have created awareness of systemic discrimination related to the black community and the injustice that results from that discrimination.
For nearly two weeks, we have seen statements from industry leaders, educational institutions, non-profits, artists, teachers, and individuals.
For nearly two weeks, members of the PAS Board of Directors and leaders from the PAS Diversity Alliance have been in constant communication about what we can and should be doing in our community.
We do not have all the answers right now. However, we are grateful that the Diversity Alliance was established nearly four years ago, which allows us to have these challenging conversations almost immediately.
Together, we have crafted a new statement to show our commitment:
-
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
-
We are committed to keeping you informed of the work that PAS is doing and encourage you to follow the Diversity Alliance on Facebook and Instagram.
-
We vow to listen more, educate further, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. #BlackLivesMatter
As a result of the new statement:
-
PAS will join with other arts and educational organizations to address systemic racism by the end of 2020
-
PAS will join with other community organizations through our chapter network to address systemic racism in communities throughout the United States
-
PAS will join with industry partners to address systemic racism in the music industry and percussive arts.
-
PAS will join with educational institutions to address systemic racism in public and private education.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher Hanning Dr. Elizabeth DeLamater
Board President, PAS Chair, PAS Diversity Alliance
Teddy Hall, Jr. Joshua Simonds
Point Person, Black Community Executive Director, PAS
PAS Diversity Alliance