Dear Mandela Community:
Mandela Partners was born in Oakland in response to a need for acknowledgment and resourcing of community-based solutions to address health and wealth inequities. Intrinsic in that work, was first acknowledging the basis for these inequities: systemic racism.
For generations, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities throughout the United States have been forced to battle against redlining and economic disinvestment, negative health impacts from a lack of access to healthy food and toxic built environments, and compounding barriers to opportunities that build intergenerational wealth.
COVID-19 further exacerbated this long-standing reality -- these same communities are most at risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, have been the most economically impacted by COVID-19, and are dealing with higher levels of food insecurity as a result of COVID-19.
To not acknowledge the importance of race and racism in our work, is to not understand it.
Now, as we rally against the continued violence inflicted on black people and black communities, we not only stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, but want to reaffirm our commitment to our community. For Mandela Partners that means:
Unapologetically working to support food access and economic opportunity in and with historically marginalized communities
Doubling down on our work to increase access to fresh produce and healthy food options
Uplifting and supporting black-owned businesses
Ensuring that our Board of Directors and the Mandela team is representative, informed, and led by the communities we serve
Though the work to eradicate white supremacy feels at times insurmountable, we cannot forget that the power and brilliance of Black people is limitless. We ask that you consider supporting black-led community organizations on the frontline of this work and black-owned restaurants, black-owned bookstores, and any other black-owned businesses that are the economic fabric of our neighborhoods.
To our community members who have been on the frontlines fighting for racial justice, we see you. We hear you. We stand with you.
In solidarity,
The Mandela Partners' Team
If you're interested in learning more, please check out Anti-Racism & Healing Resources shared by our team.
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