April 21, 2021
Dear Community,
Yesterday’s verdict was only a stepping stone in a long journey towards justice, but a step no less. We are grateful that Derek Chauvin was held accountable, but true justice would mean that George Floyd and so many others would be with us today.
The majority of youth Avenues partners with are young people of color. They’re 16-24 years old and have their entire life in front of them. They’re learning who they are and uncovering dreams and aspirations for their future. But because they’re youth of color, their dreams are so much harder to reach. And every day we worry that some, like Daunte Wright, will never have the opportunity of a future because of police violence.
Violence against Black people must stop. We must not only hold police accountable, but systems and institutions that perpetuate racism. This includes Avenues and all nonprofits, and our housing, fostercare, healthcare, criminal justice, and educational systems. That’s a big list, which is why the entire community needs to commit to ending systemic racism.
Avenues' mission is to partner with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. Until our community is truly just for all young people, that mission cannot be realized. We must continually ask ourselves, how will we make this world more just for our young people?
Sincerely,
Avenues for Youth
