STS Family,
I must confess that my heart has been heavy over the past several weeks after seeing the images and news stories regarding the violent, unnecessary deaths of Black Americans. As a wife and mother of three, it has taken me time to process the grief, despair, and fear due to the ongoing and tragic consequences of racism. However, I remain hopeful that the peaceful protests for racial justice by people of every age, race, religion, and status will result in action and change. Actions that move us towards unity of purpose in ending systemic racism and honoring the ideal of liberty and justice for all. While my faith is strong, we know that faith without works is dead.
For years STS has encouraged DMO leaders to take a seat at the table and actively engage in community and economic development efforts. Several weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of your leadership in helping our communities recover from the pandemic. Now, I must urge your leadership in another area. It is time for us all to take both leadership and action in advocating for changes to address systemic racism within the communities we serve. This action will not be easy nor comfortable, but we are experienced in addressing the difficult things to develop and promote tourism for the betterment of our communities.
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