“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
– Leonard Cohen“Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin. We can illuminate our paths or darken our way. It is a matter of choice.”
– Maya Angelou
Dear friends –
I have been thinking about how lucky I am to have a job that is meaningful to me, working with the amazing and talented people at CPAH. Especially right now, as massive shifts in federal policy and funding begin to impact the work CPAH and our many partners are doing locally. As I write this, we are still waiting to learn about the impacts to an important funder and supporter of our work, the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development.
At a staff meeting earlier this month, staff expressed concern that CPAH might consider dialing back any of our efforts around promoting and supporting equity and inclusion. The answer, of course, is absolutely not. As a housing agency, it is vital that we recognize the powerfully harmful impacts of racial discrimination in people’s lives and in communities. CPAH will continue striving to be a welcoming place for all people to work and to be an excellent housing provider for all as well, including those in our community who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color, including residents who have traveled from far away and other countries.
Our own Department of Justice published on their website a Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiative. It is a great reminder that there is not any reason to stop doing what we have been doing. We are at an important moment in our history, a time to gather ourselves and do what we can, where we are.
Also, I want to encourage and invite you to attend our third Housing Forum, described below. It is a chance to learn more about strategies and solutions for housing older adults, while gathering with others who care about housing issues as well. And we are grateful to be having the conversation back at the Broadway Rose Theater.
Warmly,
Rachael Duke, Executive Director
