T
his is Not the Time for Silence
By Fred Blackwell, CEO, The San Francisco Foundation; NCG Board Member
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” This past weekend the nation witnessed white supremacists fueled by incredible hate and violence descend upon Charlottesville, Virginia. We witnessed the death of Heather Heyer, a young woman driven by her conscience to join in a peaceful protest to denounce hate. We learned of two Virginia State Police troopers who died in a helicopter crash while assisting with public safety during the violent protests by white nationalists in Charlottesville.
I cannot be silent. As a descendant of a long line of community advocates and organizers, I was exposed to the concepts of social and economic justice at a very young age. Read More >
Message Regarding Charlottesville
By the Heising-Simons Foundation
We are saddened, angered, and horrified by what transpired in Charlottesville this week, as we know all of you are, too. Hatred has no place in our society. The intimidation and violence that always accompany hatred have no place in our society. White nationalists and neo-Nazi groups, who embody hatred, have no place in our society. None of us can be silent, or we risk silence being interpreted as acquiescence.
We at the Foundation are moved by so many good people and organizations standing up to oppose hatred and to preserve the democracy that we hold dear. Read More >
NoHateSF Fund
By Roger Doughty, President, Horizons Foundation; NCG Board Member
Horizons Foundation is honored to be home to the NoHateSF Fund, and proud to work with Cleve Jones, who has been the spark for so much in our community. As the LGBTQ community foundation for the Bay Area – and an organization dedicating to building a world in which all people live with pride, dignity, justice and joy – we are, of course, horrified that this show of hatred is coming to our doorsteps in San Francisco, in Berkeley, and perhaps others Bay Area communities. By donating to this fund, you add your voice in proclaiming that there is no room for hate here. And your gift will benefit critical organizations doing vital work in some of the communities most impacted by discrimination, violence, and exclusion.
Thank you for say “no” to hate, and helping us all – together – to respond to hate with real San Francisco and Bay Area values: inclusion, courage, justice, and love. Learn More >
Sobrato Family Foundation Message
By the Sobrato Family Foundation
T
o Our Community,
The acts over the past weeks have forced difficult reflections locally, across the country, and around the world. We are forced to reckon with the history of our nation, our individual roles in learning from our past, and collectively ensuring that it remains something we grow from as a society.
Sadly, we appear to be going through a period where we are not thinking about each other. We are often too fearful and suspicious to think about our collective community and as a result fall back to a focus on our own self-interest. Read More >