Goodwill's Response to Racism | Goodwill Indy
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Goodwill’s Response to Racism

Goodwill Recognizes Juneteenth
June 19, 2020

On this day, Juneteenth, and every day, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana stands with Black Americans and people of color who continue to demand racial equality in the United States. We celebrate June 19, 1865, as the day that the last enslaved African Americans secured their freedom, but we also recognize that there is still much work to be done before racial equity is achieved.

In honor of this day, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana commits to taking a number of actions to advance our knowledge as an organization around racial inequity, including:

  • Supporting any proposed legislation around the declaration of Juneteenth as a nationally-recognized holiday in the United States;
  • Hosting ongoing Town Hall Meetings for our employees to collaborate and discuss racial injustice and to problem solve how to best serve our communities;
  • Providing racial equity trainings to all Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana employees who interact with participants, students and clients;

Most importantly, we recognize the work is just beginning. Goodwill will play an active role in joining the global conversation to ensure equity for Black Americans and people of color. 

Together, we will invoke change to enhance the lives of everyone in our communities.

Goodwill Statement on Racism

The events of the past few weeks have, once again, brought to the forefront the mistreatment of African Americans and people of color in our country. For 90 years, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those who have been marginalized. Today we stand with peaceful protesters who seek to address the effects of systemic racism.

The racial divisiveness that persists in our city, state and our communities has no benefit to the greater good we all desire.

We will not sit idly by watching the unjust deaths of our brothers and sisters. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery.  Three people whose lives were taken well before their time. We have a responsibility to ensure their lives were not lost in vain.

The time to come together to help create positive change is now. It is time that we place our perceived differences aside and realize that we are much stronger together.

Part of moving forward is recognizing that the system is not fair and that it never has been for African Americans and people of color. Until we acknowledge this, we cannot make adjustments that allow collective progress towards the eradication of racism.

Goodwill will be a change agent. We look forward to working with others to help our communities heal and we will recommit ourselves to playing an active role in instituting programs, policies and hiring people that are focused on creating a community that creates equality for everyone.

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