Black Lives Matter

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

–Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear Friends,

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas seeks to bring people together, to value each person, and to see differences as strengths that make each of us unique. This goes hand in hand with our mission to ignite the power and promise of all youth.

Consequently, it is impossible to stand by when appalling acts threaten this mission. We must respond to the injustice that is taking place within our Black community.

We believe Black lives matter, and we strongly stand against acts of murder and injustice. Our mission calls us to purposefully defend the potential of all people. As such, Big Brothers Big Sisters will continue to promote love, connection, understanding and the value and dignity of every single person.

During these difficult times, we will encourage people to turn toward each other and to promote community, understanding, and support for one another. To this end we remind people it is important to show up, to speak up, and to acknowledge the pain, injustice, fear, frustration, and fatigue that is being felt by so many in our community.

As CEO of this agency, I am committed to fighting racial injustice and to being an ally for our community as BBBS strives to serve a mostly brown and black population of individuals who are often marginalized and mistreated.

On a personal level, I promise to strive to educate myself more about systemic racism, to ask when I don’t know, to sit openly with someone else’s experience, to keep showing up and caring – mistakes and all, and above all, to lead with empathy.

Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks to build bridges of understanding. It is the only way to bring about peaceful, systemic change. We know that we are #BetterTogether.

The challenges we face cannot be solved alone. We need each other now, more than ever. The mistreatment of black, brown and other marginalized groups that has been taking place in our communities, and the COVID pandemic, invite us to think deeply about who we are, what we value, and the kind of world we want to create.

Now is the time to take a stand for what we believe in, and for one another.

Best wishes,

Brent Fields, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas