This week we grieve Roberta Drury, Margus D. Morrison, Andre Mackneil, Aaron Salter, Geraldine Talley, Celestine Chaney, Heyward Patterson, Katherine Massey, Pearl Young, and Ruth Whitfield – whose lives were cruelly and senselessly taken in an act of terrorism by a racist, white supremacist shooter, whose hate-filled beliefs we condemn in the strongest terms.
We also grieve Dr. John Cheng who died at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, attempting to stop another horrendous shooting that took his life and critically injured 5 just one day after the gunman opened fire at the supermarket in Buffalo.
I simply have no words to express my sense of horror and sadness at these attacks on innocent Black and Asian lives and I am keeping the victims and their loved ones in my thoughts and prayers, as well as those wounded emotionally by these terrible attacks.
To our Black, African American, and Asian American community members, I am so sorry for the pain you must endure due to this continued hate-filled violence. I am holding you close.
We have provided all Jumpstart staff with access to counseling and mental well-being resources as well as the ability to take additional sick leave to focus on their wellness.
Please take care of yourselves.
With a heavy heart,
Naila Bolus
Chief Executive Officer, Jumpstart for Young Children
ABOUT JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Jumpstart for Young Children is a national organization based in Boston advancing equitable early learning outcomes for young children in underserved communities through direct service programming and policy advocacy. Jumpstart’s proven evidence-based curriculum serves thousands of children across 15 states and Washington, D.C., and has trained over 60,000 college students and community volunteers to deliver high-quality early childhood education programming. Learn more at jstart.org and follow us on Twitter at @Jumpstartkids.
