Since 1992, ACE has been on New York City’s front lines helping individuals impacted by homelessness secure employment, achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency, and reunite with their families. Seventy-seven percent of the individuals who come to ACE are men and women of color.
Homelessness impacts black and brown individuals in this country disproportionately. African Americans make up only 13 percent of the general population, but more than 40 percent of the homeless population. This is an unjust systemic reality.
Racism is an epidemic that influences all spheres of society, including employment. People of color earn less in the workplace, see fewer opportunities for career advancement, and have less access to employment benefits.
Every day, we see the effects of these economic inequalities. We see the trauma that is inflicted on our black and brown neighbors by violence, racism, bias and oppressive institutions.
We are heartbroken and outraged by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many others. We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and realize we must do much more as anti-racist allies.
• We will focus on increasing our diversity in leadership by recruiting, retaining, and promoting people of color
• We will provide anti-racism and advocacy training to all programming, management and administrative staff
• We will create an advisory panel comprised of current and former ACE participants to better inform our programming, ensuring we are addressing racism from the perspective of those we serve
• We will develop specific programming addressing racial inequality
• We will examine our operations and our work space to ensure that ACE feels supportive to all races
• We will continue to discuss racism and anti-racism advocacy in all our communication platforms
There is no finish line as we take action against the ever-present realities of systemic racism. Please continue to engage with us as we listen, learn and act.
In solidarity,
