Please read this important message from Mike Sutton, President & CEO.
As our country continues to mourn the murder of George Floyd and so many others, I believe the unjust and inhumane treatment of black people must end now. Our affiliate strongly denounces injustice and discrimination of any kind, and we stand in solidarity with our black and brown co-workers, homeowners, and volunteers.
We have all been exposed to the news as protests have ensued in communities throughout the country. George Floyd was held to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer’s knee for close to 9 minutes, killing him. The sadness, anger, and uncertainty have rocked our country since.
As Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathon Reckford stated, “These protests aren’t just about the killing of George Floyd. They’re about Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot dead while jogging in his own neighborhood in Georgia. They’re about Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Rodney King and Emmett Till. They are about Klan members in the 1960s burning down Clarence Jordan’s vegetable stand and firing guns into homes of families at Koinonia Farm outside Americus, Georgia.” The protests are about decades and centuries of individual and systemic racism that precede and infuse the founding and life of our nation.
When we refer to the Theology of the Hammer, we know that Habitat can change perspectives and change lives. We know that Habitat is a catalyst to bring people of all backgrounds together for good. Regardless of wealth, rank or honor, Habitat provides a life-changing perspective.
Our mission statement states that by seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, community and hope. We can continue to be an outlet of hope for our community through the work each of us contributes to daily.
We will continue to find ways to use our work to make the world a better place.
Mike Sutton, President & CEO
