June 12, 2020

(originally posted June 12, 2020 by Amanda Prasuhn)

We believe children should play, run, and grow in a safe community.

We believe our Oakland streets should be full of children's laughter and joy.

We believe our children should always know love, dignity, and respect.

We believe that diversity should be celebrated.

We believe that BLACK LIVES MATTER.

We're saddened that our children still experience a world of racial injustice. With the support of our passionate volunteers, we are proud to promote a healthy and vibrant community by mentoring Oakland students through running and supporting their continued education after graduation. However, we acknowledge that Running for a Better Oakland has work to do to ensure that our beloved organization is also free of racial inequities. We can and will do better.

In our commitment to dismantling racism and cultivating a thriving and inclusive community, we've outlined the following initial actions as an anti-racist organization:

1. Ensuring that RBO's leadership reflects the diversity of Oakland and uplifts the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

2. Implementing the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all areas of our program and practices.

3. Assembling a subcommittee devoted to reviewing our DEI development, identifying measures for advancing anti-racism, and holding RBO accountable to these commitments.

4. Amplifying the voices of BIPOC. We sincerely invite your feedback. Please reach out to us here: board@rboakland.com.

This is only a start.

To our Black community: We see you, we hear you, and we are with you. We must do better, and we will.

To our students: We look forward to seeing all of you again soon, to high fives and high energy, and to running many more miles together.

LET'S GO RBO!

THIS COLLAGE FEATURES PHOTOS OF LOCAL MURALS TAKEN BY BOARD MEMBERS ANDRIA AND REBECCA.