“Change does not roll in on the wheel of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Dear Members and Families of the Boston community,

All of us here at YES would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of George Floyd and to others who have experienced pain and injury through enduring oppression or from the inaction of others. We deeply condemn any acts of violence, particularly those senseless deeds perpetuated against African Americans and people of color.

MLK, Jr.’s above quote accurately depicts the constant struggle of those in our society who continue to be marginalized through systematic racism, exemplified today by the disproportionate health and unemployment effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the unrelenting prejudice, discrimination, and microaggressions against the Black community.

YES was born over 50 years ago and grounded in the values of racial, social, and economic justice. As role models for our youth, YES takes its position seriously in helping to create a more equitable and healthy community. Nothing short of a unified approach by all can move us forward.

We need to facilitate the conversations and action steps about eradicating racism and ensuring our youth grow up in a society where they are valued, not by their race, gender, or ethnicity, but instead through their ability to live with dignity, freedom, and respect of others. It’s not too late for us to make this happen!

As always, I welcome your thoughts and voices as we work towards building a better future for our young people.

Sincerely,

Bryan Van Dorpe
Executive Director