The American Canoe Association is committed to sharing the joys of paddlesports with all people. Our members are united by our love of all forms of paddling recreation and competition, and we are appalled by the injustices highlighted by recent events. We believe all people deserve to have safe, accessible places to paddle and recreate and we are dedicated to treating all people with dignity and respect.
Our dismay over recent events strengthens our resolve to:
Promote inclusion at every level of all of our programs;
Encourage all members of our community to do their part to advocate for equity for all people; and
Strive to ensure equitable access to public lands and water.
Racial violence and injustice have no place in our community, and we stand together with all who seek peace, equity, and justice in America. We are committed to working together to do our part to achieve that goal.
Looks good on paper. I hope that you take this seriously & publish your action points. A message like this isn't enough. It's certainly a start, but I will be one to follow up and see what the ACA actually does. We all know that actions speak far louder than words. The paddling world in the U.S. is so absurdly white, the ACA is no exception. This needs to change. Will the ACA hire someone from BIPOC community to do a diversity assessment of the organization& be open to accepting the changes that need to be made? Outreach programs to get more BIPOC certified to be leaders & teachers? Hire a BIPOC to re-do the website (with all respect, it's pretty outdates). Partnerships with BIPOC! Look at where other organizations in this field have had failures & successes. I'm not saying the ACA won't take these steps, I'm saying that we need to see the actions to believe the message behind it. I look forward to seeing the ACA step up. If not, I will definitely be reconsidering my membership.
People who love people are the happiest people in the world. We are all brothers and sisters of the human race. All children of God. Love one another. The more you give of love and affection to others, the more will your own love grow. Beth, thank you for being a reflection of God's love and kindness to all who know and love you in return.
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