Black Lives Matter.
Image captured by a member of the IVS community at a protest in Portland, Oregon earlier this week.
**Note, we changed our name in 2021 to be more reflective of our mission. Institute for Village Studies started in partnership with Western Washington University in 1999, and we look forward to carrying on this work as InPlace - Ecocultural Learning Institute.
Dear IVS Community,
It’s been hard to find the words to say with everything going on in the world today: a pandemic, mass unemployment and economic insecurity, and pervasive racial violence against marginalized communities. For the last few months, I have felt like I’m expected to have answers to all the questions arising from so much uncertainty, but the truth is I don’t. Like all of you, I am just trying to keep up with a daily onslaught of information and emotions, while making decisions aligned with the values of IVS.
I want you to know that IVS acknowledges the events of the last week and aims to act in solidarity with those who continue to suffer from white supremacy and racism in the United States. I also recognize it’s not my story to tell and that I will never understand what it means to be black, indigenous, or a person of color. It is imperative to bear witness to racial violence, acknowledge the pain it causes, reexamine our own biases, and support community initiatives to begin to change a broken system. There are countless resources on anti-racism and calls to action readily available online. Educate yourself. Listen. Examine your unconscious and conscious beliefs. Challenge yourself to take actionable steps to address systemic change and amplify black voices and black community leaders.
For me, it’s easy to get pulled into the devastation of everything happening, which I am ashamed to say can lead to an overwhelming sense of paralysis. I know I’m not alone. We can’t let this sense of powerlessness supersede the necessity to take action to ensure the most basic human rights regardless of skin color. I have been encouraged to see many IVS alumni get involved with a strong sense of humility and want to follow their lead. If you are in Bellingham, the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force is holding a march downtown on Saturday at 3 pm, and in the meantime, you may want to stop by the public library to visit the vigil from last Friday and reflect. In addition, my goal is to regularly contact policymakers to advocate for the issues on behalf of organizations that are leading the way in this space and reach out to my family and friends to do the same. I know this is not nearly enough. It is just the first step to stand against the injustices perpetrated against George Floyd and so many others, and I challenge you (if you have not already) to join.
We talk about global citizenship when going abroad and the power and privilege that often is entrenched in travel. It is also important to recognize how those same lessons apply at home. We have to support marginalized communities and their vision for the future in the United States. Something I know everyone at IVS is eager to do. Stay tuned for another announcement on what our programs will look like next year, as well as what we plan to do to continue to support grassroots initiatives that are now more important than ever. We have a lot of work to do.
Take care of yourself and each other,
Ashley Hollenbeck
Executive Director
**Compiled by Fairhaven College Students, Staff, and Faculty at WWU**
Related Posts:
Our decision-making processes throughout the pandemic have been grounded in our values. We have been intentional in our approach to stay true to our mission. This year, we have continued to implement strategies to connect our network through peer-peer learning, hone our model for change and community-driven development, and tackle challenging issues like climate change.