TREC stands in support of anti-racist and racial justice organizing across the U.S. The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others, and the racist actions taken by Amy Cooper, have highlighted undeniable, longstanding, and deep systematic racism. Many are quite aware of this longstanding racism and have been harmed for generations from oppression and fighting for justice. Others are more recently awoken. It will require all of us, working in solidarity, to create the change we need and the world we imagine.
This is a time for white people to acknowledge pain and injustice, sit with discomfort, and take responsibility for the ways we both benefit from and perpetuate systems that oppress Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. That is complex, and it requires us to both look inward and reach out. To help develop my leadership competencies, I am working with a coach specifically focused on racial equity and white accountability. I am a lifelong activist, as many of you are, and I need to resist moving to action too quickly. It is helpful for me, and all of us, to listen and reflect first. Step back, and follow the lead, expertise, and directive of leaders of color.
TREC is committed to deepening our work on white accountability and dismantling oppressive ways of being and oppressive systems. We own our privilege, our mistakes, and our negative impact as we speak up, speak out, and find more just and inclusive approaches to leadership development and organizational capacity building. As always, we appreciate hearing from you, our clients, on how we are doing and what we can do better. You help us improve and help keep us accountable. Our mission remains incomplete if it does not support the safety, agency, and civil rights of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and marginalized people.
TREC will use our role as a convener to initiate conversations about creating a more inclusive and equitable conservation movement. The movement TREC envisions acknowledges the wrongs of the past and the present and takes responsibility for building a just world for future generations. As we work to protect land and water, animals, and our climate, we must do so with the understanding that the work cannot be done apart from racial justice.
On behalf of all of us at TREC,
Megan Seibel, TREC Executive Director