Oxbow is a place of solace and connection; connection to the natural world, and to each other. We recognize that we cannot heal entire ecosystems and pursue climate justice without first unifying to address racial justice. All systems are connected; when one system fails, we must fix it together as a community. 

Black lives matter to Oxbow. Now is the time to listen to and elevate the voices of Black scientists, teachers, farmers, and Black-led organizations. We are actively compiling a larger list of Black voices and resources relevant to the food, farming, and the environment, and look forward to sharing them with you soon.   

Now is also the time to take action. Oxbow continues to be on a path of anti-racist education and action both internally and externally. Last week, our leadership team started to build a framework to identify realistic, impact-driven action steps. Our initial priorities include:
 

• Ensure that Oxbow’s programs are developed and delivered through a lens of equity and inclusion.

• Develop, strengthen, and resource partnerships that center the work and voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

• Continue to internally examine and directly address Oxbow’s practices to ensure that we are actively committing to be an anti-racist organization.

• Increase public access to Oxbow and our programs, removing barriers that may inhibit broader participation from communities of color. 

As Oxbow takes action toward racial and social justice, and continues to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we pledge to remain a safe and inclusive space for our community. If you have ideas, resources to share, or questions, we welcome them. We look forward to sharing additional updates in the weeks to come.

We appreciate every one of you. Stay safe, and take care of each other.