Respect and Safety for All

Like you, I’m deeply saddened and angered by recent events in our country. The killing of George Floyd and the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor are stark reminders of the effect of racism in America.

The calls for action reverberate during protests across the country, including our Lighthouse communities of Cincinnati, Dayton, and Chillicothe. We realize that now more than ever is the time for us all to proclaim our commitment to racial equity and support rigorous diversity and inclusion efforts wherever we have influence.

Racism has profound and lasting impacts. It terrorizes and traumatizes youth, families, and communities. It is intolerable that anyone should live in fear of being treated differently because of the color of their skin. I know some of you and many of those we serve live with this fear and have experienced racism as part of everyday life. It is unacceptable. While we don’t have all the answers, we resolve to use our compassion, our ideas, and our collective sense of humanity to ensure we are fostering a culture that values respect and safety for all.

Lighthouse is grounded in diversity; we were founded by a group of African-American women. We will continue to work for equity and inclusion. We condemn any form of hate or prejudice.

Let’s use this moment to reject racism in all its forms and deepen our commitment to helping young people and families heal and grow.

Paul Haffner
President & CEO