Friends for Youth exists for the sole purpose of providing support and guidance to youth who have been marginalized and disadvantaged.

Our youth are mostly children of color who are vulnerable and struggle with a myriad of challenges, including the persistent undercurrent of racism. Youth are now faced with understanding racism through the prism of violence.

How do we and our mentors help explain the horrific images and rhetoric all over the media?

We start by allowing the conversation. To be available to youth who need to express the pain, anxiety, and stress they and their families are feeling. To be present for them, and be a good listener -- to ask them what they think and how they feel. Mentors of color can share their own experiences. Youth who are less vocal and appear emotionally ready might be interested in watching a movie or documentary on the history of racism together. Or read a book. It is important to remember it is okay not to have all the answers, but it is important to be there for them. Friends for Youth will continue to provide ongoing Cultural Humility training and education to our mentors and resources to encourage conversations. These inexplicable events are taking place In the middle of a pandemic where inequality is further evident in the virus' disproportional toll on Black and Latino communities. Trevor Noah helps tie it all together. Learn more and help start the conversation.

Friends for Youth believes in the message of "Equal Justice Under Law", words carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court, and we vehemently oppose inequality, injustice, and bias against any citizen. We support a united front and abhor a culture of divisiveness.

The tragedy of George Floyd, and the many victims before him, is a harsh reminder that racism is a systemic problem impacting children of color everyday. Friends for Youth fully promotes unity, education, and the non-violent confrontation of racism. Listen to the children. Learn from them. Help them understand all the confusion they are experiencing. We have the honor of helping them learn. They are our future and will have the opportunity to promote change in a positive way. Friends for Youth will do our part every day to help improve their lives and prepare them for the future. Our hearts go out to all who are impacted, and we are here to provide support, guidance and resources to our mentors, mentees, supporters, and partners throughout the Friends for Youth community.

Karen Wilmer, CEO Emeritus

There are many ways to stay in touch with mentees. But not all mentees have access to the same technology, so ask your mentee what the best way is to connect with them.

If your mentee needs technology resources, food, or emotional support, please let us know and so we can help. We are also regularly checking in with mentees’ families.

Silicon Valley is home to deep and persistent economic and racial disparities that carry devastating consequences to Black, indigenous, and people of color. Nonprofit organizations have a responsibility and opportunity to work with our communities to fight systemic racism in our organizations and in our governmental, philanthropic, and private sector partners.

Despite years of prosperity, income inequality in Silicon Valley is now at a historic high, with 13% of households holding more than 74% of the region’s wealth. Meanwhile communities of color are hit the hardest by persistent poverty, and negative health and education outcomes. Public policy decisions have only exacerbated gentrification and displacement of households of color. The disparate health and economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color are a profound illustration of the devastating cost of systemic racism.

These inequities are rooted in racist and discriminatory legal and institutional structures—historic and current—as well as in the racial biases that still exist in our families, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. These and similar structures and systems of oppression also disadvantage indigenous people, immigrants and other people of color, women, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community; these structures and systems of oppression have compounded negative effects for Black lives.

As members of this community and as nonprofit leaders, we both recognize these inequities and commit to action for racial justice. We pledge to take anti-racist stances in our community, and to incorporate core values of racial equity, inclusion, and diversity in our organizations.

Therefore, as change agents, we commit to:

• Support the voices of the communities we serve in order to share power and resources.

• Actively support the movement to transform the systems that perpetuate racial inequities.

• Develop clear and transparent objectives and measures of progress toward racial equity, while ensuring those goals are informed by and accountable to affected members of our community.

• Condemn public and private-sector policies that disadvantage members of our community based on race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, documentation status, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, veteran status, age, disability, and arbitrary bases.

As nonprofit organizations and servant leaders working within such organizations, we commit to:

• Prioritize racial equity work. Ensure that equity goals and responsibilities within the organization are clearly incorporated into work plans and budgets at all levels.

• Center the perspectives and lived experience of people of color and oppressed communities in decision making in our organization’s operations, programs, and services, recognizing that staff may have more societal power than those we pledge to serve.

• Create and maintain a workforce and leadership that is racially diverse, reflective of the community we work with, and culturally responsive.

• Promote inclusion within our organization by fostering a culture where the histories and life experiences are acknowledged and valued.

• Advance workplace equity through professional development, inclusive decision making, and transparency for staff at all levels.

• Examine whether our organization is perpetuating inequities by only focusing on the consequences of inequality versus addressing root causes.

• Develop anti-racist leadership of employees, board members, and volunteers.

• Collaborate with other organizations and cross-sector allies to build the capacity of communities of color and organizations led by these communities to achieve an equitable and thriving community together.

• Support and hold each other accountable in living out the tenets of this pledge.