We at Business Impact NW feel it’s our responsibility to take a position on social issues that affect our teams, our partners, our clients, our community, and to make that position public. Below is our statement regarding the recent verdict given to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd:
As we continue the necessary conversations that have been amplified in this last year since George Floyd’s murder, we are called to acknowledge that the challenges are beyond one incident.
Business Impact Northwest commits to continuing our collaboration with community partners to emphasize the needs, magnify the voices, and champion the groups most affected by these structural inequalities – the communities where we focus our services.
Our vision is that all small business owners have the equal opportunity to succeed, which includes recognizing the value of each individual. We acknowledge that the existing biases in our country's systems most impact the communities who we serve, with whom we stand, and for whom we advocate. We believe it is our diverse community members that make our world a better place.
Business Impact Northwest believes that tools of small business education, lending, and advocacy disrupts some of these unjust systems. We also know that this is one of many actions which will lead to change that is long overdue.
We recognize that when our communities are affected, we are all affected. Black and African Americans in the PNW and beyond, we see you, and we are with you.
Business Impact NW would like to raise up the organizations that are meeting some of the many other needs of the African American communities in the PNW, including the ACLU, NAACP, and the Urban League.
