The dehumanization, brutalization and murder of black lives in the United States is this country's deepest and greatest depravity. The recent murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd are just a few among countless evidences that justice in this country has never been willingly afforded to those of black and brown skin, to those that are not white. It is also another chilling reminder that these atrocities and injustices continue largely because of the passivity, silence, ignorance and complacency of those of us afforded power and privilege. Whether we profess belief in racial equality and justice, whether we have denounced racism in its myriad forms, it is clear that whatever the white and privileged of this country has done has fallen lamentably short.
Standing against systemic injustice and inequity has always been at the heart of the mission of The Humanitarian Coaching Network. The HCN was created to support humanitarian and development workers serving the most vulnerable and marginalized populations of the world, particularly those working in the most isolated communities. The HCN denounces institutionalized racism, the systematic violent assault on the black community by the government and police force and the violence masked by economic and social inequities. We grieve the black lives that have been lost and we join our voices to the global protests demanding immediate justice.
Stating unequivocally where we stand as organizations and communities on these injustices is necessary. But statements need to be translated into action. There is deep work to be done, individually and collectively. In the coming days, weeks and months, The HCN will be taking the following actions.
We will:
Compile and disseminate a list of anti-racist resources within the network to advance the inner work that all our coaches must be engaging in, especially the critical mass of white American and European coaches that form our roster.
Refine and re-launch a coach training program (in development as of March 2018) on diversity, equity, and anti-racism.
Continue to donate to organizations that have been leading the world in racial justice work such as Black Lives Matter, Dismantle Collective and Color of Change.
Continue to expand the offering of the The HCN’s pro bono services to black-led organizations working for racial justice.
Engage our network to crowd-source additional initiatives The HCN can support and promote collectively.
It is important to acknowledge, as the founder and coordinator of The HCN, that there is no reason why these actions shouldn’t have taken place already. They are as relevant and urgent today as they were the day The HCN was created 7 years ago. The burden of that complacency is mine. I am committed to keeping this energy alive within myself and within our community and helping our network become a fiercer champion of justice than it already is.
The HCN is an extraordinary network of heart-centered coaches. I am grateful to know them and I look forward to walking more resolutely on this path alongside them.
In service,
Jason Ighani
Founder of The HCN.