Groundwork Hudson Valley Wants Systemic Change

By Brigitte Griswold
Groundwork Hudson Valley: Taking A Stand
Executive Director

These are painful times we are navigating as we feel the outrage of Black lives taken unjustly. Groundwork Hudson Valley believes that Black Lives Matter and that the time for real systemic change is now.

Racism continues to face our community through the legacy of redlining, poorly resourced public schools, lack of green spaces, polluted rivers, toxic soils, treeless asphalt expanses, and extreme heat.

Our work is rooted in practices of shared leadership with the communities we serve, employing young people as change makers and environmental justice champions, honoring the distinctive historic connections of our communities to land and nature, and recognizing the need for intensive, targeted environmental restoration to address health disparities.

There are times in life when we find ourselves at a crossroads. Now is one of those times.

Every one of us deserves to live in a community that is healthy, green and thriving.

Achieving that vision can happen only when each of us is safe, valued, and empowered to play an active role in determining our future. And that in turn requires action to undo the nation’s history of injustice.

Systemic change comes about through work on many fronts. While always striving to do better, we also call on the nation’s police officers to respond to a crisis in their profession.
As we seek motivation and inspiration for a brighter future, we need look no further than the local response to injustice which has transpired this week in the streets of Yonkers. Our communities, especially our young people, are leading multiple peaceful protests to speak their truth, be heard, and demand change. Our newly appointed Yonkers Police Commissioner, along with his officers, are showing up, listening, and committing to respond to those demands.

This gives me hope in a time of heartbreak, and we stand with everyone in our community who wants a better future to begin today.

Now we must all work to make it happen.