To LIVE UNITED is to bring people together. To recognize that we are more alike than different. To acknowledge that we all share the same hopes, desires, and dreams. And to make a difference.

We all want a safe and healthy world for our children, for our families, and for ourselves. We cannot and will not be satisfied until this is true for every Whatcom County resident, regardless of their race.

What's happening in communities all over this country is not the result of one horrific incident. It's the result of a seemingly endless and brutal history of injustice that our fellow Black citizens have had to face every day for far too long. For every tragic death or video that makes the news, there are many more stories that go unseen, unheard, and unacknowledged.

Voices raised in protest are a collective signal that we need change. During a time when so many have already lost so much, the unheard voices among us are refusing to be silent. It's time for us to listen, and to do what we can to make this world a better place for every single person who shares this community we call home.

United Way has always been about lifting people up. We believe we are all better off when we extend a hand to those who need it. We fight for justice and equality, and we will not rest until this work is done.

 

United Way fights for greater opportunity for all and has been heavily involved in equity work, but if our society cannot ensure equal access to justice for all, then it is time for us to increase our engagement and elevate our role.

--Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide CEO

 

Thank you for joining us on this journey. It's an honor to walk this path with you.