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Blog
A Message to Our Community
North Suffolk Mental Health Association has for decades witnessed the toll of systemic racism and social injustice on the people and communities we serve, as well as on our staff, colleagues and families. As we have witnessed the deaths of black men and women by law enforcement officers, we are angered and saddened. We have no adequate words to explain and certainly none that justify. It is time to listen, to learn, to understand and to change.
We have always been, and continue to be, driven by the necessity of breaking down barriers to access and success; helping to end disparities in healthcare, housing, education; advocating for inclusion and equity of all individuals; and offering safe harbor and support as people work towards a better life.
NSMHA is made up of people from different countries, cultures, religious backgrounds, skin colors, gender identities, languages and abilities. It contributes to our richness and capacity to serve the diverse communities in which we work. There should be no place in our interactions, our workspaces, our communities or our country for racism or for acts of violence that represent a disregard for human rights and dignity.
In our organization and our community, the effects of racism cannot and should not be denied or ignored. It is important that we confront our beliefs, our biases and our personal histories and that we learn to work together to ensure that ours is a culture of inclusion and acceptance. So we will listen. We will hear you. We will see you. And we will stand together for understanding and change.
Jackie K. Moore, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer, North Suffolk Mental Health Association