Hello friend,

I want our community to know we are with you.

It’s been a very heavy week here in Minneapolis and around the US. We are devastated by the death of George Floyd and the many other Black men and women who have unjustly lost their lives. We acknowledge that there’s a broken system that allows too many forms of racism and inequality. We are overwhelmed with sadness for the families, neighborhoods, and small businesses (many of whom are People of Color or minority owned) that have been left in a wake of destruction. And we are very aware that it is not the peaceful protesters advocating change that are tearing apart neighborhoods, but rather outside groups aiming to confuse and promote their own objectives.

To be honest, I am nowhere near as educated as I would like to be (or need to be), to speak intelligently on the topic of racism. I also unfortunately know that racism doesn’t just happen here in Minnesota and the United States, it happens everywhere. I am building this brand on the belief that the more we understand and learn from each other, all over the world, the more kind we will be to each other. I have been doing it in a rather “fluffy” way—avoiding or talking around some of the deeper issues because they aren’t pretty and I am terrible at confrontation. However, travel is absolutely a privilege and we must use that privilege wisely. You aren’t truly a traveler if you are not at some point stunned by the inequality and injustice in the world. And you are absolutely failing your duty if you don’t take that heartbreaking knowledge to educate yourself, learn from your experience, and try to be a better human.

We, as a Team, pledge to be better with our privilege and listen more, learn even more, and then continue our mission to encourage compassion and understanding throughout the world.

Change doesn’t happen unless we start having conversations, acknowledge our wrongs, understand that we have work to do, and a lot to learn.

I believe in good. I believe in change. I believe in us together. We must all stand together.

-Sairey

P.S. Although I was first brought to tears by inequality, injustice, and the burning and destruction of neighborhoods and small businesses, I am now brought to my knees seeing the outpouring of support to rebuild, stand stronger, and help each other. The ravaging of these neighborhoods happened fast, but the willingness to help our fellow humans happened faster. And that is proof that good will prevail.

If you are interested in learning more and offering aid and support, please see the links. Feel free to send us a message with any helpful knowledge, insights, or resources that might offer understanding and aid, either here in MN, the US, or around the world.

Learn more and support initiative of policy change, neighborhood help and business restoration in Minneapolis/St. Paul

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@ReclaimTheBlock

@VisitLakeStreet

@UnicornRiot

@BlackVisionsCollective

The Hamline/Midway Coalition

MIGIZI

UrbanUndercover

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