Our Statement on the Death of George Floyd

ON BEHALF OF LEWIS GROSSMAN, CEO

Dear Staff,

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

This quote is attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. and is an expression of how people are feeling across the country as they stand against injustice and refuse to be silent. I want to acknowledge the collective mental and physical toll that continued violence has on communities. I want to express my sorrow, having to once again confront the loss of another black person’s life. George Floyd’s death is a reminder of the work we need to do as a country to ensure justice for all. Communities are fractured right now and people are understandably upset. In times like these, it is important to spend time listening to each other, supporting each other and learning about actions we can take to better support the communities we serve.

One of the core pillars that ACA/NY believes in is cultural sensitivity. Our values focus on integrity, respect, collaboration and passion. These are not just words, ACA/NY stands with our staff, our members and their families. We value the diversity of our staff and we know that this diversity is what makes us great. We will strive to have open conversations about how these events have affected all of us. This topic will be discussed during our all staff meeting next week and will be a great opportunity to support each other.

I would also like to remind everyone of the resources available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

I encourage you to take care of yourself and your loved ones during this time.

Sincerely,
Lou Grossman, CEO