A Letter to the BARCC Community

To the BARCC Community:

Over the past several months, individuals within BARCC have raised serious concerns about equity and working conditions.  We thank the staff who bravely shared their perspective.  For any member of our team to believe they have been treated unfairly, inequitably or with bias requires an examination of who we are as an organization and how we conduct ourselves.   

There is no greater priority for BARCC’s board and leadership team than acknowledging  these concerns, investigating and addressing the fundamental issues, encouraging transparent conversations, and repairing the trust that has been lost.  While we have taken a number of steps in this area – including engaging a diversity consultant to work with the management team, investigating individual complaints and encouraging staff to share their concerns directly with our outside consultant – it is clear that more work is necessary.

To truly uphold BARCC’s mission as a social justice organization, the board and leadership must accelerate our efforts to ensure that we are an anti-racist organization.  We have already begun taking steps to achieve that goal.  Next steps include: extensive trainings with the full staff and board, led by our new DEI consulting team; creating venues for staff to report experiences, concerns and recommendations anonymously; and developing measures that will track our progress and hold the organization accountable in our efforts to improve diversity, equity and inclusion at BARCC. More will surely follow.

We are fortunate to have a diverse staff, volunteers, supporters, and partners united in their mission and purpose.  Because of the outstanding work of our staff and volunteers, BARCC is widely respected by both supporters and partner organizations.  Nonetheless, through our actions we must grow as an organization that advances our ideals not only in our work with survivors, but also as an employer.  Only then will we regain the trust and respect of our staff and volunteers.

We want to acknowledge that these issues have been challenging and, at times, emotional, for our staff.  At the same time, their commitment to the work and ongoing focus  supporting survivors has never wavered.  Their strength is inspiring.   

On behalf of the board and leadership team, we want to assure you that we are committed to doing what it takes to become a stronger community organization. 

Sincerely, 

Duane de Four, Interim Executive Director

April Evans, Board Chair