Protests around the world over the past three weeks have reinforced that people of all races, ethnic groups and regions feel deeply about the absence of equal justice under the law in 
America. Our Black and Brown co-workers and friends are sad and angry with the status quo. They are sad because they fear for the lives of their own children whenever they leave home. They’re angry because reforms promised in the past simply haven’t changed things. People are overcome with helplessness and don’t know what it will take to turn law enforcement in a new direction.
My heart grieves for our co-workers of color. I believe individual and collective efforts must be done and can be done better to understand racism and promote racial justice. We are on this journey together.
Our Country Meadows Retirement Communities, Ecumenical Retirement Community and Lifesong Hospice family will not simply stand by idly observing this movement without being part of it. Black lives matter, as do Hispanic American lives, Jamaican and Haitian lives, and lives of all those who suffer discrimination due to the culture that has prevailed in our law enforcement and judicial system ever since our nation was founded.
To that end, I am appointing an Equal Justice Task Force composed of Country Meadows, Ecumenical and Lifesong co-workers to explore actions we can take to promote respect, advocate for systemic change and do more to support our Black, Brown and minority-group co-workers and residents. This new initiative is about protecting members of the Country Meadows/ Ecumenical/Lifesong family just as our co-workers have protected our residents and each other throughout this pandemic. I am grateful to all co-workers for your amazing service over the past three months, and I value every single one of you. Thank you, one and all.