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June 1, 2020
Dear LGC Family,
The events of this past weekend have brought many of us deep sadness. Our hearts ache from yet one more wound scarring the face of our nation and our city. To our Black Fellows and friends who continue to endure systemic racism and its indignities: we stand with you, we stand beside you, and we stand behind you.
Racism is an ugly truth of our history and a divisive force in our nation, and now intentional and opportunistic forces are at work, fueling hatred and aiming to divide us even further. We cannot let this happen.
We cannot stand to let the destructive force of an intentional agenda divide our city any further. We cannot allow opportunism to use this moment as a weapon of destruction, dividing and destroying our communities. We cannot allow hatred to set us apart and tear down the dreams and hopes for a better future we have all worked so hard to build.
At LGC, we are a collective of leaders who know the power of growing together through the enlightenment and insights of understanding. We are a collective with voice, power, and influence. This time calls out to each of us to lead with our gifts, our voices, our differences, and bring together this city we love and call home—one person, one community, or one mile at a time—we must use our resources to foster understanding and measurable impact. Chicago, our region, and our country need us right now.
Reverend Dr. Otis Moss III (LGC Fellow since 2013) said it best in an interview this weekend: “Creating disparities is not who we are. We must dismantle the system. We must build coalitions in order to do so.”
We call on you—we call on you now—to resist silence and add your voices of understanding to envisioning and building a way forward. Only in unity will we rise from this moment. Only in unity will we overcome.
Let the light of your leadership shine through the darkness of this moment. Let the light of understanding help to heal the wounds of false beliefs that have divided us, and let's help others look for that which we know is the same in all of us to bring us all together.
Maria Wynne,
Chief Executive Officer
Founding Daniel Burnham Fellow
Connie Lindsey,
LGC Board President
LGC Fellow since 2001
Gretchen Winter,
LFA Board President
LGC Fellow since 1990
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