Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is dedicated to serving all girls. We
stand against racism, and as such, we must use our voice and be the
advocates for change for the next generations.
Let me unequivocally state, racism has no place and will not be tolerated in our council.
I struggled for several weeks trying to find the words to address the social unrest in the wake of the senseless deaths of George Floyd, and those who were tragically killed before and since. I failed to find the words to offer comfort as our community suffers. But words are not enough, and we must be willing to embrace the uncomfortable in order to remain committed to our mission of making the world a better place.
As images play over and over before our eyes, I recall Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. description of Girl Scouts as “a force for desegregation.” His words should serve as a reminder that we are the ones who must be willing to be change agents. Our efforts are contingent upon speaking against injustice, fulfilling our Girl Scout Promise and Law and working toward achieving our goals of inclusion and equity.
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, with our national movement, is committed to doing all we can to create a truly just society for all. This is not easy or fast work, and as an organization, we will continue to live by our Girl Scout Law by taking action when we see a need and teaching our girls by example.
In alignment with Girl Scouts of the USA’s pledge, our council commits to strengthening recruitment efforts to engage staff and volunteers who reflect the communities we serve and train the adults working alongside our girls in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. Starting next month, we will coordinate a series of critical conversations to better understand the systemic racism prevalent in our community and how we can begin the work to create a truly anti-racist organization, and we invite you to join us. We will also work harder to lift the voices of ALL our girls, especially those from marginalized communities who need us to be their champion.
I am inspired by today’s Girl Scouts. They are the ones who give me hope tomorrow will be brighter. The volunteers who unselfishly give of their wisdom, gentle guidance and encouragement to our girls should take pride in knowing they have a hand in making tomorrow a better place. This is our moment to unite against the realities of racism and the injustices that have existed in this nation far too long. Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas will be a leader in reminding our community that there is much work to do.
Join us. Be the change.
