Statement of Board of Directors of New Hope for Women

The Board of New Hope for Women joins many individuals and organizations in mourning the recent death of George Floyd and other African Americans because of systemic racism and inequity in our society. We recognize that it is our duty to speak out against all forms of injustice and draw connections between interlinked forms of oppression and violence as part of our mission to promote the health and safety of individuals, families, and communities in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties. While we do not have all of the answers, we re-commit ourselves to the following principles:

• We value diversity in our communities, and commit to seeking out diversity in our board and in the organization’s staff;
• We commit to ending oppression in all forms;
• We are committed to ongoing review of our policies and procedures to ensure that principles of equity and diversity are upheld on our board and in or organization;
• We commit ourselves to having difficult conversations about racism, white privilege, and our role in all of these areas while we also strive to form a more just society;
• We commit ourselves to support our staff as they confront these issues in their work.