Here at the Beaver Falls CDC, we strive to cultivate a community where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. We know that this cannot happen in the midst of injustice such as the police brutality that took the life of George Floyd. While that instance of injustice was the catalyst for an awakening of national conscience, we know that racism as a broader construct has been a pervasive, systematic issue in our nation since its birth. The Beaver Falls CDC will not stand for such injustice. In Beaver Falls, we desire to support all members of our community as we proudly declare that Black businesses matter, Black churches matter, Black voices matter, Black lives matter.
As an organization, we admit that we have not always engaged issues of racial injustice at the frequency or depth that our Black residents deserve. If we are truly striving towards a holistic restoration of our community, this must change. The CDC is committed to demonstrating a renewed concern for and engagement with issues of racial injustice in our city. One way we aim to do this is by supporting the first Annual Beaver County UNITY Week.
Mr. Shon Owens of Aliquippa is leading the planning team for this week which includes the county commissioners, the district attorney, the sheriff, and several other community leaders. The events of this week provide us the opportunity to engage in spirited dialogue and inspire true and lasting systemic change in Beaver County. In particular, the CDC desires for UNITY Week to spark deeper self-reflection and commitment to working with and representing our whole community. We encourage all of our members and friends of the CDC to join us in participating in these events, and to seek reconciliation in Beaver Falls.
It is time to listen, to care, and to recommit to developing healthy and diverse relationships. In a city as diverse as Beaver Falls, it is only through such a recommitment that we can form a community that truly promotes the dignity and value of every citizen.