Our commitment to racial and intersectional equity

Dear friends and colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic and the racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd has drawn into sharp relief the extreme disparities that exist and preclude recovery for disproportionately affected populations, such as the lack of adequate health care, economic and digital divides, and access to affordable housing.

At the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), we believe in a world where the impact of disasters is minimized by thoughtful, equitable and responsible recovery for all. Since our founding, we have drawn attention to how disasters exacerbate existing inequities, particularly in underserved communities.

We are committed to becoming an anti-racist organization guided by values that promote and nurture racial justice, intersectional equity, and the empowerment of disenfranchised and marginalized people and communities in all the work we do. CDP’s board and staff publicly commit to the vision and values outlined in our Race and Intersectional Equity Statement. We acknowledge that actions speak louder than words, and we call upon you to keep us accountable.

Our statement results from a years-long journey to self-educate, self-reflect and determine how to implement our equity-centered mission and vision internally and externally. It outlines our commitment to challenging persistent inequities wherever, whenever and however they present themselves in the U.S. and worldwide, including within domestic and international structures and systems.

CDP commits to learning from, investing in, and standing with underrepresented and underserved communities. We pledge to stand in solidarity with other allies against racism, white supremacy, gendered violence and violence against racialized and other marginalized communities.

We recognize that taking the steps outlined in our statement will require investments of time and resources. CDP welcomes you to review our complete statement and to join us in our efforts to tackle interpersonal, institutional and systemic racism. Together, we can address the systemic issues that hinder communities from building back stronger from disasters.

Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Jones II, CDP Board Chair
Patricia McIlreavy, CDP President & CEO