Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

To be silent is to be complicit. - Accountability and Action are called for.
NENFT Commits to Addressing Racial Injustice and Fostering Inclusivity and Belonging

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
— Elie Wiesel

We pledge to:

continue listening, learning and listening more
stay in this conversation with an open heart even when it gets uncomfortable
not let our own discomfort stop us from speaking up about racism
not let our own discomfort stop us from listening when someone is offering us feedback
constantly strive to become aware of our unconscious biases and change our own behaviors
look for the places in our lives where racism lives, to notice it within ourselves, and do the work necessary to change
improve our ally-ship in an authentic way coming from a place of heart and integrity
be humble when we make a mistake, not defensive
always strive to be better at fostering inclusiveness and belonging for all and to acknowledge when we make a mistake
learn the actual history of slavery, and the actual journeys of BIPOC, LGBTQI and others, and carry these stories
give proper land acknowledgements and speak of indigenous peoples in the present tense because they are still here
strive to be authentic and take action from our hearts in service to integrity
give ourselves permission to rest and process when needed so we may stay present and be a
sustainable, long-term presence in this important movement

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people
but the silence over that by the good people.”
— Dr Martin Luther King Jr

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends.”
— Dr Martin Luther King Jr

nenft - Guides sitting in circle in the woods - nc-day2-04_orig