Dear Wise Heart Community, 

We are heart-broken and horrified by the state-sanctioned murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many more. We stand in solidarity with BIPOC and allies in denouncing police brutality, as well as racialized violence and systemic oppression in all forms. 

We know that we as white folks can be doing more, and we urge our white readers to join us in doing anti-racist work to help actively change the oppressive systems in which we all take part. If you are a white person who is not sure where to start, we are sharing this document, which has resources based on your white identity development. Read books, watch movies, follow folks, have conversations. Now is the time to invest whole-heartedly in anti-racist work.

In addition to engaging as individuals in anti-racist work, here is what we are doing as an organization: 

• We’ve written to Portland, Oregon Mayor Ted Wheeler (mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov) to advocate for police reform here in Portland, Oregon. Although Portland banned chokeholds and stranglehods in June 2020, Portland police can shoot at moving vehicles, and are not required to exhaust other means before shooting. Please see https://8cantwait.org for information about police reform in your area, as well as what to include in your email and who to contact, and consider joining us in advocating where you live locally. 

• We are donating to organizations which actively campaign for racial justice and equal rights. If you have the means, please consider donating to the organizations below, to others, or at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wiseheartpdx-in-solidarity.

• We have created a scholarship that will further inclusivity and diversity in our community and offerings. BIPOC may apply for scholarships by emailing us at info@wiseheartpdx.org. 

In solidarity,
The Wise Heart Team

Click to donate:

Locally in Portland, OR

Police accountability team, First Unitarian Church of Portland

Contact: Dana Buhl, director of Social Justice

Contributions to our work can be made by check with "Police Accountability Team" in the memo. It will go specifically to our ongoing work on policing. Or, contributions can be made online at firstunitarianportland.org

National Campaigns