| To our community, Like many of you, I’m searching for clarity in this painful time. Our region is a diverse, vibrant community with deep pride in our civic and cultural vitality. It’s also a place with strong roots in its Black history. I’m heartened to see Bay Area communities coming together to speak out and demand systemic change. At KQED, we won’t sit back passively. We’ll strive to become the best version of ourselves, individually and collectively. One of KQED’s core values is community service. We have a responsibility to stand together and take care of each other in the face of racism, intolerance, inequality and injustice. Inaction and silence enable these hateful forces to push us apart. Right now it’s critical to unequivocally say that we stand in solidarity with the Black community and our Black staff members. The first amendment is a cornerstone of democracy. We stand for freedom of the press. We stand for freedom of assembly. And, for freedom of speech. These rights are preserved in the Constitution. We’ll always fulfill our responsibility as a vital news source with independent, fact-based journalism and integrity. KQED journalists are on the front lines and I’m deeply grateful for their courage and commitment in helping the public know and understand what’s happening so you can take informed action. The trust you have in us is our greatest asset. As a community-supported media organization, our tools are accountability journalism, human-centered storytelling and thoughtful community conversations. We inform individuals so they can be responsible citizens. We inspire with stories that move people intellectually and emotionally to foster understanding, create empathy and build connections. Over the past week, we’ve put together guides that show ways for people to show up for racial justice, and, if that means participating in protests, how to do so safely. We’re telling the stories of individual protesters, and listening to those that choose not to . In partnership with KCRW, we hosted a statewide radio special called “Living While Black”. And KQED has also led Unsealed, a police accountability project to demand and report on police misconduct records, which were until recently, kept in secret. This is not just a time of crisis, but an opportunity for effective, positive and powerful transformation. The Bay Area can find strength and healing in our diversity. We must find space to initiate bold, authentic and personal conversations; ask difficult questions; listen with respect; reflect on different viewpoints and perspectives; and act for the common good in ways that transcend this moment. KQED stands with our community to create an inclusive and just society where all can participate and feel a sense of belonging. I’m proud to be part of KQED in a moment that calls for action and public service.
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