We contemplated sending you an email in which we paused to reflect on a year like none other, but how do we take stock of a crisis when we are still in the thick of it? We thought about sending you an email in which we celebrate the impact CLF had in 2020, but how do we measure success when so many continue to suffer? We then considered sending a simple note of gratitude for supporting our efforts to combat racial injustice, but how does one say thank you when our systems continue to fail Black and Brown communities every day?

We concluded that, for us, the answer to each of these questions is this: you do what you can, you give it your best, and you persist, persist, persist. 

So, even though the theme of uncertainty threatens to define yet another year, we at CLF are determined to keep moving forward with both urgency and hopefulness. Despite the fact that the pandemic is far from over—and decades of progress in nearly every social sector remain at risk because of it—we know there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Which is why we’re hitting the ground running. From the impact of climate change to racial inequality, we promise to be relentless in our pursuit to shift inaction to action, oppression to agency, injustice to justice.

This is our collective moment to accelerate progress alongside the organizations, partners and communities we work with and we are grateful that you continue to stand with us.

In solidarity,

Justine Lucas

Executive Director