Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network
July 15, 2020
Dear Members,
We are deeply pained and saddened by the killing of George Floyd, which not only exposed the systemic racism in our country, but also reminded us that it is but one incident in a long history of violence and injustice against Blacks and people of color. We can no longer ignore the fact that, for our Black colleagues and friends, racism has been a pervasive reality of their everyday experience, whether going for a job interview or taking a walk. Racism is so endemic and ingrained in our institutions, norms, and practices that it took a killing utterly shocking in its brutality to wake us up to the fact.
As a professional community of facilitators, we stand together with our Black colleagues to advance racial justice and dismantle systemic racism. As facilitators, we are in a unique position to use our skills in every conversation with our clients and in our communities, to address racial injustice and surface the implicit biases that have so often normalized racist practices in the past. We are committed to leading the way in helping people and communities have the difficult conversations necessary to dismantle systemic racism, promote debate around diversity, inclusion & equity, and build a more just and equitable society for all.
The following are some of specific ways we plan to take meaningful action towards these goals:
We invite you, our members, to share in this conversation and move forward with our goals of promoting racial justice. Please send your thoughts and ideas for getting involved, and any facilitation tools or methods that you are aware of, to membership@mafn.org by July 31, 2020.
Respectfully yours,
MAFN Board
About MAFN
MAFN is a vibrant, inclusive, and growing community of successful facilitators who continuously teach and learn innovative practices, and foster professionalism and credibility of our work with clients, organizations, and facilitators throughout the region and beyond. With members from the Mid-Atlantic States and across the US, MAFN provides opportunities for members to enhance their skills, expertise, and professionalism as facilitators; connect with, support, and learn from colleagues; expand business skills, connections, and opportunities to facilitate; and promotes the value of professional facilitation. For more information, visit www.mafn.org.