The turmoil our country is faced with in the aftermath of activities in Charlottesville, VA has us reflecting on our mantra of “LIVE UNITED.” Our core belief is that we’re stronger when we come together. That when our communities rally, we can actually make a difference – we can end homelessness, we can ensure families have what they need to be financially stable.

But we can’t ignore this display of hatred – from the weekend’s violence to the affirmation by the president. We know that “LIVE UNITED” includes having the courage to reject these outward displays of racism and bigotry. In order to come together, we need to be comfortable standing up for those whose voices are not being heard.

We’re heartbroken over the loss of life and these recent events. We’re also encouraged to continue the work we do to build up our community and create racial equity. We’re proud that we’re seeing more people volunteer. We’re proud of our nonprofit and business partners for being vocal and denouncing the hatred. We’ll continue to fight against racism, to not look the other way and to stand up for what’s right. That’s what it means to “LIVE UNITED.”