A Message to the SCO Family

I am deeply heartbroken and discouraged by the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and those whose names we do not know. In the case of Floyd, it was painful to watch the blatant disregard for life seen in the now viral video.

Indeed, what we witnessed shocks the conscience on a human level, and as a community we are united in our grief and outrage. But these tragic incidents are particularly painful and vicariously traumatic for our African American staff and clients who regularly experience disparities, currently underscored by the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. These incidents demonstrate that a lack of inclusivity and connectivity, combined with bias and hatred, can lead to tragic results. We have been and remain an organization that supports every individual in our SCO Family.

We all must stand together to educate ourselves and others, to listen, and to be allies to those who need us. We are proud to have a workforce that includes all different races, backgrounds, and perspectives. It is what makes our SCO family so incredible. I encourage SCO staff members to be active and engage in anti-racism conversations that are taking place both formally and informally at SCO and continue to participate in CARE (Committee Advocating for Racial Equality) open forums.

As an organization dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of those we serve, SCO will continue to oppose racism by continuing to foster an equitable environment through our work supporting New York’s most vulnerable communities. We welcome and appreciate your continued support.

Thank you and be well.

Keith Little
President & CEO
SCO Family of Services