Labor Acknowledgement:

We must acknowledge that much of what we know of this country today, including its culture, economic growth, and development throughout history and across time, has been made possible by the violent and coercive nature of exploitative and forced labor of Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, Chinese and Japanese immigrants, and migrant workers from the Philippines, Mexico, and Central and South America. We recognize and acknowledge our collective debt to their labor and their sacrifice. We must acknowledge the tremors of that violence that have been endured throughout the generations.The resulting impact can still be felt and witnessed as their labor continues to contribute to the wellbeing of our collective community.

We recognize that our economy continues to rely on the exploited labor of incarcerated people, largely people of color, who earn pennies an hour while generating billions in goods and services each year. We also recognize that our economy continues to rely on the coerced labor of women, gender non-conforming folks, and children who are forced into labor by cruel practices. Additionally, we recognize that there are numerous others who are prevented from reaping the true value of their labor as we exist in a society that values profit over people.

We commit to ensuring that our programs and services are delivered equitably by investing our money in goods and services provided by businesses owned and operated by these communities, while still aligning with the values set forward in this acknowledgement. We acknowledge that our position in this institution is a privilege and that we directly benefit from exploited, forced, and violent labor.