At 2020 On-site, we have the privilege of taking care of people’s eyes. Most people believe that vision is their most important sense - and we are angered and heartbroken by what we are seeing in our communities.
We are angered by the continued injustices perpetrated against Black Americans and the systemic racism that persists in our country. We are heartbroken by the consequences of those injustices, and we stand with our communities in mourning George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others. Today and every day, we stand together with the Black community against racism and say:
We see you.
As a start-up we are actively seeking ways to show that support, to listen more deeply, and to continue learning. As always, we remain committed to our mission to make quality care accessible to all - especially those who have suffered from healthcare inequity and are less likely to receive routine medical care. We will continue to actively support underprivileged children in the Boston Public Schools by delivering hundreds of pro bono eye exams and glasses each year to ensure that they have access to the same educational opportunities as their peers. Our conviction that we must contribute to improving the lives of Black Americans in our communities through our care model runs deep.
Today, we are committing to the following actions to stop the spread of racism and inequality:
- Matching our employee donations to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, BLM, and other organizations that actively combat racism.
- Calling our representatives at the city and state level to advocate for reform to shift institutional racism.
- Educating ourselves by reading a book about racism individually, with a partner, or with our kids - such as Something Happened in Our Town: A child’s story about racial injustice.
- Engaging directly with friends, family, and neighbors about racism and/or implicit bias - especially when those conversations are hard.
- Making a conscious choice to direct our spending toward local Black-owned businesses like Brooklyn Tea, MIDA, or Jamaica Mi Hungry.
We invite you to join us in these actions, and we welcome your input on how we can continue to be allies.
The Visionaries at 2020 On-site