“There Is No Space for Racism or Discrimination Here”
Hello Pager Team,
Recent events have witnessed some tragic and horrific injustices against the black community, including the killings of George Floyd in Minnesota and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. In addition, the pandemic has brought a wave of bias against the Asian American community, and we know that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus.
As part of the leadership team, I found it important to address this directly with all of you, and to not stay silent, out of our corporate values, our public duty and our solidarity with those who are currently affected and have been affected for many many years.
I want to remind each and every one of you that as a community, there is categorically no place at Pager for any form of racism or discrimination against any group or in any form whatsoever. I am proud to work at Pager, which I believe to be an organization that practices diversity and fairness and is willing to stand up for our values and not stay silent.
My concern about these deeply disturbing acts of hatred, violence and police brutality also extends to my concern about the broader implications it may have on many of you who are struggling to manage their daily lives, especially during the already difficult times with the pandemic. I want you to know that Pager stands with you. We full-heartedly offer our support to those Pager team members and their families that are currently having trouble navigating through this tough time. And we want to give you the space and freedom to express your feelings and concerns.
Team Members are encouraged to take time to take care of yourselves, especially if you are having trouble getting through your workday. If you wish to speak to someone privately about any special needs during this time, you can always reach out to me personally, your managers or PeopleOps.
Whether you are feeling emotionally distressed or helpless in knowing how to be an ally or a part of the efforts to bring justice, there are resources that we wanted to share. There are many other resources in addition to the ones below but these listed are only a few to help get you started. Pager will be making a charitable contribution and will also be matching all of your private donations through the end of August.
Thank you for listening. Please continue to practice safety and to put you and your families first. And thank you for what you are doing to serve our patients, our customers, our communities and each other.
Best,
Walter Jin,
CEO, Pager
Donations
Pager will be making a charitable contribution and will also be matching all of your private donations through the end of August. Here are some organizations and causes to support:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd - A GoFundMe to cover funeral and burial costs; counseling services; legal fees; and continued care for his children
https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud - A GoFundMe raising money for Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, donations to which will similarly fund the family’s legal battle.
Minnesotafreedomfund.org - Provides legal resources (such as representation and bail) to protesters - Currently redirecting to other funds and non-profits in need
Northstarhealthcollective.org - A St. Paul–based organization that provides health services and support at protests.
UPDATE: We matched employee donations to organizations supporting the Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Lives Matter movements through August 2020. Our team donated $8,976.84 – we matched those donations dollar-for-dollar, leading to a grand total of $17,953.68 donated to organizations fighting for racial justice. We applaud our team for their continued dedication to addressing inequity in our communities. We also recognize there is still work to be done and look forward to continuing to learn and grow with one another as we identify more ways we can support our Black team members, neighbors, and members of our communities.
Resources and Education
Here are a few Anti-Racism/Allyship Resources:
Starter Packs
Books
Police Brutality
