As a planning agency, we are in the profession of building communities in a positive, healthy, and equitable manner, in which each individual is valued and whose voice is heard. The events of past days, months, and years highlight the systemic and harmful ways people of color are mistreated, marginalized, and discriminated against.

This is antithetical to who we are as individuals, an organization, and a profession. We abhor violence that suppresses freedom of speech and promotes inequitable treatment of people exercising that freedom of speech through peaceful protest. We abhor any abuse of power and miscarriage of justice. We stand united with all humankind, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

May each of us take a moment to reflect deeply on the past events and take deliberate actions to correct errors of the past in order that we may form a more perfect union, whether that be our neighborhood, community, region, state or country.