A Word of Solidarity
All of us at the Community Purchasing Alliance wish to say, in no uncertain terms, that we stand with Black communities and everyone who is hurting in the wake of George Floyd’s violent death in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are saddened and outraged that in 2020 America, we are still losing beloved members of our community to systemic racism and police brutality.
We also stand in solidarity with CPA Member St. John’s Episcopal Church, whose building was partially damaged over the weekend amidst peaceful and tumultuous protests. The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington reminds us: "It’s a building. No one’s life is gone, but we have work to do and we’ll do it...focus on the rebuilding of our country which is more important.'"
It is precisely this shift from a damaged building to rebuilding damaged systems that we seek to embody at CPA Co-op. We are a purchasing cooperative of congregations, schools, and nonprofits working together to procure goods and services for our buildings, and yet our work and mission extends well beyond facilities maintenance.
In this moment of isolation and uncertainty, we--as members and staff of this cooperative-- find ourselves connected across lines of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and creed. It is these diverse relationships that will sustain and guide us as we reopen, rebuild, and re-imagine what our common work together entails.
We know that as a community, there is always room for us to learn and grow in the work of building and operating an actively anti-racist organization. Let us then respond to this moment by strengthening our connections with each other, that we might learn how best to stand together in these uncertain times.
In solidarity and cooperation,
Amy Abbott White
Metro DC Regional Director
Boris Sigal
Chief Financial Office
Ellen Agler
Executive Director Temple Sinai
President of CPA Board of Directors
Felipe Witchger
Executive Director
Joe Naroditsky
Director of Solar and HVAC Programs
Lauren Greenspan
Director of Communications
Shelby Legel
Program Director