Recent events have shown that the pain and suffering of our Black family, friends, neighbors and co-workers is not only unacceptable, it is unconscionable. America has to do better. All of us have to do better. It is long past time for change.

As a nonprofit education organization, Sound Experience is committed to equity and racial justice. Our policies reflect this commitment of inclusion; our practices include restorative training and programming. We recognize, though, that we are not doing enough.

In the coming weeks and months, we commit to deepening our work with community partners to address the continuing inequities in environmental education and maritime workforce development. For decades, both these spaces have lacked diversity and inclusion of Black and Brown people. This needs to change. Change happens with intention, planning and resources. We can do better.

Aboard Adventuress, we are ALL shipmates. This means that all of us – aboard the ship and throughout the Puget Sound region communities we serve – are shipmates. We care for each other physically and emotionally. We commit to fostering safe spaces for young people to grow and to learn. We steward the environment which sustains us all – all beings, all humans regardless of skin color.

We stand together, for our shipmates, until justice is achieved – and until all human beings can live without fear and can thrive in an equitable America.