Social Justice

posted: Aug. 24, 2020.

We at South Austin Counseling Services stand together in our grief and shock as we collectively witness one of the most defining periods in our lifetimes. This is a time in which our country has risen up against the police brutality and systemic racism that led to senseless deaths across the country – Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd – and in our own backyard – Mike Ramos, Dr. Mauris DeSilva, and Javier Ambler. The names of those who have lost their lives to police brutality and racist acts continue to rise, and we have had enough. The last few weeks have provided a wakeup call to the pervasiveness of systemic racism against people of the Black community. We are weary and heartbroken. We want change. We stand with the Black community.

These crimes against Black people are crimes against humanity. At South Austin Counseling Services, we are committed to standing in solidarity against the injustice delivered at the hands of a system that regularly deems Black lives to be suspect and subject to unjustified violence. Radical change and repair are necessary. Each one of us is committed to doing the inner work necessary to become aware of how racism lives within us and how this allows it to perpetuate through us. We want to come together in order to speak and act with focused intention. We are committed to having difficult conversations and engaging in advocacy work to confront racism and to dismantle white supremacy. It is our belief that our role as mental health professionals extends beyond the therapy room and includes advocating for our clients on a broader scope as well. After all, how can an individual successfully move towards healing if they are living within a society that continues to traumatize them every day?

At South Austin Counseling Services, we stand with this movement for social and racial justice. We will keep this conversation going. We will continue this fight for change. Black Lives Matter.

Below are just a few resources to help support the Black community and educate ourselves and each other, as we seek ways to do this long-term work, individually and collectively, which is critically necessary for real change.

Online Resources to Learn More:

https://www.tolerance.org/topics/race-ethnicity

http://www.racialequityresourceguide.org/organizations/organizations/sectionFilter/Racial%20Healing

https://racialequity.org/racial-justice-organizations-and-resources/

https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/lessons-talking-about-race-racism-and-racial-justice

https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/resources/civil-rights-organizations

https://www.ipjc.org/racism-diversity-resources/

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/racial-injustice-and-trauma-african-americans-us-nctsn-position-statement

Resources for children:

https://www.embracerace.org/resources/young-kids-racial-injustice

http://elisegravel.com/en/blog/racism/

https://www.theconsciouskid.org