“For almost 100 years, Soroptimist has worked to create a better world for women and girls. Diversity and Fellowship is one of the core values that drives our work, and we model it in our membership, the women and girls we serve, and our hiring practices. It pains us to see racial injustice and violence of any kind. While we are living through confusing times right now, where consensus is often hard to find, we remain committed to working for a more just and equal world. We urge introspection and collaboration on ways we can work together to fix systems that do not serve all of us equally. We know that many of the women and girls we serve face inequality because of their race or ethnicity, as well as their gender. We will continue to do our part and contribute positively to our communities, nations and the world by helping women and girls to reach their full potential by getting the education they need to achieve economic empowerment.

Right now, we urge calm, empathy and kindness. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Sincerely,

Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE
Executive Director & CEO
Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.