At Tonal we have committed to change not only ourselves but our business and policies around racial justice. We have renewed our commitment to diversity.
Dear Community,
Racism is real.
It is a continuation of a reality that we have lived our entire lives.
Like all human beings, we want to be seen and heard. We ask you to look into our hearts and see our pain.
This message was co-authored by Tonal’s Black Coaches and Employees, and Tonal’s Founder & CEO. It is being sent to Tonal’s members, employees, leadership team, board of directors, and shareholders.
The events of the past month have been incredibly difficult, though this reality didn’t start a month ago with the killing of George Floyd, or even in the months leading up to his death with the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, or more recently, Rayshard Brooks.
They didn’t deserve to die.
This has become undeniable and apparent to so many more people in the past two weeks. This has sparked change in our country and spurred very important conversations.
No longer should anyone accept a system where Black people lose their lives while in the custody of those who took an oath to protect and serve them. No longer can our society accept the proposition that the life of a Black person is worth less than any other.
Within Tonal this has sparked a few weeks of very hard conversations, and given rise to the motivation and hope to bring change. We have taken a painful look at what is within our own hearts and evaluated where we can each make change. We ask each of you to do the same. Begin the search for change within yourself, and never stop. It’s never too late to change your mind. For in the search for change is motivation and hope for a better future.
We each joined Tonal on the mission to help everyone be their strongest. We wake up every day aiming to change people’s lives for the better by increasing their physical strength, mental strength, emotional strength, and spiritual strength.
It takes strength to stand for change. It takes strength to speak up. It takes strength to acknowledge our individual roles in this systemic problem.
The system is broken, and every single person is a part of the problem and also a part of the solution.
You can save lives.
If you see any human being mistreated in any manner you would not accept for yourself, please speak up. Silence is fatal. Take action. If you see something that needs to change, please say something. Say it to your family members, your friends, your bosses, your officials, and even to complete strangers. Change even one person’s mind.
If you believe that black lives matter – prove it.
To our community of first responders, please speak up. Please speak louder. Many of you have been silent. Only you have the ability to change a broken system from within. We need your action more than ever. You can save the lives you took an oath to protect and serve.
At Tonal we have committed to change not only ourselves, but our business and policies. We have renewed our commitment to diversity and are going back to the drawing board on our approaches to both diversity and racism across all teams, departments, and systems. We are accelerating our plans around philanthropy. Our board of directors recently committed to bringing more diversity to our board requiring some of them to yield their seats. These are small but strong steps, and are the first of many.
A better world is coming. How will you use your strength today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter? Tell us by replying to our Instagram post.
Learn more about the cause via the following organizations:
NAACP Defense Fund
America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
Color Bloq
Building a community of Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPoC) through a digital magazine, and cultural & educational events. It is their mission to curate safe(r) spaces where we elevate our issues, our culture, our excellence, and our joy.
National Center For Black Equity
Connecting members of the black LGBTQ+ community with information and resources to educate, engage and empower their fight for equity and access.
Signed,
Coach Allison
Coach Jared
Coach Paul
Dee Bamiduro
Lawrence Thomas
and, Aly Orady, Founder, CEO & person of north-African descent