There is no doubt: Black Lives Matter

Written by: Adrienne Johnston

Since the senseless and brutal murder of George Floyd, I’ve been trying to determine how to use my limited and relatively small resources to advocate for equality and put an end to racism once and for all. We need a real movement that creates real, long-term change – not a moment that we quickly forget.

Systemic racism must be dismantled systematically through continuous and focused efforts.

I don’t pretend to have the tools to do that, but I have faith that the Black Lives Matter Foundation does. Theirs is a global organization with decentralized leadership that devises and advocates for solutions based on each community’s unique needs.

In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, as of May 2020, I have a goal of donating $500 per month to Black Lives Matter. I’ve opted to donate to the Foundation instead of a local chapter so that resources can be deployed as needed to support their national and global strategies and have the most impact.

Those donations will be made within 20 days of the month ending, and the donation receipts will be visible below.

A few questions my clients may have:

Are our rates going up to support this additional expense?

No, rates are not going to change to support the BLM movement. Rates may go up in the future as demand for my services continues to grow and the market warrants it, but I will not increase rates to you for the purpose of supporting the BLM movement.

What if I don’t support BLM?

Based on what I’ve seen on social media, I expect that I will lose a few clients who are actively opposed to the BLM movement. I am prepared for that and am happy to help you transition thoughtfully by preparing packaged files of your assets for you to share with future designers.

In addition to financially support the BLM movement, I also intend to:

  • Provide pro bono services to charitable organizations supporting the BLM and equality movements.
  • Refer at least 50% of clients/projects I am unavailable to handle to black presentation designers.

I fully expect that this plan will evolve over time to maximize impact, but it’s a place to start.

Monthly DONATION Report

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Black Lives Matter

Finimpact: How to Support Black-Owned Businesses

Say the Right Thing: How to Talk about Identity, Diversity, and Justice