Greetings Everyone,
Yesterday, our city and our capitol were threatened by an unprecedented act of violence. We watched as individuals defaced and devalued the foundation of our government. And unlike this summer’s protests, which focused on equality, fairness, and justice, these acts directly challenged our country’s democratic ideals and human values.
We know that some in our EWDC family may have been directly impacted by this violence. We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are safe today. We also know that physical safety and emotional well-being are not one and the same.
In the days to come, we will continue to support our community as best we know how, practicing sensitivity to the range of emotions sparked by yesterday’s events. While our experiences yesterday were undoubtably diverse, our commitment to the DC community remains resolute.
At present, Power Readers sessions and other EWDC programming will continue as scheduled to preserve the comfort and consistency that shared reading provides. We know that individual families and school communities are already convening to support students through larger group discussions. We plan to respect those precedents while providing supplemental support.
EWDC Program Staff will gather Power Readers mentors at the beginning of each session to provide brief guidance on responding to questions and concerns students may bring with them to sessions. Staff and volunteers will do our best to validate individual experiences while firmly establishing boundaries for personal and/or collective action.
Please let us know if we can provide any additional information. We are happy to provide individual check-ins as necessary.
Sincerely,
EWDC
