A Message from your Harper Park Unified Mental Health Team

The events of the past week involving the death of George Floyd have reminded us that systemic racism and injustice exist in our country, state and local communities. The Director of Equity for LCPS captures what many of us are thinking and feeling in this moment very poignantly. These recent incidents have many people, no matter their race or ethnicity, wondering many things. There are feelings of fear, outrage, confusion, uncertainty, hopelessness, as well as those who feel determined to use these ongoing unfortunate incidents to lean into humanity, reach out across racial lines and endeavor to bring about a hopeful change. No matter the feelings or emotions, I encourage us all to lean into the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. here which say “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  

Harper Park acknowledges there is work to be done in these areas. We stand firmly against any form of hate and racism.  We are committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive practices are a part of everything we do at Harper Park to create a learning community where all students are valued, respected, and able to be their best self.

Our Unified Mental Health team embraces the vast diversity of our Harper Park community.  Embracing and  RESPECTING our diversity is what makes us a strong, successful and caring place of learning and living.  To our Black families who are both filled with grief and anger at this time, many of us can never understand the pain you are feeling, but we can, and do, stand beside you in the fight to end racism in our world.