Reflections on recent events

A message from the Department of Licensing.

Dear DOL Team,

I am writing in the wake of the senseless murder of George Floyd, and the protests that continue around our nation demanding justice and equity for the black community – a community still reeling from the murders of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and all those who came before them.
 
It is a stark reminder to me that, as our nation struggles to recover from COVID-19, we also continue to be plagued by the virus of racism. Racism is not a thing of the past – it is still very much the here and now, in the daily lived experiences of the black community.
 
My heart goes out to our black colleagues and to all the persons of color at DOL and around the nation. As a white woman of privilege, I cannot imagine and do not pretend to fully understand what you are feeling in this time. I do stand with you and am wholly committed to my responsibility to use my privilege and position of authority as a platform for compassion and change.
 
We are an agency of people who care, who feel deeply. We are an agency committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, not just as words but as principles and standards. In our work to help every Washington resident live, work, drive, and thrive, we will continue to eliminate practices and policies that disproportionately impact communities of color, members of the LGBTQ+ communities, and persons with disabilities. I ask that each of you, and in particular my white colleagues, invite and listen to the black perspective and seek to understand how systemic racism, white supremacy, and white privilege work in conjunction and in intersectional ways in everything we do. 
 
These horrific events and the continued unrest in our nation may further exacerbate feelings of despair, loss, grief or anxiety. If you or a family member would like some help in navigating these difficult times, please contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This program is confidential and free to you and your household members or you can use your health plan benefits.
 
For more information about black history and perspective, visit Washington State’s Blacks United In Leadership and Diversity (BUILD) business resource group at www.BUILDWA.org.

Teresa Berntsen
Director
Washington State Department of Licensing