As an organization centered around filtering art though experience, we must honor and witness the real pain and trauma in our midst. The recent killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd highlight the need for systemic change to address racial injustice. Black Lives Matter, and Bushwick Northwest stands committed to being an anti-racist body that features a diversity of voices and confronts institutional racism.

As a white-founded and white-led organization, we acknowledge that we have more work to do. Bushwick Northwest pledges to pursue racial, social, and economic equity at all levels of our organization. This includes representation on stages and in classrooms, our administrative and governing bodies, partnerships and outreach, and everyday practices. We recognize that we must dismantle our own historical and structural barriers and biases in order to grow into a more equitable body and truly fulfill our mission to deliver literature, music, and songwriting to the Seattle community while building the next generation of musicians and readers.