NCEFT Anti-Racism Statement & Action Plan
“The silence of good people is more dangerous than the brutality of bad people.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
We at the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy are deeply saddened by the murder of George Floyd, as well as others before him. This monumental moment in history demands that we re-examine ourselves, identify our weaknesses, and create a vision to do better along with a commitment to continuously monitor our progress.
Our mission is to serve those with special needs in the areas of physical and mental health, regardless of socio-economic status, ability, or race. Silence is the author of complicity in the oppression of people of color. Therefore, because statements about Black Lives Matter are not enough, NCEFT is committed to looking deeply into the soul of our organization with open and honest eyes in order to actively engage in the practice of identifying and changing the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism. Because NCEFT is founded on the values of inclusion, compassion, and acceptance, we will build upon this foundation to better define a pathway to reach and support people of color, and we will develop and implement an action plan to address the needs of all people that is in line with our mission beginning with Horses, Hope, and Healing.
To that end, we have established a group of staff within the organization who will craft a series of action items to be implemented over the next year as well as an ongoing plan for the future. We will call upon advisors and partners from our greater community to add to our knowledge base and help us achieve our goals.