Greater San Antonio Chamber’s Post

I’ve had multiple job offers (six-figure job offers) rescinded by employers due to their background check requirements/standards…..which I apparently did not meet. The biases and racism embedded in societal norms, in the laws/statutes instituted, and in the actions/decisions made by vigilantes/police/judges/corrections personnel……end up sidelining many in BIPOC communities. End up limiting their earnings potential. End up excluding them from numerous industries and professions. And yet, there’s a labor shortage! Take a look at your laws, biases, and exclusionary policies and the impact they’ve had on BIPOC communities. There are millions of us across the country who’ve been impacted. Sidelined. Limited. Quieted. This is not a mistake either. There’s intentionality behind what has happened…..set enough pit falls, and many are surely going to fall into those pit falls. We need more Wes Moore-style leadership across the country. So we can begin correcting course and allowing folks back into the fold.

Im sure many will appreciate your commitment to addressing the recent unrest in our communities. However, it's imperative that we first ensure the homes you manage meet the basic criteria of being warm, safe, and dry. Once these fundamental needs are consistently met, we can then focus on the crucial task of rebuilding our communities together.

Last week, footage was released of the final moments of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson’s life. Once again, we see the crushing violence of this racialized society and the horrific injustice of police brutality. We lament. We acknowledge the trauma, PTSD, anguish, fear, and anger this story can bring up. So first, we want to ensure our BIPOC community is taken care of, heard, and seen. And then, all together, we lament. We find ourselves looking directly at injustice and its violence, and we lament. We lament a life taken. We lament a Black man’s life taken. We lament a young Black man’s life taken. As bridge builders, we don’t stop at lament. We take our lament and foster transformation. We have to cultivate a holy imagination and actively work towards creating equitable systems. We have to be willing to ask ourselves and decision makers tough questions. What responsibilities lie with us? What can we do to make sure people are safe in their own homes? How can we create systems where everyone is treated fairly? How can we ensure lethal force is the absolute last resort? How can we better value life? What do we need to do for there to be liberty and justice for all? We lament. And then we move onward to leverage, leveraging our positions and resources for healing and restoration. Be color brave instead of colorblind. Ask questions. Be willing to investigate the history of policing in the U.S. and in your state. Accept historical truths and present realities. Engage in your community by voting, initiating community policing efforts, and looking at your city’s resources and budgets and what might be reallocated. Attend community meetings where discussions can happen and lead to change. Support mental health initiatives for your community and for law enforcement officers. Listen to the experiences of families who have endured police brutality. Speak up when police brutality occurs. Be dedicated to figuring out a different way of policing within your local context. Look at what other cities have done that have yielded positive results. Give yourself space to weep and mourn. It doesn’t have to be this way. Say Roger Fortson’s name. Hold his family and friends in prayer. And know that transformation begins with you. #bethebridge #lament #rogerfortson

Choosing a Guardian for your children in your Will is super important. This way, your children won't have to go to a care home while the Courts decide who should take care of them. Usually, the Guardian would be someone from the family, but it could also be a close friend or godparent. It depends on how old your children are and what's happening in your life. It's a good idea to pick more than one Guardian, just in case someone gets ill or can't take on the responsibility anymore.  If you want to know more about adding a Guardian to your Will, just reach out to us. #SLSWillsAndMore #SeeMeBeforeYouGo #Wills #Guardian #SecuringYourChildrensFuture

Many share posts about AI, Drones, Getting fit after 40.... these are the posts that need to be reposted in our community

🚨 Justice Served: Wade Wilson Sentenced to Death for Heinous Murders 🚨 In a tragic case that has captured national attention, Wade Wilson has been sentenced to death for the brutal murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral, Florida. This case highlights the severe consequences of reckless behavior and the urgent need for reform in our justice system. Key Facts: Victims: Kristine Melton (35) and Diane Ruiz (43) Charges: First-degree murder, grand theft auto, battery, and more. Sentence: Death penalty for both murders.  For more details on this case and its implications, watch our coverage here: https://lnkd.in/eNmCHGcs Read more about the case and ongoing advocacy efforts: https://lnkd.in/eC7aZn5u #JusticeForKristineAndDiane #WadeWilsonSentencing #FloridaCrime #VehicularHomicide #RecklessDriving #JuvenileJusticeReform #CrimeAndPunishment #LegalSystem #PublicSafety #VictimAdvocacy #DeathPenalty #CapeCoralCrime #CriminalJustice

Shooters in houses of worship. Gangs attacking mass transit commuters in New York. Deadly road and club/bar rage. Youngsters killing youngsters. Antisemitic, racial attacks on campuses and public spaces. Media that feeds on and entertains with violent news clips and programming. Political circles that further divide for advantage. We have long since abandoned our dedication to civil society and become a house divided. We are strangers to one another and to ourselves. The center no longer can hold. And enemies are at the door. So where do we go from here? First, we need to take a long look at ourselves. Do we in what we say and do contribute even in a small way to the discord/negativity around us? Do we look for/bring out the best or the worst in others? How does that reflect our attitude toward ourselves? Do we do exactly what our employer/client wants even if that may not be for the best of our community? Do we spend most of our time working and what’s left with family/friends? Do we ever spend time in prayer? Perhaps it’s a good time to reflect on the Civil War – in which more people died in our country than in all the wars combined – and meditate on what President Lincoln said at Gettysburg. https://lnkd.in/esTB3uBf

We believe that equitable access to justice is fundamental, especially for those who have experienced hate crimes and incidents. Many of these individuals come from marginalized communities, including those facing financial barriers, and they deserve the same access to legal support and action as anyone else. The proposed changes to Legal Aid Alberta funding have the potential to significantly impact those who rely on it most—victims of hate crimes, individuals with low socio-economic status, and the organizations working tirelessly to support them. We urge decision-makers to reconsider these changes, ensuring that justice remains accessible to all Albertans, regardless of their financial circumstances. Legal aid is not just a service; it is a lifeline for fairness, accountability, and equality. Together, let’s continue advocating for a system that upholds justice for everyone. #AccessToJustice #EquityMatters #StopHateAB #LegalAid #JusticeForAll