A Message from Our CEO

I am among many of you, waking up after a night of insufficient and restless sleep, having watched the news late into the night.

I am among many of you as I am stilled by disbelief and doubt.

I am among many of you, boomeranging between anger, despair, grief, and distress.

I also envision myself among many of you thinking deeply about our responsibility, platform, and role at this moment.

Just as public health lunged into action over COVID, we must now act in our communities to stop the threat of violence. In our work, we developed the term “productive outrage,” reminding ourselves to strive to transform tremendous emotions into meaningful progress. I invite you to join me as I reflect on and strive to apply my deep outrage over senseless violence in a way that leads to productive actions, for us as individuals and for public health.

We grieve in and with the community over the deaths and losses experienced. We also know from research that the impact of violent events such as this, extend far beyond the affected area. Even those of us with limited or no personal connections to the event can still feel the impact; our sense of safety feels disrupted. Please attend to your personal needs, and let’s recognize that our reactions will vary and are legitimate.

I am grateful to be able to turn to like-minded colleagues and friends.

I am grateful that we all feel this grief and shock together.

I am hopeful (because how else can I move forward) that change will come, solutions will evolve, and healing will spring forth.

In solidarity,
Dr. Renée Branch Canady