We have taken this past week to listen, learn, reflect, and act on how we can be effective allies in the fight against systemic racism. As a small business, we have always thought we needed to be politically neutral. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are the most recent Black Americans to be killed because of the color of their skin. Their deaths, and so many others, cast light on our privilege to even think that we have neutrality as a choice. That is a privilege we are unwilling to use anymore. Being uncomfortable is no excuse and the worst thing we can do is to be silent.
We named our business Noteworthy Chocolates for a reason. The definition of Noteworthy is: “worthy of or attracting attention especially because of some special excellence.” As our Values Statement says, “We use chocolate to help people send messages that strengthen bonds, lift each other up, and encourage each other to be our best selves.”
We believe in that statement with our whole hearts. But what does being our best selves really mean? How can we be our best selves if we look away from systemic racism and oppression? If we don’t actively work for justice so that every person can fulfill their potential for special excellence? It is clear that we are not living up to our own standards if we remain silent.
Our company is made up of people who believe in encouraging each other to be our best selves. That means working for change so that people of every race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status are treated with dignity and celebrated for their unique contribution to humanity.
Starting now, we are introducing Gifts That Do Good. This program will support organizations directly with donations from our sales, and also offer organizations and schools a way to raise money with a fundraiser of their own. We are looking to partner with organizations that do work in the interconnected areas of climate, social, and racial justice. There is so much work to be done, relationships to build, and details to figure out, but the starting point is clear. Black Lives Matter. For the month of June, we are donating $5 from every online sale to Campaign Zero to support #8CANTWAIT and their ongoing work on research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.