May 25, 2020 – the day of George Floyd’s death – ignited heightened fear, hurt, sadness and anger as a grave act of injustice and tragedy. Its impact was heavy all over the country; we felt it greatly in San Diego.

Our country has rules for justice. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was tried under those rules and found guilty of murdering George Floyd. May this be a critical moment in our country’s history when justice and accountability take root and are applied equally to everyone.

As acts of violence and hate toward people of color continue at alarming rates, we must work toward ending systemic racism – learning from our diverse community, examining our own biases and uplifting each other. It is ours to achieve, together.

-Reginald Jones, President and CEO, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation