[NFBofSC] Message from Aira's CEO

[Steve & Shannon Cook]

>From Troy Otillio, June 13, 2020,

Over the past few weeks, Aira has focused our minds, our ears and our hearts on the movement led by Black Lives Matter.   Myself and the team here at Aira value the importance and substance of conversations surrounding diversity, race and racism.   Through a series of meetings, discussions and introspection with our Explorer customers, Aira employees, Aira partners and Aira agents we sought to listen and learn.   George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Manuel Ellis, Breonna Taylor, and others live on in our minds and the souls of the Black Lives Matter movement, but it is simply not enough to remember.    The ignorance of apathy and our collective silence regarding the generations of systemic racism that have specifically oppressed Black people in America must end.   It is clear that this moment calls for open conversations and more importantly action. We recognize that we cannot merely be “not racist”, but must more importantly take a stance to be “anti-racist.”
 

With this in mind I want to declare both our support and action.   
 

Here, at Aira, we proudly state the support of Black Lives Matter and stand alongside the Black community in defiance of social injustice, racism and police brutality.
 

Aira was started with the fundamental belief that access to information can be life changing, so today we prouly announce that beginning on Monday, June 15, and for the remainder of 2020, Aira will enable free, unlimited use of our service (both physical and virtual) for all museums, archives, libraries, galleries, historical societies, and cultural centers in the Association of African American Museums.  The full list can be found here: https://blackmuseums.org/directory <https://blackmuseums.org/directory/>.  I will continue to listen and learn as part of my own personal journey and would strongly encourage you to do the same. The hope is that you will take the time to visit these locations, learn about the history and obtain the information you need to be an agent of change in your sphere of influence and local communities.