Dear Take Care Community,
I have never meant this more than I do right now: I hope you are well. I hope you are healthy. I hope you have what you need in order to continue moving forward with a big + open heart. The last few months have been challenging for us all, and I'd like to take a moment to thank you, and acknowledge our community in this most pivotal of moments.
First, a bit of gratitude. Your support has been generous and unwavering throughout the last few months in a time where so much was (and continues to be) uncertain. Knowing our Take Care community has been beside us through it all has given me and my family hope. I appreciate you deeply and value the many ways in which you have 'shown up' for us: from kind notes to intentional purchases, from donations to our team to friend referrals, these gestures have quite literally helped us survive our temporary closure. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
My gratitude comes with a responsibility to also 'show up' for you. As we entered Phase 1 of reopening in DC, so did a social revolution. We made the decision to board up the shop and step back as the city rose in support of Black Lives. As I reflected on what it means to support our Black community members, I sat heavily with the knowledge that good intentions are not always enough. It is crucial to me that Take Care is a welcoming and respectful place for all who enter, no matter their skin color (or gender identity, sexual orientation and beyond). But in the process of "being busy" as a mother and wife and business owner, I wondered if I really had been walking the walk, so to speak. So, I have reached out to a local and respected anti-racism organization about a tentative partnership to ensure regular and meaningful engagement and improvement on this vital issue. I am also in initial talks with fellow business owners in DC about how we can collectively ensure an anti-racist and representative culture in our shops and enterprises. These initiatives will take time to forge, and in an instant gratification world, the wait feels uncomfortable. But it's so necessary, and I know the outcomes will be worth the wait.
So much has happened in the last three months, and even more in the last two weeks. As we look toward a real reopening, I am eager to reconnect and craft a better future with you. I hope you'll continue to join me! If you have any ideas you'd like to share about what this might look like, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Thank you again <3
With Love,
Becky
