The Furniture Bank has 12 staff persons – 12 individuals that are smart, dedicated, and passionate about helping others. Seven members of the Furniture Bank’s team are Black. For the past 10 days they have continued to work on the front lines helping our community despite having to deal with the raw feelings of anger, mistrust, and hurt caused by George Floyd’s murder. They have shown bravery and resilience, and I am proud to be on their team.

Discrimination against Black people is an outrageous injustice. It’s an injustice that’s been highlighted over the past ten days but that takes place every day across our country. It’s an injustice that is experienced by the majority of our team members and clients. 

The Furniture Bank is better because we have a diverse staff. Atlanta is better because it is a diverse city shaped by historic black leaders like John Lewis, Andrew Young, Joseph E. Lowery, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Today and every day the Furniture Bank celebrates our seven Black team members because we know diversity is one of our best assets.

We are a diverse team and we serve a diverse community, but we still have work to do. We have met and reflected as a team about how we can be better allies, amplifiers, and stewards of the Black community. We can do better. We need to do better. Black Lives Matter.

We commit to fight racism both inside and outside of our organization. We will conduct diversity trainings for our staff. We will support more Black businesses. We will create a culture that embodies equality, communication, unity, and accountability. 

The Furniture Bank’s dream is for all Black people to be treated equally and for everyone to understand that diversity is a gift – a gift that must be preserved, celebrated, and protected.

Megan Anderson

Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta

Executive Director

Here are some resources you can use to learn about current events, take action against racism, and support the Black community.

Sign a petition – Colorofchange.org

BLM Atlanta – https://www.blacklivesmatteratl.org/

Volunteer – https://www.handsonatlanta.org/blog/atlanta-we-hear-you

Campaign for Equal Dignity – https://www.equaldignity.org

Some of the Furniture Bank staff’s favorite Black owned restaurants: Urban Grind, Busy Bee Café, Slutty Vegan, Sublime Doughnuts, Kenley’s, & Hodgepodge Coffeehouse.