Valo stands in solidarity with all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We support Black Lives Matter and denounce racism and white supremacy in all forms. Explicit and implicit discrimination has no place in our community or any other.
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George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Trayvon Martin. Oscar Grant. Martin Luther King, Jr. Emmett Till.
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And these are only the names we know. The lost lives of these men and women extend an endless trail of violence and brutality. Their deaths are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a systemic pattern of abhorrent racist acts in our country.
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White people have allowed the brutal treatment of black people to go on for four centuries too long. Our indifference, prejudice, and platitudes have helped perpetuate a racist system and culture that continues today. White allies must work, hand in hand with BIPOC, to dismantle this system in pursuit of equity and justice.
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At valo, we have been working to cast a broader net and to make certain that teens of all races have access to our program. We are more committed than ever to this work. But it is not enough to have diversity reflected in our circle. We must be vigilant in working to elevate the BIPOC voices at valo and in our extended community. As an organization whose staff and teens are primarily white, we commit to educating ourselves about systemic racism in deeper ways and weaving the principles of anti-racism into every aspect of our workplace and our program. We are listening and know we can do better.
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History has taught us that pandemics unveil the wounds of injustices in societies. They also have the power to ignite the fires of renaissance and reform. At valo, we realize that this watershed moment calls for us to act and stand firmly against racism. We commit to guide all teens as they work to build equitable and more just communities. To this end, we ask you to enter into uncomfortable conversations with us, to raise difficult questions, and most importantly, to hold us accountable.
we believe.
At valo we are committed to guiding teens as they seek to create authentic relationships in our increasingly digital world.
Once these youth experience the power of being in community, and their vast capacity for connection, we challenge them to go out and make the world a better place.
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Our circle is open to every race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, and background.
our retreats.
We take teens from all walks of life on retreats. In this space, they are eager to open up and uncover what matters most. For them, it’s pretty simple—sustained, unplugged, face-to-face connection. A sense of belonging.
valo in you.
Valo aims to be a hub of inspiration for teens and adults. We spread the word through our podcast, embers, and blog, kindling.
Looking to connect? Sign up for our monthly email, stovepipe, and follow us on social media @valomaine.
Want a little valo in your life?
Head over to our podcast, embers, for conversation and inspiration.
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Embers is our podcast. A hub of inspiration for both teens and adults. Embers is a place where our teens share their stories as they navigate the waters between childhood and adulthood. We realize they've got a lot to teach us—what they hope for sounds good to us, too.
Join us as our teens explore timely and compelling topics—fanning the embers burning in each of us.
Tune in here.
Our digital journal - delivered to your inbox once a month.
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Stovepipe brings a spark of inspiration to help you feel more connected, creative and centered.
We promise that we won't spam your inbox or share your info.
