Reston Community Center Statement Regarding Racism (PDF)

RESTON, VA — Reston Community Center enriches lives and builds community for all of Reston.

That’s our vision statement. It is grounded in the central value espoused by Reston’s founder Robert E. Simon Jr. – that the importance and dignity of each individual would be paramount to the community’s planning and design. The ability for anyone to achieve their full potential and make their greatest contribution to their families and communities is a function of that person’s access to the tools for doing so: health, safety, education, economic security and positive engagement with others. For anyone to be denied access to those tools based on race is a grievous wrong to the individual and harms the community.

During these troubled and troubling times, Reston Community Center recommits our leadership, staff and resources to work that is antiracist, equity-driven, accessible and meaningful in the pursuit of our mission and vision. We pledge ourselves to learning from and listening to the voices of black people and all minorities experiencing racism.

The full potential of Reston can’t be achieved until racism is eliminated from our hearts, our homes, our work and our community. We will continue to offer programming that will educate, inspire and enrich the lives of all as it illuminates issues surrounding injustice, discrimination and disproportionality. We will continue to offer programming that vividly demonstrates the power, strength and beauty of diversity. We will continue to offer free events and generous fee waivers to make our programming accessible to all, regardless of economic circumstances. We stand with all black, brown and marginalized people of Reston, our county and country, in solidarity and with hope for a better future.

# # #