TSNY Statement on Black Lives Matter

"It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have."
— James Baldwin

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks – and the countless others who have lost their lives to racist violence and police brutality – have devastated us at Trapeze School New York.  We stand with Black people, Indigenous peoples, all other people of color, and marginalized communities, against systemic racism, anti-blackness, and inequality.

Black Lives Matter.

Flying trapeze, aerial arts, and acrobatics transcend cultures, languages, and borders.  We are committed to creating an inclusive space for all; however, to say that we stand with our community is not enough:  We are committed to taking action to increase the diversity of our staff and students and supporting our local community. We will create a task force to address diversity and equity at Trapeze School New York, starting with the following actions and commitments:

• We Are Committed to the Diversity of Our Staff.  We commit to taking a closer look at our current diversity, and examining our hiring and recruiting practices to increase the diversity of teaching staff and those in leadership positions. As important as diversity is, we recognize that this is just the first step. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment in which all staff - both regardless of and on the strength of their diversity - feel welcomed, feel that they can be their authentic selves, and will be involved in the decision-making. We know that equity can only be reached by providing opportunities for all voices to be heard.
• We Are Committed to the Diversity of Our Students.  We commit to implementing anti-racism training for all of our staff, so that everyone who walks into our spaces feels welcomed and included.
• We Are Committed to Supporting Our Communities.  We commit to expanding and growing our Community Outreach program by reaching out to local parks departments, schools, and other local organizations - particularly those that serve minority and underserved populations - in order to provide greater access to our sessions and programs.
• We Are Committed to Our Staff.  If any of our staff are arrested or charged for participating in protests, we will stand with them and their employment will not be affected.

Real, systemic change relies on each of us doing our part to imagine a better, more equitable future. If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions, please reach out to us:  We are committed to continuing to learn about additional ways in which we can effect change. We also invite you to check out the following resources and organizations that are doing important work in our communities.