Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center Donation Campaign
Between September and December of 2020, Duck Store customers donated a combined $3018 to the UO Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center. All funds have been sent to the LRP BCC to support programming, recruitment, retention, and community-building initiatives among Black students at the UO. Learn more here.
About the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center at the University of Oregon
The Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center is a hub for academic, social, and cultural engagement for Black students at the University of Oregon. A part of the collegiate experience is finding your identity and building a community. The BCC seeks to build a community for Black students, faculty, and staff while at the UO. We desire to create a sense of belonging and connection through your engagement within and outside of the walls of the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center.
Essential Reading
During the last several months, anti-racist reading lists have been widely shared on social media as individuals seek out ways to expand their understanding of topics such as systemic racism, combating white supremacy, and discrimination. As an organization intrinsically connected to education and potential, we believe that books can play a powerful role in the personal growth that is essential for societal change.
To support access and bring further attention to these reading lists, The Duck Store is adding additional book titles to our inventory and launching an audiobook partnership with Libro.fm.
Libro.fm Audiobooks
Libro.fm makes it possible to buy audiobooks directly through The Duck Store, and the first month of the subscription option is free. This audiobook service for independent booksellers has compiled an anti-racism list with more than 30 titles.
Learn more here.
The Duck Store Joins #StopHateforProfit Facebook Ad Boycott
On June 23, The Duck Store paused paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in support of the #StopHateforProfit initiative. This is a campaign organized by Color Of Change, NAACP, ADL, Sleeping Giants, Free Press, and Common Sense Media to place financial pressure on Facebook to take meaningful action to address hate and disinformation on their platforms. Specific requests of Facebook are available here. Our involvement will follow the timeline of the official campaign that goes through July 2020.
Participating in this ad boycott is one way we are putting action behind the statements we have made against racism. We believe that businesses of all sizes share in a responsibility to stand up against hate, bias and discrimination that are perpetuated on Facebook and Instagram — platforms our organization benefits from. We sincerely hope that this boycott will result in policy and process changes that ensure a safer online environment.
We’re Celebrating Juneteenth
The Duck Store is designating Juneteenth — the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States — as an annual company holiday. On June 19, our Team Members will have a paid day off to celebrate, educate and reflect. Below are several resources to learn more about Juneteenth:
History.com: What is Juneteenth
While, especially in Oregon, Juneteenth may not yet be widely recognized we hope that it will rise in prominence and be celebrated universally. By designating this day as a company holiday, we add our voice as an organization to advocate for that reality.
In our message of solidarity we posted on June 3 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, we committed to do more than make a statement. Our team continues to engage in conversations around racial and social justice, and this change is just one piece of our ongoing initiatives.
Juneteenth Celebrations in Oregon
Juneteenth has been celebrated in Oregon since 1945, and as an annual citywide event in Portland since 1972. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this year’s event will be livestreamed from the Juneteenth Oregon Facebook page on Saturday, June 20 at 1 p.m.
In Eugene, a Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Alton Baker Park on Saturday, June 20 at 12 p.m. Learn more on this Facebook page.
Questions & Answers
What is The Duck Store doing to address issues of racial inequality?
Right now we are listening, identifying changes we can make within our own organization, and looking for opportunities to have a positive impact on our wider community. Specific topics we are exploring include:
- Soliciting input and suggestions from all levels of our organization
- Supporting minority-owned business partners
- Supporting University of Oregon programs and organizations related to diversity, equity and inclusion
- Increasing employment and board of directors diversity
- Increasing diversity and representation in advertising
- Offering incentives to promote team member involvement in the community
- Supporting community organizations and programs working to address systemic racism
We know we don’t have all of the answers, and more information will be posted here as specific plans develop.
Why is The Duck Store focusing on this issue?
We believe that racism is an issue that is significant and complex, and positive change will happen when many individuals and organizations play a role.
We are guided by the idea that people have potential. Ensuring that everyone has an equal ability to realize their full potential — no matter their race, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation — is consistent with our values as an organization.
The Duck Store is a nonprofit store that exists to serve the needs of University of Oregon students, faculty and staff. Racism deeply impacts individuals we are here to serve, and we have an obligation to be part of the solution.
Organizations to Support
There are many organizations that are working to address racism and racial inequality. Here are a few in Oregon to follow and support: