EPA Black Lives Matter Yard Sign
We started a campaign to stand in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters in East Palo Alto (EPA) by displaying Black Lives Matter (BLM) signs in our yards/windows/patios. As we distribute them, we humbly suggest a donation of $10 per sign . Until 9 Aug 2020, all proceeds have gone to the city's school district foundation -- Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF) -- and as of 7 Aug, the sign campaign has raised over $5,000 for REF. Starting 15 Aug 2020, the beneficiary of the yard sign campaign will be Onyxx Village Connection (OVC). Our decision to switch to OVC as the beneficiary is based on the success of the effort so far, continued demand for signs, our desire to broadly share resources, and our conviction to support a Black-led organization.
Led by Mama Thandiwe Lyons and her son Jules Thomas, OVC and its network of citizen volunteers prepare and deliver 200 weekly meals to the homeless, unemployed, and working poor in East Palo Alto and surrounding neighborhoods, and over 350 meals to local community organizations like StreetCode Academy. By being a constant and caring presence in the community, OVC builds trusting relationships with the most vulnerable of our neighbors, connecting them to social services and support in ways that respect and foster people’s dignity.
This GoFundMe is specifically to raise money to purchase the EPA BLM yard signs themselves so that donations via the OVC website can go in-full toward their work. The signs cost approximately $4 each, and we hope to eventually distribute 1000 signs across the city. Funds for the first 200 signs were privately contributed by a small group of EPA residents. Any excess money from this GoFundMe will be donated to Onyxx Village Connection. We do not anticipate switching beneficiaries yet another time from OVC.
Information about the meaning of the sign's design can be found here . [To be updated to OVC info on 15 Aug]
If you would actually like to order one or more yard signs, please visit https://www.ravenswoodef.org/yardsign.html. [To be updated to OVC info on 15 Aug]
Thank you for helping us cover the costs of the yard signs, supporting the youth and vulnerable members of our community and, most importantly, thank you for standing in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters in the city!