• June 3, 2020
  • WORDS BY Ryan Hitzel, Founder & CEO

we stand for justice

Today, we turn the page on injustice and inequality to a new Chapter in our Nation’s history. It begins with the acknowledgement that we have failed the Black community through institutionalized racism, latent prejudice, inaction and silence. It’s a chapter about listening, dialog and change. It’s a path that has been promised to every one of us in the U.S. Constitution. It will be loud, introspective and complicated, but the end result of this new chapter is very simple - “Equal Rights and Justice for All."

roark has been fortunate to see the world as travelers

Its many complexions, poverty, injustice and beauty from West Africa to Nepal. But for now, we are committed to facilitate growth however we can here at home. This new chapter in our history is beholden to us as individuals and as corporations, we cannot let it be written by politicians and bad actors. We are the victims, the heroes, the leaders, the catalysts and authors of this change. Peaceful protests and the blackout of social is the first sentence written, but there many actions to come.

A step towards change

Roark donated 100% of profits generated on June 3rd from Roark.com to EJI.org in pursuit of racial justice and equality. The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.

Donate Here:
Black Lives Matter
Color Of Change
Until Freedom
Equal Justice Initiative

This week, Roark ceased operations in order to allow employees to participate in their beliefs. From there, we’ll continue to publish voices of the movement, invite conversation with Black leadership on our “Couchside Chats” series on IG Live and push for more diversity in the work place and on our adventures.

Roark is but one small company and we are all just individuals - but as of today we are all connected in an unprecedented way because of the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others. Let’s use this new fabric as means to speak truth, converse, mend distrust, help rebuild Black communities, force National legislation and begin to achieve the goals of this Chapter of Change.