Handshake stands with all those who demand an end to systemic racism, injustice, and the brutality unleashed on Black individuals and communities. Black Lives Matter.
Our goal has always been to create access to opportunity for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity or background. But we know we can do better and work harder to ensure that we uphold our core values of diversity, empathy, and impact at a time when they are needed most.
The only way to effect change is through action and today we commit to:
- Ensure that our corporate goals, objectives and policies foster, support and build a truly inclusive culture.
- Create a fund to match employee donations to organizations with a proven track record of promoting racial and educational equity.
- Develop a Handshake sponsored Volunteer time off (VTO) program to support employees with paid time off to volunteer in their communities.
- Make federal election day in November an annual officially sanctioned holiday to provide all our team members the opportunity to vote and have their voices heard.
We know this is only the beginning, and will continue to work tirelessly with our team and partners to invest time and resources in initiatives that help build a more just and equitable future. We will be sharing details on the matching fund and the VTO program with our team in the coming weeks.