The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor have demonstrated in horrific fashion the racism upon which our country was built. We mourn the loss of these Black men and women, and are grieved and outraged by their deaths. The Public was founded as a theater by, for and of the people, yet it has taken us far too long to proclaim the simple truth: Black Lives Matter. We must stand in solidarity with Black artists, Black staff members, and the Black community. We must do more, much more, to fight the racism that infects every institution in the country, the Public included. We must recognize that the Public itself must change, if we wish to live up to our own ideals. If “We Are One Public,” then the pain and oppression being visited on the Black community must also be our pain. Out of this crucible we will all either become better or become worse. The Public is determined to be on the side that fights racism and inequality manifested inside and outside of our walls. We will release a fuller statement of accountabilities and actions in the coming days. Words matter, but not as much as actions. We will hold ourselves accountable, and if you feel we are falling short, we will listen.

There are a number of organizations and communities who support Black communities on the front lines. We encourage you to make a contribution to support their efforts.

Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

Boys and Girls Club - Milbank Rec Center in Harlem
The Dunlevy Milbank Center has been an important community force in central Harlem for generations. Thousands of children, youth, and their families have benefitted from the center’s comprehensive services and support. The center is proud to be part of the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Brownsville Recreation Center
The BRC is a branch of the New York City Parks Department. With extensive resources for youth and seniors, the center offers a vibrant space to tap into pursuits artistic and athletic alike. Since 1910, the Department of Parks & Recreation has provided the most affordable and extensive network of recreational services throughout New York City.

Canvas Institute
Leading the charge as the first multidisciplinary arts and culture space in Downtown Staten Island, Canvas seeks to increase the positive impact of community driven artists, scholars, and civic leaders. Canvas' public programs, discussions, and quarterly art exhibits attract local and visiting audiences promoting open dialogue, creativity, and intentional action.

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education’s mission is to empower youth and their families by creating a culture of learning through high quality social, cultural, and education opportunities.

Center for Family Life
Our mission is to promote positive outcomes for children, adults and families in Sunset Park through the provision of a comprehensive range of neighborhood-based family and social services. We partner with the community to provide access to resources and opportunities for personal growth and the development of interpersonal relationships that sustain and nurture families, support youth to develop into confident, capable adults and enrich the quality of life for neighborhood residents.

Children's Aid
CHILDREN’S AID helps children to succeed and thrive by providing comprehensive support and critical services to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. CAS serves New York's neediest children and their families at more than 45 locations in the five boroughs and Westchester County.

Domestic Workers United
DOMESTIC WORKERS UNITED is a city-wide organization of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York, organizing for power, respect, and fair labor standards, and to help build a movement to end exploitation and oppression for all.

DreamYard
DREAMYARD provides transformative arts education for Bronx youth through school-based and out-of-school programs. By committing to sustained learning opportunities along an educational pathway, DreamYard supports young people as they work toward higher learning, meaningful careers and social action.

Hunts Point Alliance for Children
The Hunts Point Alliance for Children (HPAC) was created to transform educational outcomes in the South Bronx community of Hunts Point. HPAC’s mission is to expand the hopes and potential of Hunts Point children—nurturing our neighborhood youth along their path to college or career by unifying our diverse alliance of community organizations to connect every family with the resources they deserve. Our direct service works holistically with families, creates space for caregivers and children 0-4 to explore early literacy skills together, and encourages students middle School through high school to explore career paths through connections to role models, engages them in the performing arts, and strengthens their writing skills—ultimately motivating them toward long-term achievement and meaningful careers. Donations to our Covid Emergency Fund - which goes directly to support family needs, or HPAC’s programming, can be made through: www.huntspoint.org/covid 

I Run With Maud
A Go Fund Me page set up by Akeem Baker, Ahmaud's best friend, is organized on behalf of Ahmaud's mother, after his murder on Februrary 23rd, 2020.

Memorial Fund for George Floyd
A Go Fund Me page set up by Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother after his murder on May 25th, 2020.

Memorial Fund for Tony McDade
A Go Fund Me page set up by Shani Angela on behalf of Wanda McDade, the mother of Tony McDade who was murdered on May 27th, 2020.

Military Resilience Foundation
The MRF's mission is to promote relational healing amongst military members, their families, military units, and our communities, through holistic experiences that help to regain personal identities and form lasting connections.

NAACP
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

North Brooklyn YMCA
Conveniently located in Brooklyn's Cypress Hills neighborhood, the North Brooklyn YMCA serves more than 15,400 New Yorkers each year with state-of-the-art fitness facilities, pool, youth programs, and a community committed to helping you achieve your goals.

The Fortune Society
THE FORTUNE SOCIETY is a nonprofit social service and advocacy organization, founded in 1967, whose mission is to support successful reentry from prison and promote alternatives to incarceration thus strengthening the fabric of our communities.

Weeksville Heritage Center
Our mission is to document, preserve and interpret the history of free African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn and beyond and to create and inspire innovative, contemporary uses of African American history through education, the arts, and civic engagement. Using a contemporary lens, we activate this unique history through the presentation of innovative, vanguard and experimental programs.