House Kheperu

 Black lives matter

House Kheperu is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering tolerance and diversity. Our mission means nothing if we do not stand up and speak out against intolerance and hate. Right now, there is a crisis in the United States, and it is playing out with disproportionate violence against Black freedoms, Black livelihoods, and Black lives.

We believe that Black Lives Matter. 

We further affirm that Black health matters. Please check out these resources to learn how some providers are working to support Black people, and fight back against racist systems that continue to unfairly disadvantage Black folks. If you are Black and seeking culturally competent healthcare, these resources are for you.

The members of House Kheperu have selected three organizations that we as a House will support with donations. Those organizations are Integrative Empowerment Group (Black queer woman-owned inclusive provider of counseling, healing, and wellness), the Bail Project (lowering incarceration rates through bail reform), and Trans Sistas of Color (delivering care packages to trans women of color in Detroit). Many of us are also volunteering our time to support many other groups.

If diversity and tolerance hold are important to you then, like us, you will feel obligated to do something to support those who are struggling most right now. To support you, we have collected resources (below) to help you find and connect with groups working to end systemic racial bias and injustice. Whether you have time, money, or a signal boost on social media to offer, we encourage you to support one organization today. And another tomorrow. And one more the next day.

Some of you may be tempted to counter the statement "Black Lives Matter" by saying "All Lives Matter." We urge you to reconsider that response. This comic illustrates the problems with that stance more succinctly than we can:

Where to Donate

Integrative Empowerment Group - Black, queer, woman-owned inclusive provider of counseling, wellness, and healing in Michigan (donations provide access to mental health services to those who cannot otherwise afford it)

Community Justice Exchange - organizing to end detainment, criminalization, & surveillance

Trans Sistas of Color Project - creating and delivering care packages to trans women of color, with special care for sex workers and the unstably housed

Detroit Justice Center - creating economic opportunities and transforming the justice system

National Police Accountability Project - holding law enforcement accountable for misconduct

Reclaim the Block - grassroots group in Minneapolis working to increase community resources as an alternative to policing

NAACP's Legal Defense Fund (LDF) - supports racial justice through advocacy, litigation, and education.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - supports and defends civil liberties through litigation and education

The Bail Project - a nonprofit aiming to lower incarceration rates through bail reform

Campaign Zero - a nonprofit working to reduce the number of killings by police to zero

Black Visions Collective - a black, trans, and queer-led social justice organization and legal fund in Minneapolis-St. Paul

Fair Fight - started by Stacy Abrams to ensure equal access to voting

Know Your Rights Camp - started by Colin Kapaernik, provides education and training to black and brown communities

*We strongly recommend seeking organizations local to you, and making connections with them directly. Think about what you might be able to offer, from donations, to volunteering to talk to your local friends, to helping boost the signal on social media, writing letters or calling your local representatives — we all have unique skills to bring to this campaign. And, as with any campaign, those with the persistence to keep fighting are much, much more likely to win.