At Switch, we believe in listening above all else — listening to our clients, to our peers, our neighbors, to one another. We're not experts (not even close), and have so much to learn when it comes to being actively anti-racist, but it feels wrong to not publicly acknowledge what is going on in our world right now. The world is full of brutality, injustice, and silence — it always has been, but right now it is not only impossible, but irresponsible to ignore.

In an effort to do better, we are sharing what we are doing personally, as well as a few resources that we hope you'll find helpful as well. Most of these started by being shared within our team as we individually grapple with our responsibilities during this time, so as we discover more, the list will grow. This is a learning process that will never end. If you are overwhelmed, and looking for a place to start, here are a few collected links you can check out first:

  1. Donate
    If you have the means, and are able to financially support a cause, might we recommend these?

    Restore OKC
    Oklahoma City-based organization working to bridge relationships of reconciliation for restorative justice by serving the physical, social, emotional, educational, and economic needs for our neighbors in OKC.

    Luke 4:18 Bail Fund
    Led by Faith in Texas and partnering with communities, currently and formerly incarcerated people, families impacted by the legal justice system, and funders to drastically reduce the jail population in Dallas County. Faith in Texas is a nonpartisan, multi-racial, multi-faith grassroots movement of people united in values working together to achieve economic, racial, and social justice for all people.

    Miles of Freedom
    Behind Every Door
    Abide Women
    The Innocence Project
    Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
    The NAACP Legal Defense Fund

  2. Petition
    Google search and educate yourself on one that speaks to you. Sign and share. Change.org is a great place to start. We signed to support justice for George Floyd.

  3. Vote
    Vote in your local elections. Vote in your national elections. Support, encourage, and volunteer to help others do the same. We hear a lot of buzz around national elections, but our local leaders truly hold the ultimate power for our communities and reform.

  4. Speak Up
    At Switch, we are aware that we do not come from a place of authority on this subject. But we do have a responsibility — to our team, our clients, our friends, our neighbors, our families, and our children. It's uncomfortable, but the alternative is much more painful. Right now, we are working to amplify the voices that need to be heard more than ours. You can follow our Instagram stories, and check back for updates on this post and shared resources to find out more.

  5. Educate
    Ignorance is not bliss. Education is a lifetime commitment. A few of our current reads and follows:

    Anti-Racism Resources 
    A Google doc compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein in May 2020. It is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work.

    8 Lessons About Racism
    A great Instagram resource by Jen Winston, eight lessons about racism that were helpful to her as a white person.

    Shareable Anti-Racism Resource Guide 
    An incredibly comprehensive guide originally crafted following the murder of Ahmuad Arbery. It is being consistently updated to address the current climate of the country.

    An Anti-Racism Reading List
    Compiled by author Ibram X. Kendi for the New York Times, the reading list is composed of a combination of classics, relatively obscure works and a few of recent vintage books.

    The Conscious Kid
    A favorite of several parents at Switch. The Conscious Kid is an educational nonprofit that equips parents and educators with tools they can use to support racial identity development, critical literacy, and equitable practices in homes and classrooms. Their Instagram page is helpful to review bite-size ways to take quick action and learn to speak to children about race.

On Design

While we've chosen to pause marketing design efforts for the sake of design in support of amplifying other voices that need to be heard, we understand and believe that design is one of the most powerful weapons we can offer. If you do find yourself needing something designed to support your efforts, we are happy to review. In the meantime, may we share the following links that other designers have shared with us as well including Gabby Lord. Thank you for your efforts.

28 Days of Black Designers
A project by Tim Hykes that focuses on the stories and work of African American and Black designers. The Black community lack stories and accomplishments of Black artists.

Vocal Type
Founded by Tré Seals, Vocal Type works to increase diversity and empathy in the design industry by creating and highlighting typography. Anyone that has ever been impacted by a protest sign, banner, or simple graphic design post, can attest to the immense emotional power that great type can have. Each typeface from Vocal Type highlights a piece of history from a specific underrepresented race, ethnicity, or gender.

Fonts In Use
A collected set of fonts in use, designed by African American designers.

Here. Listening. Doing the work.
- Your friends at Switch