To My Fellow VOKE Members,

The Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators condemns racism, prejudice, and discrimination. We stand with our Black educators, students, communities and believe that all Black Lives Matter.

VOKE acknowledges that we have fallen short of our mission to fully realize Kodály's vision that "Music is For Everyone." We are committed to examining our policies, procedures, and practices and will actively deconstruct and reconstruct them to ensure that we are supporting and providing music education and professional development that is inclusive and accessible to all.

VOKE remembers George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and the countless other Black Americans, both named and unnamed, who have been murdered due to the racism and oppression that exist in the systems of our nation. Let us all commit to take action by listening to our Black educators and students, supporting Black musicians, supporting culture bearer-let professional development, donating to Black organizations, educating ourselves, and critically examining our own classroom materials and practices.

Together, let's work to ensure that Music is For Everyone.