June 1st, 2020
Dear Pomona College Community,
As Occupy Pomona’s fundraising campaign for the summer comes to a close, we would like to extend a huge THANK YOU! to everyone who participated in our mutual aid effort. We are in awe of how our community came together to provide $46,688 this past week, as well as $170,095 since March, in order to secure the financial stability of our fellow Sagehens. To the activists and organizers who put in countless hours of advocacy, we thank you. To the friends and family who shared our message and mission, we thank you. To the students, alumni, faculty, parents, and friends of the community who donated, we thank you. We have all done so much to ensure that vulnerable members of our community were supported during this tumultuous semester, and will continue to be supported as they enter this summer, amidst massive uncertainty.
In this past week, our #ChirpItForward campaign has highlighted the resilience of Pomona students. Even after losing half of our semester and our proximity to one another, we have continued to fight for one another. The thousands of dollars raised are a massive testament to the deep well of compassion and connection that exists inside every one of us. Your contributions show that being a Sagehen means committing to the pursuit, not just of intellectual growth, but of equity and justice. We are proud of all in our community who answered the call to uphold those elevated ideals.
In March, Occupy Pomona’s fundraising efforts were born out of frustration with the College’s willingness to leave so many students in situations of precarious housing, food, and health conditions. Over the past few months, through the relentless action of largely BIPOC, FLI and international students, we responded to this crisis by upholding what we believe to be Pomona's core values—ensuring that no Sagehen is left behind. At a time when our community was torn apart, students, faculty, parents, and alumni came together to make sure that everyone was taken care of. As our #ChirpItForward campaign affirmed, and as we will continue to affirm, no Sagehen is supported and taken care of until every Sagehen in our community is supported and cared for.
As we move into the summer and discern our next steps as an organization, Occupy Pomona can promise one thing: we are here to stay. We will continue to cement the standards and community values of mutual aid and support. We will continue to push our community to do better, to care for one another, and to look out for our most vulnerable members. While Occupy Pomona’s fundraising efforts are over for now, we will still continue to move forward as an organization and advocate for students. We will share the details of our next initiative, which will include establishing mutual aid support networks between students, in the upcoming weeks. We would like to invite everyone in the Pomona community to join us in the work of ensuring that every Sagehen is seen and cared for.
Occupy Pomona also recognizes the fact that Black communities all over the world are still in need of support. In light of the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as the protests in response, we stand in solidarity with the global Black Community and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We strongly encourage everyone in our community to donate to Black Lives Matter affiliated organizations as well as bail relief funds across the country. We have compiled a beginning list of resources at the bottom to start off your efforts. Just as our community came together to ensure that vulnerable students were supported, we hope that you extend this care and solidarity to the Black community. Our values of mutual aid and support must extend beyond the gates of Pomona College, and we must, as true Sagehens, bear our added riches in trust of humankind.
In Solidarity,
Occupy Pomona
BLM Resources:
Compiled lists on how to support:
Ways You Can Help- BlackLivesMatter
How to Support Protesters in Every City
Here’s Where You Can Donate To Help The #BlackLivesMatter Movement