Technology solutions, at their best, are about problem-solving, critical thinking, progress, and ultimately enhancing people’s lives. As a technology consulting firm, we know that these ideals cannot be reached in a world where racism, bigotry, and hatred are tolerated. We firmly believe in the journey to racial equality and social justice in this country and around the globe. 

In the spirit of Juneteenth, and in honor of the proclamation of this day of commemoration by the United States government, we want to recognize the hard struggles and also celebrate the success of Black Americans, a story of an entire community with no parallels. This day also gives hope and serves as a reminder of the incredible potential that can be unlocked when all people are valued equally. 

While we celebrate this day, we are also reminded of the challenges that still remain to be solved. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequities of access to education, opportunities, and healthcare for members of the African American community as well as people of color and other underrepresented communities in the United States have come to the forefront of our collective consciousness. As a growing company, we see it as our duty and privilege to open doors and work towards solutions for racial equity. 

At SPAR, our vision is to “help our clients scale and grow by seamlessly connecting people and processes to enhance people’s lives”. This commitment to connection and dedication to improving lives is not limited to our clients. Our journey to becoming the “trusted partner” that is core to our mission statement is rooted in how we gain and nurture the trust of people from all backgrounds, internally and externally. We believe the need to actively build awareness and work against all forms of discrimination and bias is essential to our business goals as well as our responsibility to our fellow humans. 

We are committed to learning, growing, and adapting in ways that prioritize equality, diversity, and inclusion. To accomplish this goal, we will strive to show the value of bringing people from diverse backgrounds together for the best problem-solving to our clients, partners, team members, and the communities where we operate. We pledge to seek out and support community organizations and initiatives that align with these goals as part of our giving back. As we search for new SPARriors, we pledge to open searches so as to recruit the best possible person for each role from a diverse set of candidates. We pledge to create more resources, training, and competencies for our employees to become aware of racism and discrimination and approaches to countering those biases.

We are keenly aware of the long road ahead on this journey, and we remain hopeful and open to ways in which we can positively work to support a better future for all people.