The fund is in partnership with the Waterloo Community Foundation in Iowa to assist the city in improving race relations.
7/29/2020 9:00
CBE Companies Inc., an Iowa-based ACA International member company, recently donated to establish a fund, in conjunction with the Waterloo Community Foundation, to which contributions can be made in support of the Waterloo Police’s efforts to improve race relations in the community. These funds will be directed toward the city of Waterloo, Iowa, with the goal to assist the city in improving race relations between the police department and the Black community. The city of Waterloo’s new police chief, Joel Fitzgerald, has proposed sweeping changes to give officers the very important and relevant training needed to perform their duties in the following areas:
- Procedural justice/implicit bias/reconciliation training
- Critical incident team training
- De-escalation instructor training
- First line supervisor training
“CBE strongly believes that everyone has a right to live freely without discrimination, and we stand together to make real and lasting change to impact [the lives of Black people],” said CBE Chairman and CEO Tom Penaluna. “More importantly, we have been listening to those in our local communities on how to best initiate change.”
Donations may be made to:
Racial Equality Training Fund
Waterloo Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1253
425 Cedar St.
Waterloo, Iowa 50704
“It is our hope that this additional support will lead to improved race relations,” Penaluna said. “Our goal is to raise $250,000 to assist with this vital community need. We invite other businesses and citizens of Waterloo to join us in donating to the fund. We know these are initial steps and there is so much more listening, understanding, and action that needs to take place for real change to occur. Many Black lives have been lost needlessly, and it’s up to every one of us to commit, to act, and to create a better future.”