At Brava, one of our core values is “Team: Include, inspire, and uplift others.”  We do our best to live up to this every day on behalf of our diverse team, our diverse customer base, and in our various communities.  Our strength is, unequivocally, our collective community.  We stand not only for health and cooking, but love, respect and inclusion.  

Ultimately we are one community of humanity, and we rise and fall as that community. We need to stand together against racism and institutionalized suppression of all types.  As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said from behind the bars of a Birmingham cell, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

In this challenging time of pandemic and division, we are also seeing acts of heroism.  Of empathy.  Of connection.  Of sacrifice.  We need to shine a light on these to illuminate the path forward.  We must recommit to our most noble values as they matter more than ever. 

On a personal note, I am starting by donating to the Equal Justice Initiative and Black Lives Matter today.  Obviously there are many other excellent organizations doing terrific work helping those oppressed, sick, hungry or in need.  We salute all efforts to make the world a better place for everyone.

-John Pleasants, CEO and co-founder