This September, our team is observing National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month by sponsoring Only Human’sStay; suicide awareness campaign and supporting the well-being of those who feel alone or hopeless.
Like many of you, our team has been deeply saddened by the loss of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Phoenix’s own Dion Johnson, and countless other Black lives that have been taken. While these incidents brought racism to the public’s attention, it has been a problem for far too long. Our country is at a turning point, and we want to be part of making it a better, safer place for everyone.
At Gateway, we’re channeling our emotions into action. We understand the unfortunate disparity in access to capital between Black- and white-owned businesses. The 2020 Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey noted that non-Hispanic Black owners are half as likely to have obtained bank funds as non-Hispanic white owners (23% vs. 46%, respectively).
Gateway’s inclusive, tenured team has deep experience and is always willing to listen, learn, and consult with minority-owned businesses to help them access capital. If you or someone you know could use this support, please have them contact us. We’re here to serve the community.
While this is a start, confronting racism is more than one donation, newsletter, or social media post. It’s ongoing work, and we’re committed to doing it. We will continue to employ a diverse team and stand up for what’s right. We want to be part of the solution, starting in our own backyard.
As the situation around the Coronavirus continues to evolve, we’re reaching out to share some reassurance and let you know the actions we’re taking to keep everyone healthy while minimizing business disruptions.