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<p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">June 2, 2020</span></font></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Dear LTER Community,</font></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As millions of people raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd, we are filled with grief and anger and reminded how far we still are from the fair and just society to which we aspire. These recent events are not isolated incidents, but only the latest and most visible in an ongoing assault on Black communities. As individuals, many of us are acting in our own communities to institute real change, but we know that our organizations, too, can do better.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As part of the LTER community — as site and network leaders — we share the outrage, grief, and fear that many are feeling and reaffirm </span><a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/18RsG5Kt8Nd3gsHnXGLSBvtuRgNeCjCOjQdfPP_3uVasGlsJshpczJMvxWjkKC-6ci07di5IjVlqFB7q1C8xY86P_dBihXLbvtDREBDMooFgRg7VhH0hsdfksGLMkezQ-VQD0rTkPuJbonViHGMNchZQr1OAcvnxPGMHOzK9eVvWZVLV-2ZPXcdj9ZhEyKn1KyeNEezVRrCF8Hclg0NSqmRcCoLRwW3zjkZubqJIos2d-uCZYl1H29g8_3MkwH9jN65NpBkF9lS9KKpjckB9e6ESBPwQWqktk2AyTfPRAIk2KJj5iuTJ06CI9_aREZXQOQyAHaGevP5TEyjJXUWL2IegLZamVXlzUqWzxCytD6T1k-H4dhbN_dEkiTgAwS4iLhnwcZSVfHRNeFSszVsjX_8Na-0AXAETnzGNhSsh0eyDAYsR-cc9qZ0Xq-B0iC1jzNGlDhxeJbLyu7unB1fkiIw/https%3A%2F%2Flternet.edu%2Flter-meetings-code-of-conduct%2F" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">our commitment</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all network researchers, students, and staff. Please contact team leadership, </span><a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/15DjQBMB7R39rtoxsJki92cJBOjJGjosZz9pXZglFJteTrx8qGYb0YB9WcwNj1vPy_B3tv0VdlgofFsvO_qmwgK34b849T0NKwEQdTLMvKU31ox5SmNTBV14P6YXPw9ZNZt4GM8TLqOc3NN7JIqcUhcamSkYWrpXJeQaiWvpL4X6gLFiSJ8krhH6u7P9InqMV0QqHLWF6iB1EcxXfKfnhlJqec3bJckVtDaziS4P665VCqAd1GBYQBSLGgUZ04QsK6SILk-A_Tg-7t1fXBvHZI-nG6dtqiF2uzI0Gi5NRQ5ma80SN1jV4pNm5YLg4yIOddrzda9jFbG1Bq4t2Q0GcSoPYBfVNez_Kg8Rrl99xA6H3mmE4FBo1VRm7Ef5TkbU__8B5G9zlkJPgkgrQfvBFOsg7GyqeetqxRplNUMcnGPQMg4OlEigpNRv9hsVV7faIJ6tQ72mpLbKDLoWNTOn5ng/https%3A%2F%2Flternet.edu%2Fsite-contacts%2F" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">site leadership</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, or </span><a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/1-n2kV7xjGR209YVjYBMtdP_1MzgMdbrb2barsfJXkWfncdFNKtLnW8p85K4lMF6q4k9BAwe2LDJ6LHEa5cmd6X01e_VuERBu64f2tNa7_zXJcdCJC3Y7YfXhQ-J5DDQ4GBu6QX8Qdh_Gwwhbi3EhgrAIfJVhEL1cMNbyLDB2AQ4itxOqwc6pnNfz4jncOKA4teVXK6FRGSLQemmJCDSrZhhbcencZHdqq41oYaVG01zjnUUlTUc8ft-SOyLjWWKCvrlV6_prSkX5bEMhjTEagVZ-IOa46J7_fuJ9QGEhGa3VBEZcT3k8kOiWwoXWHqDCoUy0ESOrJxnIwrn8w8PbNtReye7u6csoZQwSC1UtdA3Cfm-fc9M-BO1l869e5rO-OcDvjPg3Vb6sZMHzLxz8j7ccdcZOlJFKb5KY0wFOgNxRYxH7BhYfQgOJ75jRjoKADOiMUJS_Q29RvXs1kE2zXw/https%3A%2F%2Flternet.edu%2Fnetwork-organization%2Fnetwork-leadership%2F" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">network leadership</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> with any concerns.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The </span><a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/1qhnDEm0CZpu5xyOq6eZ_qR5z-F9kUGnR4ZJm6yp9916285QqVULHFMuK3e0b-mmO6rgSF2RPyFzV4-yaZWGmtNzi2clsMox8gRN1beGOridCsngs6OKM9iUXizW3eaB97tjoHx5SVrdIH39jByycKYXTJXn_Sj5sCgQhxaztGLGEh5KDDJXvY1OJVQw55x1LTy7tKc2lddnMJoq-ZHeMuTWHqbP1bLRiQuGniRDibokuaOz_nRapDv8yoRD0zIEW32oTIynt7DgcqcRihhCFx9KQp2BrPWW0Me1A5fAtkg68msMjq9bEkosL_qgG4OahJQCMKpFodBYuO302cbM0rBgIqXAhz9lJkhae7ghTMEg3q6q50VGU-tJtywc5Br03OjceHu7HKQnLsxUrEqzcRFVcm2tQxAt2LMIr0Gg46QtqByUg0EjeRLXuZ1RDR_RkxcpzeWa5ZbrNWq-cYkcPfw/https%3A%2F%2Flternet.edu%2Fcommittees%2Fdiversity-committee%2F" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">LTER Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is developing and sharing resources for improving recruitment, mentoring, and practical support of minority researchers, as well as building community and expanding leadership opportunities. We do this work both because our moral obligation to fairness and equity requires it and because leaving talent untapped throttles scientific progress. We welcome participation, ideas, and resource suggestions from across the network.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are also conscious that the current intensity of feelings may make research and study more difficult for many. We encourage program leaders to make allowances where possible and to create spaces for community discussion. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We recommit — at this painful juncture in history — to challenging individual and institutional biases wherever we encounter them and to nurturing justice, dignity, and opportunity for all.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Finally, </span>the
Ecological Society of America is hosting a
listening session on June 3 at 4 pm EST that will
provide an opportunity for further consideration
of these issues and paths forward.<br>
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<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zg9IrIihJRP6npWhlEoOHuJ-PR72W7Qff4MoMcQ5OSMS00-ouc3tNxMkhO1Y78ddGXB6M67zAk91EpA3OFlMbmVWy_vuSIrkUcJdgMr0ueIv47bdBSCDY3u3-g3EH1xONqOxPSjG9zb1wLMmutu3GrfDsw2eQSaNV8INKJkf_yRSyy-SCzpbMltsOXiR8STeQfmDV9VBAoE=&c=H1PIX-4sfrh3oPRMKfg6U9OmzF23Okj2vr7xKNe-7RdDsuJ0XLUWcQ==&ch=Yy1E9dcdQD98RO7WCM-jDZo05lSWzf-tlYN99-NdedidZSIwZc30Ng==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(0,94,93);font-size:14px;font-family:Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Attend
ESA's listening session on Wednesday, June 3</a>
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<div dir="ltr">Marty
Downs
(she/her/hers)
<div>Director,
LTER Network
Office<br>
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<a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/13-X87o3W9gzXRxUFCpeRRiD2wpRe-OfHr_vHnTkoF5-WCA7TdYL-D_n_sNJl66oYeVACGC8PpuslvZbPLipMc02xaJvGvyR0PuT8DgqB06g8Y77SKe5X1Wd-Cntu_qBDtVwxc5flCPhB_o3x2mssTuMO4CnSSFSkRYlA7zkvImkvJLVrwqKPLD-i3ba564hG2-jMRu6oGr12FoBhBHFM_HdnhYeEw9kjcw3etDBaP9nwYXEOkcwR8MJbGkv85hpaZfoRsOBw4YmhkPLL37CDuGi_ctM8WcZohomcY01f_ir9ZUgEia02pUzx1dluLlum7aQGZOFohD1yteIjcRFoYxMCkrDYtXBOPPPTHt-eeoh_aZ6Vzw-nLVwgm-g67yUiTZVhuyWJDJ1fabc6brwDdOiGwCQ2vC-ZQPvRs0pWBYsGfC0yE1JJ8gRn-4uZEB3Kx0yLhvmBWlQxr2nFEvWWiA/https%3A%2F%2Flternet.edu%2F" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">https://lternet.edu</a><br>
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<div>t:
@USLTER</div>
<div>f: USLTER</div>
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<div>National
Center for
Ecological
Analysis and
Synthesis
(NCEAS)<br>
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<div>University
of California,
Santa Barbara<br>
Office:
805-893-7549</div>
<div>Cell:
617-833-7930</div>
<div><a href="mailto:downs@nceas.ucsb.edu" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">downs@nceas.ucsb.edu</a></div>
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