Have you ever been sitting around with a group of people, some of which are friends and others maybe acquaintances and someone just drops a racial comment or a really lewd comment about homosexuals? It never ceases to amaze me that people are really that ignorant. We live in a day and age where there is so much diversity and so much good that can and does come from it, it really makes you think why are people afraid to change their backwards thinking. Most of those people are miserable so why not take a stab at something different, why not try viewing all people as your equals and don’t judge people by their “look”.
One of the most important things to us at CANY is that we send a message to those who are uneducated and try and reach out to others to embrace unity, diversity and peace. Those basic principles are the foundation to building a better future for generations to come and are the lessons/values we should be teaching our children. Why is it when we go to war people of all races stand side by side and fight for our country to protect our freedom, the very same freedom that so many disrespect and and abuse by being racist or homophobic. Why when 9/11 happened or some other tragedy strikes our country are we so instinctively compelled to band together regardless of race, religion or sexual preference and perform and accomplish so much, but can’t seem to get it together if not faced with adversity.
PEACE
I grew up in a foster home from the age of 10 and lived there until I was 18. Although I was too young and immature at the time to understand how special someone who devotes their life to helping others is, I clearly understand now and appreciate all I have benefited from such an experience. Growing up in an environment that was so diversified and being exposed to people of all races, religions and sexual preferences all of whom had unique circumstances that brought them to our home would lay the foundation for my beliefs and what kind of person I would become. I was fortunate enough to spend my life as a ward of the state with just one family who was loving and devoted to the cause of making a home feel like a home and a family for those who had never experienced that kind of life.
CANY Clothing was born from the belief that from coast 2 coast, we are one country, united not divided. It’s a philosophy I developed early on in life and learned quickly that to judge someone by their actions and their character was the only way I was to live my life. I could never understand the racial slurs or homophobic talk that was so easily bantered about amongst friends, acquaintances and strangers. I grew very angered by this kind of behavior and knew one day that I would get a chance to speak out against this uneducated and irresponsible kind of mentality.
I am so proud to say that today we have that voice and the vehicle with which we can deliver our message of peace, love and unity. CANY is teaming up with a group that currently is based out of N.Y. called the Reciprocity Foundation. Taz Tagore and Adam Bucko founded the Reciprocity Foundation to enable homeless and high-risk youth and young adults to permanently exit the social services system and start meaningful, sustainable careers in the Creativity Economy (e.g. fashion, design, marketing, PR). The Reciprocity Foundation aims to build a national network of programs to enable homeless youth to enroll in college, secure hands-on work experiences and build a professional network in their field of interest. Currently, their work is focused on the thousands of homeless youth in New York City; in the future, the Reciprocity Foundation plans to expand into cities such Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Austin.
CANY is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales of our shirts to help this worthwhile cause and is looking to reach out in any way possible to help Adam and Taz with their unselfish passion to help people who have been otherwise “shunned” by society. I was once that kid and thankfully the system and the family I grew up with did everything but turn their back on me. Join us in our journey to spread our message and along the way make new friends who think and feel as we do, that all people should be treated equally and have the freedoms that Americans are supposed to have..no prejudice…no exceptions!
