Diversity is everything we bring to the table. Inclusion is ensuring we have a seat and a voice at the table. I knew what I signed up for regarding the lawsuit when I joined Founders Brewing Co. I have supported Founders each step of the way. I also know I signed up to represent an organization that believes in its people, an organization that believes its people are family.

I believed in Founders with everything I have. I believed in Founders to the extent of sacrificing my personal life, my safety, my friends, relationships with several community partners, and my health. The case study I created and interview process in which I was hired upon drew specific measures to increase Founders' reputation in diversity and inclusion and regain the trust of the LGBTQ and People of Color communities.

During my course of employment since January 2019, I have repeatedly given suggestions on how to build our reputation and listen to our employees who have been on the front lines. This week alone, I have repeatedly given explicit feedback on how to increase our reputation and increase our narrative, media reputation, and morale with employees. This feedback I have given is also the exact same feedback that credible public relations firms have given, which you blatantly disagreed with.

In every conversation and with every action, you've been most concerned with winning the lawsuit. You are most concerned with the ego of "winning" than you are about the loss of customers, loss of reputation, and loss of employees' wellbeing. This does not exemplify the Founders' Principles of Family, Community, Authenticity, Dedication, Humility, Positivity, Purposeful Progress, Diversity or Inclusion.

We as a company, didn't have to be at the place we are at now. If the voice of a Diversity & Inclusion Director was heard, headlines would read much differently. We had the opportunity to be the hero in how we could have addressed this situation, instead we have lost the trust of the community, many of our accounts, and many of our employees. The prioritization of diversity and inclusion begins at the top. We are not experiencing a staff issue, we are experiencing a leadership issue. Inclusion is ensuring we have a seat and a voice at the table.

Your actions have explicitly shown you are more interested in the optics of my face than the impact of my voice. I have dedicated myself to a life and career of equity, ethics, integrity, and morals. I cannot represent a company who doesn't stand for the same. Ego and greed will destroy an organization's brand and reputation. This is my two-week resignation as Founders Diversity & Inclusion Director. My last day with Founders Brewing Co. will be Friday, November 8, 2019.

I wish you all the best,

Graci Harkema