The murder of George Floyd triggered widespread outcry in the United States, internationally and at home in Bermuda. And so it should. While we sit 700 miles apart across an ocean, the underpinnings of the social and racial injustice that exist in the US are no different in Bermuda.The riots and protests have been akin to the tip of an iceberg, where the under-the-surface realities include histories of income inequality, racial discrimination, healthcare disparities, unaddressed multigenerational trauma, and the list goes on. These same injustices exist and persist in Bermuda. They manifest through various forms of institutional discrimination, which serve to keep marginalised populations oppressed.Vulnerable black youth face significant challenges in achieving positive life outcomes relative to their less vulnerable, white counterparts.By as young as 8 years of age, some of these children will be already more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour, based on a range of risk factors; race is a major component of these risk factors. Primary school-aged black children are far more likely to be incarcerated by the time they turn 18 than their white peers.This is a grave injustice that has been evidenced in local and international data for decades.It is not just a social and racial justice issue; it is a complex, multifactorial human rights failure. All people have a right to access the same education, employment and health outcomes.In 2014, the Inter Agency Committee for Children and Families conducted a comprehensive assessment of the situation facing children and families in Bermuda.The report demonstrates locally what is evident in academic literature — that children and families experiencing multiple deprivation were among the most vulnerable, as they tended to suffer from ill health, low educational attainment, unstable homes, involvement in violence, as well as increased vulnerability to abuse, neglect and hunger. These families are predominantly black.Based on this assessment, the IAC drafted a Children’s Agenda identifying eight critical priorities for improving social conditions in Bermuda:1, Children and families live healthy lifestyles within the context of healthy social norms2, Families can afford to live independently and with dignity, supported by a sufficient social safety net, as needed3, Children and families live in a nurturing and restorative culture that enables them to feel safe and secure across all spheres of life — school, home, community — and provides the opportunity, after a period of reformative separation, to rejoin mainstream society4, Children have access to the support necessary to recover and build resilience from trauma5, Children and families have the education and skills necessary to secure a job that allows them to earn a living wage6, Children fulfil their greatest potential, by pursuing their creativity and passion7, Parents have positive parenting tools and techniques that prepare and encourage children8, Community is empowered to participate in key decisionsChanges in these priority areas would help to increase equity, opportunity and justice in our community.A recent Forbes article titled “Greater Capitalism” summarises the challenges with pursuing these important policy objectives: “Democracy is structurally poor at long-term outcomes. The cost of imprisoning a person — financially, much less socially — is many multiples of what it would have cost to educate and nurture him properly.”Investment in early childhood education and prevention supports has proved its return on investment, yet we often cut spending on early intervention and remain willing to spend $80,000 a year to incarcerate one individual in Westgate. The earlier in a person’s life that we address these issues, the greater the returns individually and to the community at large.However, we rarely see the community rally for these necessities to the extent that it exerts significant enough pressure to cause the entire system to change.But with awareness comes opportunity.The hope is that enough of those in our community who are not directly affected by risk, vulnerability, disadvantage, racial injustice and social disparities will join those who are to collectively raise the political will to address some of the longstanding social challenges in our community. Can we be a model to the world of how we shift priorities?Decisions on living wages, immigration policies and education reform are all tough conversations that require a difficult balance between social and economic needs. We do not have the right balance. What are we all willing to advocate for to have a more balanced, just and united community?The Children’s Agenda presents an opportune starting place for a national advocacy agenda.• To see the full Children’s Agenda of Priorities and associated policy recommendations, visit www.iacbermuda.org/childrens-agenda/ • Elisabeth Kast, chairwoman, advocacy committee, and Nicola Paugh, PhD, programme co-ordinator, represent the Inter Agency Committee for Children and Families