Recent FORJ Meeting – School Chapters In Action
Last week, FORJ representatives from Newton schools met to review accomplishments, pool resources and discuss challenges. Participants noted the ability to expand FORJ participation with the use of Zoom. This year, schools hosted multi-cultural nights featuring engaging pre-recorded cooking demos and cultural demonstrations by kids. Peirce Elementary held a family storytime and art projects on activism and the Harlem Renaissance. Countryside Elementary School hosted a listening circle after the murders in Atlanta in March. Lincoln-Eliot hosted our FORJ Kids Book Clubs. More information on the June L-E FORJ Book Club coming to you this week!
Facebook Virtual Affinity Space FORJ Families of Color
FORJ Members created a Facebook page for Families of Color to connect and communicate. You don’t have to be a member of FORJ to join the group. Families of Color and families with children who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color are encouraged to check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/293432345707888
Newton METCO Family Council – Connections & Social Space
Families in the METCO program can connect with each other with the Newton METCO Family Council. If you’d like to participate in a social before summer, contact newtonfamilycouncil@gmail.com
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration Location Petition – October 11, 2021
The BAA rescheduled the 2021 Boston Marathon for Indigenous Peoples Day, October 11th. This decision was made without consulting Indigenous people. Because of the Marathon, the City of Newton said that city resources are strapped and the Indigenous Peoples Day event must move to Newton South High School, not an optimal location because it’s not near public transit and is not a highly visible locale. If you’d like to join the effort to move the event to Albemarle Field, which is equidistant to Newton South, but more visible to the public and accessible by transit, please reach out to Mayor Fuller and your Ward Councilors to let them
know. You can write your own letter, or just copy and paste this letter!
(Click here if you are not sure who your Ward Councilors are.)
If you would like to sign the petition urging the BAA to change the Marathon date, click here.
District Update: Staff of Color Affinity Groups in Newton Public Schools
Staff of Color in Newton Public Schools (NPS) represent a small percentage of the overall school population. This may present challenges of isolation, exclusion and lack of community. The hope is that providing affinity spaces will offer a place for support and safety which will positively impact experiences in NPS. With support from Newton Schools Foundation, FORJ has launched district-wide affinity groups for all NPS staff who identify as BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/Person of Color).
Staff will meet bi-monthly with their grade cohorts, as well as be invited to district-wide events held at the beginning and end of each school year.
Planning will prioritized needs and feedback from BIPOC staff with these objectives in mind:
- Offer safe spaces to meet other staff of color with similar responsibilities and challenges
- Create opportunities for staff of color to discuss and support daily challenges of microaggressions and racism
- Learn and share strategies to implement in support of inclusion, diverse curriculum and school-based activities
- Develop networking and mentorship opportunities to support career advancement
For more information, visit: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/3877
NPS Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has a webpage
Please visit this page to stay informed of updates and events in the district and to access resources: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Domain/1438
Mark your calendars for upcoming FORJ City-Wide Meetings:
Tuesday May 25th 7:30pm-9pm – Looking at the how and why of advocacy and how to avoid common pitfalls. More information to follow.
Wednesday June 16th 7:30-9pm – End of the year celebration.
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Newsletter to follow with more information.
JOIN A FORJ SCHOOL CHAPTER!
The Bigelow Middle School FORJ chapter is looking for more members. If you’d like to join their chapter this summer or in the fall OR the Lincoln-Eliot FORJ chapter, please contact L-E FORJ Coordinator Lanni Isenberg at lanni_harris@yahoo.com!
FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) is a coalition of school-aged families in Newton coming together to teach our children – and ourselves – how to stand up for racial equality.