FORJ: Upcoming Meetings

Mark your calendars for upcoming FORJ City-Wide Meetings:

Tuesday May 25th 7:30pm-9pm – “The Universe is on the Side of Justice”: Advocating for a Racially Just Newton.  Looking at the how and why of advocacy and how to avoid common pitfalls.  RSVP here.

Wednesday June 16th 7:30-9pm – Fostering Equity-Focused Family Engagement with Immigrant Families.  RSVP here.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Newsletter to follow with more information.

COVID Crisis in India

We are saddened by the staggering losses in India due to COVID-19.  We are thinking about all in our community who have family in India and ways that we can support each other.
Consider providing comfort to our local community and direct relief to those in India.
Some ways to locally support families:

  • Offer to cook a meal so they can focus on providing emotional support to their families in India
  • Ask if they need any resources to send to their families
  • Offer to help with a GoFund Me page if they need money to support care or funeral costs
  • Provide healing circles in your community to give people space to connect and share their experiences

Donate to direct relief agencies:

Organizations working on COVID RESPONSE in INDIA — here are few in which we know Newton residents are closely involved:

Akshaya Patra: https://www.akshayapatra.org/covid-relief-services

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, in close coordination with State Governments & District Administration, has stepped in to provide relief by providing food to thousands of people across the country.

Ekal Vidyalaya: https://www.ekal.org/us/campaign-detail/covid-crisis-support

Ekal USA is gathering funds to send diagnostic equipment and medicines to the villages.  Ekal, in conjunction with Intelehealth, our tele-health partner has established a health-line of 1000 Karyakartas to answer calls from the villages.  The health-line provides instant connection to doctors of the National Medicos Organization so that expert help can be made available as needed.  With these measures — hotline and addition of the diagnostic equipment and medicines — we can help EKAL VILLAGES TIDE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

To read more about what is happening in India please read: COVID-19 took my wife: Battling a sneaky virus in healthcare system under stress where the only consolation is humanity.  Written by a relative of a student at Cabot Elementary School.

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

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.