RESCHEDULED: Newton Schools Foundation Presents Social Justice Warrior & Newton Police Task Force Chair Sonja Spears
On Tuesday, February 23rd, at 7 p.m., Newton Police Task Force Chair Sonja Spears will give an on-line talk exploring how her own experiences inform her work as a social justice advocate and give her hope in the restorative powers of justice.
To register for the free presentation, visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TiWIrtf5TXSIk6v2r1FP6w
This talk is part of the 10th annual Newton Inspires: A Celebration of Ideas and Community, a fundraiser for Newton Schools Foundation. Once a month Newtonians — present and former — share their interests and passions via Zoom.
While a judge in New Orleans, Spears was wrongfully targeted for criminal prosecution. After two years of investigation, no wrongdoing was discovered so she was cleared and never charged, but the impact of this experience was devastating personally and professionally. After retiring from the bench, she re-dedicated her life to issues of racial justice and equity and now works as the chief equity and inclusion officer at Boston Health Care of the Homeless Program and teaches part time at Tufts University.
Happy Black History Month and Black Lives Matter Action Week!
If you’re looking for conversation and context for discussions with your family and community, have a look at these compilations provided by the FORJ City-wide initiative:
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
Talking to Kids About Race and Racism: A Conversation with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President Emerita of Spelman College, moderated by Tiziana Dearing, Host of WBUR’s Radio Boston. The recording from the January 27th, 2021 talk is now available on YouTube with additional resources. Dr. Tatum combines lived experience, parenting, and research to help us understand how to broach conversations about race and racism with children and youth.
FORJ is looking for the next City-Wide FORJ Coordinator
For the 2021-2022 year, Newton Public Schools authorized a stipend to hire a FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) Coordinator. For information regarding FORJ, please visit www.forjnewton.com. Applications are due to FORJ by February 12, 2021.
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. Our Lincoln-Eliot FORJ contact is parent Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com