Upcoming FORJ City-Wide Meeting:
Wednesday June 16th 7:30-9pm – Fostering Equity-Focused Family Engagement with Immigrant Families RSVP here
At the May 25th FORJ City-Wide Meeting about “Building Bridges thru Advocacy for a Racially Just Newton,” a panel of Newton teachers, school, community and district leaders provided guidance and experience on how to bring up issues affecting our community to the Newton Public School District and City for results. The FORJ Board shared a tool that members developed to follow for effectively addressing issues. They highlighted that progress is more important than perfection (you don’t have to know all of the questions to ask, but it’s important to speak up and connect!), be specific about what you are trying to address (while some issues feel urgent, think about what you want to achieve and who to talk to), and make sure to have stakeholders in the conversation (don’t speak for other people, listen to and engage with them).
LINCOLN-ELIOT FORJ KIDS BOOK CLUB – Wednesday, June 9th at 4:30pm (ZOOM) (Note date change from original schedule)
The L-E FORJ Kids Book Club selected A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan to read for the next meeting on Zoom on Wednesday, June 9th at 4:30 p.m. ET. This book is recommended for 9-12 year olds, but all family members are welcome. Please RSVP to L-E FORJ Coordinator Lanni Isenberg if you’d like to join the chat: Lanni_harris@yahoo.com (The book is available to borrow from Newton libraries, electronically and for purchase on a variety of online bookstores.)
Join Lincoln-Eliot’s FIRST Juneteenth Celebration – Friday, June 18th from 4-6p, Lincoln-Eliot Playground
Juneteenth is the celebration of the freedom of formerly enslaved people in the United States. The Lincoln-Eliot PTO and L-E FORJ will host an afternoon of fun activities, including music and games. Join friends and learn the Electric Slide and Double Dutch, too!
Newton North High School continues the festivities through the weekend!
Juneteenth is on Saturday June 19th. FORJ, Newton Community Pride, and the Harmony Foundation are co-sponsoring a city-wide community event at the Hyde Playground in the Newton Highlands on Sunday, June 20th, commemorating this historic holiday. (Requires Registration – see NNHS flyer for scan code to register)
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 equity. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about the differences in our society.
We strive to achieve safe and welcoming environments that enhance the well-being of all people. We promote healing and connection between individuals and communities. We speak out against injustice, support our kids to be upstanders, and take action to address bias and inequity.