FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ)

FORJ is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice.  We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CEREMONIAL CELEBRATION RECAP

On October 10^th, Indigenous Peoples Day Newton hosted the second annual Indigenous Peoples Day Ceremonial Celebration in Albemarle Park.  With performing artist Annawon Weedon as emcee, participants enjoyed a full day of music, sharing, dancing, listening, and celebration.  Native American Tribes from the across the nation were present and participating in the day’s program, with people coming from as far as Florida and Washington State!  U.S. Veterans from the Narragansett tribe raised a flag throughout the day.  Tribal elders described remembrances, traditions, and policy work in progress.  Legislative bills described included establishing Indigenous Peoples Day across Massachusetts, protecting Native American heritage, removing Indigenous mascots in Massachusetts, and supporting education for Indigenous youth.  A market featuring more than 40 booths included handmade art, jewelry, musical instruments, baked goods, chocolate, clothing, children’s craft activities, wellness businesses and organizations like Karaya Wellness Center and CERT (emergency response groups), the League of Women Voters, FORJ, and conservation information.  And delicious food options abounded with fry bread, tamoles vendors and much more.

Indigenous Peoples Day 2022: Rainbow above the Ceremonial Fire

YOUR FORJ IDEAS WELCOME

Want to practice talking about some tough topics – Maybe read an article together or even have our kids take part in a FORJ Kids’ Book Club?  Let’s do that!  Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com, is FORJ Liaison to our PTO Board.  Any parent/guardian at Lincoln-Eliot may help plan or suggest activities for our FORJ efforts.  In prior years, L-E FORJ has provided resources, shared information on special events, hosted a 2^nd-5^th grade FORJ Kids’ Book Club, and hosted Lincoln-Eliot’s Juneteenth Celebration.

HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARENESS MONTH

This national observance started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.

To learn more about how Latino History is American History, see the virtual exhibit “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States” by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino.

There are many events happening around Boston.  The Boston Red Sox are hosting a Hispanic Heritage Day on September 28^th and the Museum of Science is hosting a celebration day on October 1^st from 10a.m. –  4p.m.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

October 10, 2022 will be the second Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance for Newton Public Schools and Massachusetts.  The Indigenous Peoples Day Committee in Newton is looking for volunteers to assist with all aspect of this fun, family-friendly outdoor event.  Click here to volunteer!  There will be music and dancing, cultural discussion with elders from the Indigenous community, educational exhibits, markets and food in Albemarle Park from 11a-6p.

Indigenous Peoples Day Newton is fiscally sponsored by NOPI – Nonprofit Incubator, a program of NOPI INC, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) organization.  For more information: https://newtoncommunitypride.org/newton-indigenous-peoples-day/ 

FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ)

FORJ is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice.  We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.

Another parent signed up to join L-E FORJ at the Back-to-School Picnic last week.  We’ll meet in October.  Contact Lanni Isenberg, lanni_harris@yahoo.com, if you’d like to join us to learn together.  How about an L-E FORJ Kids’ Book Club?  Or, chat about an article or ideas?

LINCOLN-ELIOT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION RECAP

Thank you to all who joined in the Lincoln-Eliot Juneteenth Celebration! With funding and planning assistance from our own FORJ & PTO, plus Bigelow FORJ & PTO, Ward FORJ & PTO, and Underwood FORJ & PTO, we enjoyed hot dogs & vegan sausages from Lord Dawgz catering, a scavenger hunt created by the Bigelow Middle School Student Council, sweet treats from Equality Cupcakes – Bigelow sixth graders to fund raise for local LGBTQ youth-serving org BAGLY, Double Dutch by local champs, lovely Juneteenth beads and coloring activities from our PTO, our awesome DJ Greg Smith, and Mr Hani’s ice cream truck! Thank you to all of the families, parents, teachers, our school social worker Ms Brinson, our librarian Ms Selwyn, custodian Mr Geary, Principal Morrissey and Jena Rossi, who helped make the evening a huge success! [All who were there will certainly always remember Ms Gayle leading the steps to The Electric Slide!]

BOSTON’S LGBTQ PAST – WALKING TOUR (June 23^rd)

Presented in partnership with The History Project, this guided walking tour follows the footsteps of Boston’s gay and lesbian friends from the 1840s to the 1980s, “from Thoreau’s walks along the Common and Charlotte Cushman’s cross-dressing roles, to the World War II bars and baths, to the AIDS Action Committee and the AIDS memorial quilt project.” Children $8/ Adults $15 (Kids under 6 free). For more info: https://www.bostonusa.com/event/bostons-lgbtq-past/67643/

THE LEGACY OF JUNETEENTH: Access to Education that Empowers Us All – Tuesday, June 21^st

An interactive discussion on Tuesday, June 21^st, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Newton Free Library. The discussion will be led by Jesse Tauriac, Assistant Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at Lasell University and is part of the Overdue: Confronting Race and Racism in Newton series. Register for this program here.

THE BOUNTY OF THE SEASON: A WAMPANOAG DINNER BY CHEF POCKNETT – Tuesday, June 21^st

Join Chef Sherry Pocknett, Chef Owner of Sly Fox Den Catering, Sly Fox Den Too Restaurant in Charlestown RI, for a delicious five-course dinner featuring local Indigenous ingredients of the late spring and early summer seasons. Chef Sherry is a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and daughter of Chief Sly Fox and Bernadine Hendricks-Pocknett. June 21^st at 6:30pm at Eliot Church of Newton UCC on Centre St. Suggested donation, $150 per Individual, $250 per Couple. All proceeds will go to fund Newton’s 2022 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration.

BREATHE LIFE TOGETHER FESTIVAL – Saturday, June 25^th

FREE and open to all, enjoy a pop-up roller rink, free skate rentals, live music, performances, DJs, painting, and food trucks along the Rose Kennedy Greenway (next to South Station in Boston). This event will feature celebrate and activate Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs’ mural Breathe Life Together. The aim of the afternoon is to cultivate an accessible, collective public space of joy, care, sustenance, and belonging that centers and supports diverse communities, families, and youth from across Boston. From 2-8pm in Dewey Square, Boston.

WALKING TOUR OF METCO HQ AND NUBIAN SQUARE – Saturday, July 9th at 10am

Join METCO high school students as they uncover the past and present of Boston’s historic Nubian Square in Roxbury. This unique 90-minute walking tour highlights their research into the artistry, activism, and achievement in the backyard of METCO’s new Headquarters.  RSVP here

PARENT GROUP ON EDUCATION ABOUT ANTISEMITISM AND ALLYSHIP

This year the FORJ community has been in dialogue about how to best support our Jewish community. One of the initiatives, being led by a Newton Temple, is a working parent group that aims to continue education about antisemitism and allyship to our community. If you are interested in participating please contact Melissa Waltuck @ melissa@slpworks.com.

FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ) is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.

School shootings and gunfire in our communities have become a fact of American life. As a local educator shared in a recent newsletter, “The National Association of School Psychologists has this page to provide parents with advice on how best to support and talk to their children” about acts of violence. Whether you are a gun-owning family or anti-firearms, or somewhere in between, we can mourn, hope, pray, and call our representatives to tell them to protect humanity with better rules for gun ownership.

Remembering George Floyd two years after his murder in Minneapolis by a police officer. Remembering Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, and so many more.

The war in Ukraine continues.

At home, we can listen to one another and tune into our kids. This children’s book could help, Jenny Mei is Sad written and illustrated by Traci Subisak (video by the Portland Public Library).

We can find opportunities to learn about each other and spend time together to build and strengthen our community.

Neurodiversity Paradigm: Understanding Kids from the Inside Out and Creating More Inclusive and Equitable School Experiences for Everyone – Thursday, June 2^nd at 8 p.m.

Join two multiply-neurodivergent individuals for a discussion on viewing the world through their lens and how embracing the diversity of brain types can help us all better understand and support neurodivergent individuals and build a more inclusive, equitable and vibrant society. In person at the Ed Center (100 Walnut St.), Room 210 and via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85014781525#success. Discussion sponsored by the PTOs of Franklin, Cabot, Peirce and Countryside Elementary Schools.

Celebrate AAPI Month – Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, June 12^th

See dragon boat racing teams from across the country come together to compete, plus enjoy a weekend filled with cultural performances by local, national, and international AAPI groups, arts and crafts, and plenty of delicious food. Between JFK St Bridge and Western Ave Bridge, Cambridge. FREE

Ward FORJ, Bigelow FORJ, Underwood FORJ & Lincoln-Eliot FORJ Picnic in the Park (NEW TIME)

The FORJ Picnic in the Park at Franklin Park’s American Legion Picnic Area in Boston will take place on Sunday, June 5^thfrom 3:30pm-6:30pm. All of our school families are invited to enjoy FREE food, beverages and fun. You can bring food to share, too, if you’d like. RSVP to Ward FORJ contact Jeanne Choe-Arrieta, jeannechoe73@gmail.com, by June 4^th so they can figure on how much food to order, but we are all encouraged to attend even without an RSVP!

Walking Tour of METCO HQ and Nubian Square

Saturdays this summer at 10am and 1pm (started May 14!)

Join METCO high school students as they uncover the past and present of Boston’s historic Nubian Square in Roxbury. This unique 90-minute walking tour highlights their research into the artistry, activism, and achievement in the backyard of METCO’s new Headquarters.  RSVP here

FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE (FORJ) is a group of diverse Newton families helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice. We seek to generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and to work together towards racial equity.