JUNETEENTH GUEST READERS THIS WEEK
Every Lincoln-Eliot student will have the chance to hear a book about Juneteenth in their classroom this week. Special guest readers will join in person or by Zoom to read a book to each class! Thank you to every Lincoln-Eliot teacher for finding time in your wild end of the year schedule to host a reader! Scheduled guest readers include Superintendent Fleishman, esteemed family members, school and district representatives and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem from the Massachusetts Senate!
Join Lincoln-Eliot’s FIRST Juneteenth Celebration – Friday, June 18th from 4-6p, Lincoln-Eliot Playground
Celebrate with us this Friday! We’ll have lawn games, kite flying, Electric Slide instruction from a Newton High School Student, Double Dutch with a world champ, and Mr. Hani’s ice cream truck (treats available for purchase). Bring a picnic, snacks and blankets and chairs if you’d like. All are welcome! Bring friends and family!
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)
LINCOLN-ELIOT FORJ KIDS BOOK CLUB RECAP
The L-E FORJ Kids Book Club read a selection from A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. We shared our favorite book characters, discussed family tradition, culture, food, differences, personality, motivation and racism. We hope to read a book or two this summer, too, so contact L-E FORJ Coordinator Lanni Isenberg if you’d like to hear more: Lanni_harris@yahoo.com
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month
June is recognized as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer) Pride month. Pride month was established in 1999 to lift the voices and ultimately, increase the rights of the LGBTQ community. People fighting for human rights, civil rights, and legal rights sometimes have to remind supporters to think inclusively. Political strategist and U.S. civil rights activist Bayard Rustin believed strongly in social justice and achieving goals through nonviolence. He was gay and he did not hide it at a time when people were arrested for being gay. Rustin served as an adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. and is credited for introducing MLK to nonviolent strategy and was the main organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. In 1969, Rustin wrote:
“If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end.”
GIVE TO THE METCO SCHOLARSHIP FUND
To support the 40 graduating seniors from both Newton North and Newton South as they move on to pursue their future dreams, consider contributing to The Newton METCO Community Scholarship Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/newtonmetcoscholar
M.E.T.C.O. Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity is a state-funded educational program designed to eliminate racial imbalance through the busing of children from Boston and Springfield to public systems in surrounding suburban metropolitan communities.
Upcoming FORJ City-Wide Meeting:
Wednesday June 16th 7:30-9pm – Fostering Equity-Focused Family Engagement with Immigrant Families RSVP here
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: 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 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.
