New Racial Equity Board Committee: Thanks NP BOE
Dear Board Members,
This
is written as an open letter to you and the greater New Paltz school
community in the spirit of believing that each of you, as I, have a deep
commitment and responsibility to our school community.
We are at
a critical juncture with the New Paltz School District. This juncture
parallels what is happening in our country. Across the nation, there are
troubling and increasingly evident forces trying to consolidate
unbalanced, authoritative power. The means used to this end have been
blatantly racist, sexist, and fascist. At the same time, there are those
who are trying to meet these forces with public outcries, political
action and grass roots resistance. Fortunately, the latter is taking
hold in a wave of political activism not seen for many years.
Here
in our school district, people of color and our allies have become
heavily involved in undoing the impact of bigotry and racism for our
students and community, culminating in the recent request to establish a
standing Board of Education Racial Equity Committee. This is a
much-needed anti-racism structure, needed to study, recommend and, as
appropriate, encourage racial equity work of the District. You, as our
elected representatives, responded courageously by having several
community dialogues on our school race issues. Most importantly, you
voted to establish such a committee at the March 14, 2018 BOE meeting!!
For this I am very thankful and unusually optimistic. Speaking for
myself, and already hearing directly from people of color and our
allies, I have good reason to be hopeful for the continuing anti-racism
work of the BOE. Again, Thank you! Gracias! Asante!
Sincerely,
Maggie Veve
Publishing history:
New Paltz Times 3/22/18
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