by: Alenda Calderbank As a kid, Columbus Day was a welcome day off from school a month into the school year. As the leaves shined bright orange against the crisp blue sky and we heard the familiar sound of rustling leaves, we recited the familiar children’s poem that helped us remember the year Columbus… Continue reading Columbus: Tall Tales, and Dark Realities
Author: NAFC
Watching the Playbook Play Out
Well, here we are again. Another late-night Board of Education meeting in Newtown with more parents in attendance and more passionate speeches about the protection of First Amendment rights, the importance of representation in literature, and the ability to handle more mature material by high school aged students. I went into this meeting incredibly jaded,… Continue reading Watching the Playbook Play Out
Fear and White Supremacy
By: Lee Shull The past few weeks in America have been unsettling. Mass shootings, related protests, the silencing of voices, racist expulsions (during Holy Week), and reinstatements into the Tennessee State House. Followed by two more mass shootings in Louisville, a shooting within miles and at the same time as a bank mass shooting, a… Continue reading Fear and White Supremacy
What is “Woke”?
The term ‘woke’ has been used a lot in political discourse lately. What is your reaction when you hear ‘woke’? Is it something you aspire to, or do you dismiss the idea as something not worth consideration? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘woke’ as “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues… Continue reading What is “Woke”?
Why Is There a Push for Blue Lives Matter?
A Letter written by Linda O’Sullivan There’s a phenomenon that I feel doesn’t get enough attention. Since Black History Month wrapped up a few weeks ago, I’d like to share some thoughts on this. Why is it that the response to Black movements such as BLM takes the form of calls for supporting the police?… Continue reading Why Is There a Push for Blue Lives Matter?
In Their Own Words: Newtown Brothers Honor MLK Jr
In honor and recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Newtown brothers Karl and Kenneth Miller are sharing the following essays, which they authored some years ago. Kenneth was in 4th grade when he wrote his, Karl in 10th. Both young men, who are Black, make clear that Dr. King is a daily inspiration to… Continue reading In Their Own Words: Newtown Brothers Honor MLK Jr
Disrupting Ignorance
The following post was written by Konrad Miller, a member of NAFC. June 19th, 1865 (Juneteenth) is the date that the last slaves in Galveston, Texas were declared free by General Gordon Grainger. The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation was not regarded as consequential in Galveston in January of 1863. Black people were kept as… Continue reading Disrupting Ignorance
Continued Disparate Treatment Of BOE Attendees
At the recent April 5th Board of Ed meeting, a man spoke during public participation. Referring to racism in Newtown, he said, “it’s not like this is 1960’s Alabama” and that “most of Newtown is filled with very nice people, and only 10% are racist and bigoted.” I have no idea if this 10% statistic… Continue reading Continued Disparate Treatment Of BOE Attendees
Hypocrisy Boils Down to Racism
I want to talk about the hypocrisy happening not only in our town, but nationwide. I wrote a letter recently about tone policing occurring at our BOE meetings — and, guess what? It is still happening. If you’re still unclear what’s happening, let me break it down for you with this national example first. The… Continue reading Hypocrisy Boils Down to Racism
BOE’s Clear Disparity in Rule Application
I have been living in Sandy Hook for 17 years. I have three children of various ages, and one of the values is that I try to uphold to my utmost best to be consistent with my parental rules with my children. I think we all can agree that when someone gets treated very differently… Continue reading BOE’s Clear Disparity in Rule Application
Demonstrate Allyship With Words And Actions
In early April, Newtowners on social media rallied around a hawk that had been cruelly shot with an arrow. In one online post, 614 of us “liked” or “loved” that the hawk had been captured and was being treated. He was lifted in prayer by many and monetary contributions were collected for his care. Later… Continue reading Demonstrate Allyship With Words And Actions
Promoting DEI Comes With Willingness To Learn
As we enter Black History month, let us take time to acknowledge that Black history is American history. As community members, let us make the effort to reach beyond memorized Martin Luther King quotes and black Instagram squares. As community leaders, recognize that learning is never-ending and empty platitudes impede progress and connection. When we… Continue reading Promoting DEI Comes With Willingness To Learn