May 2021 Update
Hello, Friends for Equity in Avon Schools!
Thank you to everyone who came out in support of the AHS Voices for Equity’s George Floyd march and rally last night and for spreading the word in the community about this event. The students did a tremendous job organizing and speaking at the event. There is nothing like hearing the calls for action and pleas for solidarity from our kids. THIS. WORK. MUST. HAPPEN. For a just and fair society. For our kids. For everyone. Press coverage links below:
We have applied for a grant to the Avon Greater Together Community Fund, which is an initiative of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The Center for Leadership and Justice has agreed to be our fiscal sponsor and a partner. (We need a fiscal sponsor because we do not have 501C3 status.) If granted, this money will fund professionally facilitated strategic planning to help us map out our priorities, goals, and work plan. It will also help us think through how to most effectively involve parents and other community members. All of this work will be focused on how to be most impactful for the benefit of the APS school community, working from our lane as parents and community members.
Hopefully everyone has read or is reading Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, or Stamped (For Kids). Please share your copy with a friend or neighbor when you’re done and invite them to the upcoming community conversations! FFE is proud to be partnering with the Avon Free Public Library and ForwardCT to hold these events. For more info and to register click HERE for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Community Conversation on June 16th and HERE for Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Community Conversation on July 22nd. You won’t want to miss them!
We are in the early stages of planning a community dialog on race later in the summer. This will be a conversation for EVERYONE in the community and will include adults and students. More info coming on this shortly.
Canton based S.E.E. CT's next meeting is Monday, June 7th at 7pm. They’ll be discussing their petition to “Help SEE CT Stop Racism in Connecticut Public Schools” and how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion positions benefit students in the districts that have them. Read/sign the petition and register for this meeting in advance by visiting their website: www.ct-see.com.
June is PRIDE month! While FFE’s focus is on racial equity, we stand in solidarity with other community groups and partners around human rights. FFE is proud to support the Avon PRIDE Family Picnic for LGBTQIA+ Residents and Allies on June 13th at 12pm at the Avon Congregational Church. Event details can be found HERE and you may order an “Avon Cares” lawn sign to show your support for our LGBTQIA+ community HERE.
We had hoped to see some acknowledgement from Avon Public Schools of the overtly racist incident that happened at the AHS lacrosse game on May 6th. A statement publicly rejecting such behavior towards APS students at a school function would have gone a long way. It is disappointing and a missed opportunity for the district to stand with its students and against racism.
We continue to have ongoing discussions with members of the community who have been helping to inform and guide our work. As always, if you have suggestions, thoughts or questions, or there are some specific ways you feel you would like to contribute and get involved, please reach out.
Also, thank you to everyone who has helped grow our group! Our website is now live but unfinished. Check it out at AvonFFE.org. We’ll be sure to post on our Facebook page when it’s ready for an official rollout.
THANK YOU for your interest, support, and commitment.