As the summer goes on, we’d like to share some upcoming opportunities to continue to engage in conversations about race and racism hosted by our local community.

UPCOMING JULY FORJ MEETING: “How To Talk About Race With Your Children”
with Mike Feldstein and Daniel Arroyo 
Wednesday, July 29th from 7 – 8: 15 pm, with optional meeting time to further connect from 8:15-8:30pm 
RSVP HERE 

Discussing race with our children is critical.  But how do we do this in a constructive, age-appropriate way? How do we answer their questions when we aren’t sure what to say?  How do we talk about racist incidents in Newton, the news, and the METCO program? 

Mike Feldstein, beloved 5th grade teacher at Horace Mann and 25-year veteran of talking about race, and Daniel Arroyo, incredible METCO counselor at Oak Hill, Bowen, Memorial-Spaulding, and Zervas will lead us in an engaging and interactive session. They will provide insights, guidance, and opportunities to discuss specific situations. This session will be relevant for adults dealing with kids of all ages.  Please come to learn and commune with other folks in the same position.  

Mike and Daniel would love to hear your questions in advance.  Maybe you’ve had a situation you weren’t sure how to handle?  Or a question from your child that you didn’t know how to address?  Please submit your question on the RSVP form.

Stamped:Racism, Anti-Racism and You: A Remix Book Club
Wed, Aug 5, 20205:00 PM  Wed, Aug 26, 20206:30 PM
Hosted by FORJ youth and parents 

The Stamped book club came about after parents and kids from Newton to as far as Miami said that they want a place to discuss race issues and the climate of white supremacy in this country.  Madeline McNeely and Kate Carpenter got together to make this happen. Kate asked Akim Jocelyn, a rising senior at Newton South High School, to serve as our lead facilitator with a handful of other teens as small group facilitators depending on the # of registrations.

A Conversation with Ibram X. Kendi
Wednesday, August 12th, 6:30-8pm
Hosted by the Newton Public Library
Cosponsored by FORJ, The Harmony Foundation, and the Newton Human Rights Commission

Join us for a virtual conversation with Ibram X. Kendi followed by a panel discussion about Race and Racism in Newton. We encourage you to read Dr. Kendi’s book, How to Be an Antiracist. It is part of the Overdue: Confronting Race and Racism in Newton city-wide read which will include a series of events and conversations about race and racism. The book is available from the Newton Free Library in print, eBook, and eAudiobook formats.

Register (required) here. The information on how to join the session will be sent prior to the program. 

Raising Antiracist Kids
Tuesday, August 25, 7-8pm
Hosted by the Newton Public Library
Cosponsored by FORJ, The Harmony Foundation, and the Newton Human Rights Commission

Join us for the first in a multi-part educational series on being an anti-racist. This program is part of Overdue: Confronting Race and Racism in Newton, a city-wide read and series of events and conversations on race and racism. The panelists will be:

• Ellie Axe, Director, Story Starters
• Michele Leong, Newton North High School Office of Human Rights 
• Kathy Lopes, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Newton Public Schools
• Dr. Henry Turner, Principal, Newton North High School
• Dr. David A. Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools will moderate

Register here. An email with a link for the webinar will be sent out prior to the event.