Rotarian Michelle Traub introduced Ms. Nakisha Smith and Ms. Julie McNeill of Friends for Equity in Avon Schools.
Ms. Smith gave the presentation.
Ms. Smith stated the purpose of Friends for Equity in Avon Schools is to advocate for equity and inclusion. Ms. Smith defined equity as the intent to "dismantle racism" on behalf of a host of minorities, adding "Diversity, equity and inclusion work has begun in many towns in our area."
Originally from Georgia, Ms. Smith is a registered nurse and lives in Avon.
Beginning two years ago, some Simsbury community members created an "Equity Council" and a student "Spirit Council", and declared racism a public health crisis.
In Granby, community members identified examples of what was characterized as myths about the students of Granby, and specifically that their Choice Program students (out-of-district students enrolled in Granby schools) were not doing well, due to factors within their control. The truth was, however, that out-of-district students had long commutes, often did not have an appropriate study area, nor a home environment conducive to success, rather than any lack of personal motivation or ability. Avon community members also had a similar perception of this myth. "As these students are also Granby or Avon students, we have to own their successes and failures and find ways to enable their success", indicated Ms. Smith.
Friends for Equity in Avon Schools' members, parents and community leaders, are educating themselves and becoming better role models for the children. They are advocating for an "equity audit" of the community, so as to suggest changes where they are needed and to make Avon a more welcoming place.
One specific issue is, in Ms. Smith's opinion, American history "may not be truthfully taught" and Friends for Equity in Avon Schools' hopes to ensure that it is in the future. The group plans to hold community events, meet regularly with the school administration and hold strategic planning sessions.
Opportunities to get involved include an upcoming community reading of a book by controversial author Ibram X. Kendi, and co-author Jason Reynolds. Mr. Kendi is known for his advocacy about race, claiming: “The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.”
[Ed. Note 1: Mr. Kendi has been widely criticized for such expression, because it implies one must discriminate based on race today, to correct discrimination based on race in the past. This idea is fundamentally inconsistent with the way Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. thought about racial injustice. In his "I Have A Dream" speech, Dr. King emphasized "content of character" over "color of skin", whereas Mr. Kendi and his fellow ideological travelers emphasize the opposite.]
The final slide of Ms. Smith's presentation, is reproduced here:
Separate and Shared Realities
Everyone experiences life through a unique lens, a separate reality. At times our separate realities become shared realities in common spaces such as families, church, school and work. Respecting and accepting another person's separate reality does not diminish or detract from your own. Instead as individuals with unique perspectives come together, there is enhanced creativity and innovation.
[Ed Note 2: The statement in the above slide asserts that individuals personal perspectives vary, and are what defines the way they perceive absolute reality, though objectively, absolute reality is certainly the same for everyone. The idea that absolute truth doesn't exist and that perspective-based reality is the same as objective truth, is a component of a philosophy known as relativism. Relativism refers to a school of thought that asserts the relative nature of truth and other realities that characterize human existence in society. According to this sociological viewpoint, truth is usually variable depending on context and recurrent parametrical threshold. (https://ivypanda.com/essays/relativism-research-paper/)]
[Ed Note 3: For those who are interested, an alternative perspective on the general subject of minority status in society, fairness, civil rights and how to help others improve themselves can be obtained from civil rights leader Robert Woodson Sr.'s, 1776 Unites website, found here: https://1776unites.com/about/scholars/ At this website an influential cohort of (mostly) black intellectuals offer a different perspective on minority issues in society, highlighting black agency and self-reliance, and dispelling the notion that black success is dependent on white behavior, indulgence or favor. IMHO it's worth a read.]
###
