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Weekly Newsletter                 23 July, 2023

Artwork by Cookie Rivera

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“It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who
make peace and build.”

— Nelson Mandela
 Embracing Multiculturalism:

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of harmony"

By Frank Pendola
July 19, 2023

Read Our Column

ENGAGE

This Week - Restorative Justice

At a recent School Committee meeting, a citizen spoke out against
the school using “restorative justice “ methods for disciplining
students rather than suspension, detention and other traditional
punitive techniques that are known to impede educational outcomes.
In hearing this, it was clear this person did not have any idea what
“restorative justice” really is.

We credit school administrators, counselors, and teachers who are

finding new and creative ways to help support students. The basics of
restorative justice help young people look at their behavior, take
responsibility for it, come up with solutions, and implement a plan
that will result in personal development and lasting change. This is
instead of having a young person face punitive action like detention
or in or out of school suspension which leads to learning loss and can
leave students frustrated, angry, and resentful.

Restorative justice takes more time, patience and creativity than

traditional disciplinary measures but in the long run it can prevent
student dropout and encourage life-long skills all while encouraging
social-emotional learning and growth.

There are no easy fixes for what today’s youth face as they enter the
school setting and one size does not fit all. Going backward to the
days of corporal punishment, isolation, humiliation, expulsion, and
detention is certainly not the solution. Children are our nation’s
greatest assets. Let's treat them as the valuable, important and
precious gifts they are.

What do you think? Have you any experience of “restorative justice”?

What other methods of discipline have you found helpful in raising
your children?

Join us this Sunday, July 23 from 11-1pm on the Post Office steps to
discuss these and other challenges facing our community. Your
presence and your opinions are always welcomed. Come for a few
minutes or two hours, rain or shine, and bring a friend.

Last Week
At times, the rain was an
absolute downpour, but,
interestingly enough, our group,
like a stubborn puddle, grew with
each drop. For such an
unpleasant morning, it was a
very pleasant gathering, and the
conversation beneath the
umbrellas was robust and
hopeful.

There was lots of chatter and thought about the future and ideas of
how to advocate and advance to end racism by embracing
multiculturalism. Talk focused upon ways to use our newspaper
column to nurture ARC and community conversations, to encourage
cooperation with the Multiculturalism Committee, to enrich the School
Committee’s work with the equity audit, and to enhance community
education about the history and the arts of marginalized groups in
our town. The steering committee is slated soon to consider much of
this and more as it updates ARC’s objectives, goals, strategies, and
measures (OGSM). This strategic planning helps us move from vision
to action.

And, we all looked forward to Frank Pendola’s piece in the Westerly

Sun this week. If you haven’t read it, check it out and send Frank a
note of appreciation for his sincere, good work.

We meet every Sunday from 11:00-1:00 on the steps

of the Westerly Post Office on High Street. Join us
anytime!

EMPOWER
 From Senator Victoria Gu

Town Hall on Education and Workforce

Development

Date: Thursday, August 3, 2023, 6-7:30pm

Location: Westerly Education Center
RSVP and ask questions: https://victoria4ri.com/town-hall/

Please join Senator Victoria Gu on August 3rd, 6-7:30pm at the

Westerly Education Center for a great panel discussion and a chance
to ask questions! 

Speakers include RI Commissioner on Postsecondary Education

Shannon Gilkey, whose office runs the Westerly Education Center.
With so much demand for workers in everything from the trades to
clean energy, we are eager to get your feedback on what types of job
preparation and programs you'd like to see in our community and in
our K-12 schools.

Additional speakers include Leslie S. Dunn for Westerly School

Committee and Sam Azzinaro - RI District 37 Representative. 
Read more: https://riopc.edu/services/workforce/

Click Here to RSVP and Ask Questions

Town Meetings & School
Committee Meetings
Westerly ARC encourages those
who can to attend Westerly Town
Council and School Committee
meetings. Your presence and
involvement is an important way
to show our elected officials that creating a more equitable and
inclusive town and school system must always be a priority.

July 24 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

August 3 Town Hall on Education and Workforce Development,

Westerly Education Center, 6:00-7:30 PM

Aug 7 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Aug 16 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Here is the link to meeting and agendas and minutes:

https://clerkshq.com/westerly-ri

How You Can Help View our Calendar

Share Donate Show Up
Spread the news! ARC advocate Stop by one of our
Forward this Amanda Dunn weekly gatherings,
newsletter to at continues to collect join one of the events
least one person you toiletries, personal listed in this
think might be care items, and non- newsletter, attend a
interested in it. Ask perishable food to town meeting, etc.
them to sign up for distribute to our
“We must always take sides.
our newsletter on the community. Please
Neutrality helps the
Westerly ARC bring your donations
oppressor, never the
website. to Amanda at our
victim. Silence encourages
Sunday rallies. Your
Don't forget to like, the tormentor, never the
kindness and
subscribe, comment, tormented.”
generosity are
and share on our ― Elie Wiesel
greatly appreciated.
social media posts!

EDUCATE

This Week in History

Understanding the history of past injustices can inform us as we
advocate for justice and equity today. Let us know what you think of
the articles we share and send us your ideas!

July 25 - Emmett Till’s Birthday

Emmett Till would have turned 82 this Tuesday. His brutal kidnapping,
torture, and murder in Mississippi in 1955 and his mother’s advocacy
to shine a light on racial injustice in our country have left a lasting
impact. Losing her 14-year-old-son, her only child, spurred Mamie Till-
Mobley into action. Emmett’s birthday is a time for us all to reflect on
what we can do to contribute to a more just world.

If you haven’t seen it yet, the movie Till is a powerful depiction of how
Mamie Till-Mobley turned her grief into action. This article has a
moving interview with Emmett’s cousin: ‘He Had a Life Before Death’:
Remembering Emmett Till for the Child He Was.

Culture Calendar
July - National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

“National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each

July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic
minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United
States.” (HHS.gov) Here are two statistics that show why it is important
to raise awareness of minority mental health. Learn more at the
website above.

In 2021, it is estimated that only 39 percent of Black or African

American adults, 25 percent of Asian adults, and 36 percent of
Hispanic/Latino adults with any mental illness were treated,
compared to 52 percent of non-Hispanic white adults.
In 2020, suicide was the leading cause of death among Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders aged 10 to 19; it was the second
leading cause of death among those aged 20 to 34.

Up Next

Calendar of Events

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

July 24
Town Hall, 5:30 PM

Town Hall on Education and

Aug 3 Workforce Development, Westerly
Education Center, 6:00-7:30 PM

78th Anniversary of
Aug 6
Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombing

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Aug 7
Town Hall, 5:30 PM

School Committee Meeting,

Aug 16
Westerly Town Hall, 5:00 PM
 This edition of the Westerly ARC newsletter was written, edited, and compiled by

Madeline Labriola, Tim Flanagan, Geoff Serra, April Dinwoodie, and Lisa Chen.

Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition

Join our weekly gatherings westerlyarc@gmail.com
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