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Weekly Newsletter 01 October, 2023

Artwork by Cookie Rivera

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 “Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about
how you drive, not where you’re going.”

– Noam Shpancer

Embracing Multiculturalism:

"Seeing Diversity in Students, Teachers, and

Parents"
By Christine Davidson

Read Our Column in the

Westerly Sun

ENGAGE

This Week
Several months ago, Corey Fyke, editor of the Westerly Sun, invited
Westerly ARC to write a monthly column. Since our first column in April
six members of the ARC community have shared their personal
journeys of growth and understanding of diversity, multiculturalism,
and the impact of bias and racism. Each one told a story which
began in childhood and brought them to where they are today - on
the steps of the Westerly Post Office every Sunday. Their writings have
been filled with honesty as the authors traced their steps toward
greater knowledge of history and deeper compassion and empathy
for marginalized members of our society.

With the expert guidance of our editor Geoff Serra, who helps to bring
out the best in each person’s story, the ARC columns have become a
much-anticipated monthly read. You can read our column on the
fourth Thursday of the month in the Westerly Sun. In addition, you can
hear more from the author at the Sunday gathering after their piece
is published. By sharing these stories we hope that our community will
learn and be inspired to do what they can to create more inclusivity
and take action to reverse the continued forms of racism and bias we
witness today.

This week Christine Davidson, a teacher and school principal,

recounts her story of being a young teacher in Central Falls, RI and
how being Polish taught her a valuable lesson. In her column “Seeing
Diversity in Students, Teachers and Parents” she shares her struggles
with her own assumptions and judgements. As students, educators
and our community embrace a new school year, this is the perfect
time to have this conversation. Please join us this Sunday for the
opportunity to chat with Christine. The program will begin at 12:00 pm.

Last Week
Special thanks to all those who braved the
forecast for rain last Sunday, September
24. The steps of the post office were
scattered with the bright faces of several
of our regulars and we even welcomed a
few new faces. Conversations and
camaraderie were the order of the day
along with a few bags of sweet treats
donated by Knead Donuts in downtown
Westerly. Thanks Knead for your generosity that brightened our
cloudy day.
 Looking Ahead
Our first Poetry Sunday Share was such a success we are going to
host another opportunity for all the poets and writers in our
community to take the mic and tell us a story. Please bring an original
poem or story or one of your favorites from other authors that reflect
the goals of our gatherings (diversity, equity and inclusion) to our
October 8 vigil. If you can let us know by email at
westerlyarc@gmail.com or tell Madeline at this Sunday’s gathering it
would be appreciated. Children and young adults are encouraged to
join us.

Support Commuter Rail in Westerly

Senator Victoria Gu has been working diligently on extending
Shoreline East (the commuter rail) to Westerly. She has continuously
been at the forefront in the fight for equity as well as equality. “The
benefits of commuter rail and public transit are huge in terms of
equity and access to jobs,” she said in a recent correspondence.

Senator Gu is asking local citizens to make public comments in

support of extending the commuter rail. We know that many people
have to turn down jobs or limit their job search because of access to
transportation. The deadline for final public comment is October 20th.
See this site for more information.

Deadline for final public comment: October 20th, 2023

You can email your comment to: DOTplanning@ct.gov or attend one

of the in-person information sessions to provide your comments.

Mental Health Community Forum

Mental Health Community Forum

Oct 7, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM

Westerly Library Auditorium

Join Town Councilor Mary Scialabba along with special guest

speakers to discuss mental health and well-being resources now
available through the new facility opened up at 68 Pierce Street (the
old Police Substation location). They will welcome community
 feedback as well as answer any
questions about the new mental
health resource center and what
it provides.

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

Westerly Post Office on High Street. Join us anytime!

EMPOWER

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.

Oct 2 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Oct 4 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Oct 16 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Oct 18 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
Banned Books Week
October 1-8 is Banned Books Week, a time to celebrate intellectual
freedom and oppose censorship. Here are some actions from Anti-
Racism Daily that you can take to support Banned Books Week.

Join or donate to the Banned Books Book Club.

Form a radical reading group with friends. Develop group
agreements, create a reading list and schedule, and learn about
the roots of problems in your community and what you can do
about them.
Use these resources from PEN America to fight book bans where
you live.

Read more about Banned Books Week here: The History and Future of
Book Bans
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!

It might be easy to think of racial segregation as a thing of the past or

something that happened somewhere else. Yet, if you look around our
towns, neighborhoods, and schools today, they remain largely
segregated. The reasons are many, but certainly intimidation of Black
residents is high on the list. Read about one such instance that
occurred on October 2, 1930 in Colorado. It may have been another
time and place, but we must ask ourselves why segregation persists
today, even in places like Westerly.

Seven Black Women Attacked For Moving into White Neighborhood in

Colorado

Culture Calendar

October 10 - World Mental Health Day

“World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and

communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal
human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive
actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a
universal human right.” (World Health Organization) Read more about
this day in the previous link and at the site of the World Federation of
Mental Health.

What We're Learning

Have you read, listened to, or viewed a book or video that has
inspired you or taught you something new relating to anti-racism or
social justice? Contact us to share what you have learned and we
might feature it in our newsletter. You can talk to Tim or Madeline on
Sunday, email westerlyarc@gmail.com, or fill out this Google Form.
Sharing your knowledge is one way to participate in Viral Justice!
 The Lost Voices of Smith's Castle

Up Next

Calendar of Events

Oct 1-8 Banned Books Week

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Oct 2
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

School Committee Meeting,

Oct 4
Westerly Town Hall, 5:00 pm

Poetry Sunday at the Westerly

Oct 8 ARC gathering, Westerly Post
Office steps, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Oct 16
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

School Committee Meeting,

Oct 18
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, and April Dinwoodie.

Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition

Join our weekly gatherings westerlyarc@gmail.com
Sundays 11-1
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