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Weekly Newsletter | 03 December 2023

<Part of the problem is that we tend to think that equality is about

treating everyone the same, when it9s not. It9s about fairness. It9s
about equity of access.=

4 Judith Heumann

Embracing Multiculturalism
Read our latest monthly column in The Westerly Sun.

"From our table to yours this Thanksgiving"

by Geoff Serra

Click to Read

ENGAGE

This Week: Join us!

As the busy holiday season comes into full swing, why not take a moment
to pause and stand in community with us on the steps of the downtown
Westerly Post Office? We will meet, as always, from 11 am - 1 pm, some
coming for a few minutes and others staying longer. It is always
encouraging to see new faces and to take time to get to know one
another.

In recent weeks, we have met passersby from Westerly and others visiting
from out of state. As ARC continues to attract attention, we share our
mission and discuss current equity and justice issues. We learn from each
other and have respectful debates about various topics. ARC is a
community coalition of people with diverse perspectives and
backgrounds who want to learn from each other.

Our community continues to grow each week. We invite you to join us

whenever you can.

Last Week
November is Native American Heritage month so we invited Geoff
Kaufman, who has long been an ally in spreading the word about the
marginalization of Native Americans, to speak. He shared a haunting song,
<Heart of the Appaloosa,= which tells a sliver of the history of the
persecution of the Nez Pierce through the lens of their horses, the
Appaloosa. The lyrics of the chorus reminded us of the many injustices
faced by the indigenous people who lived on this continent for tens of
thousands of years before the European settlers invaded.

Thunder rolling in the mountains,

Lead the people across the Great Divide,

There’s blood on the snow in the hills of Idaho,

but the hearts of the Appaloosa never die.

As we listened to Geoff tell the story of Chief Joseph and the horrific
treatment of his people we realized that the history of the Osage people in
the movie <Killers of the Flower Moon= is yet another story that attempts to
tell the truth.

In the discussion led by Tim Flanagan many people shared their gratitude
for the overall production of the film and that the story was finally coming
to light. At the same time we were aware of some of the criticism being
raised by indigenous communities. As in most Hollywood productions of
this nature the story doesn9t dig deep enough into the underlying reasons
such horrific acts of violence went unnoticed for so many years. What
governmental policies allowed violence, corruption and hatred to ravage
the Osage nations? What responsibility did the U.S. government have to
the people? What could/should they have done to prevent this tragedy?

Whenever we watch movies like this we must ask ourselves, <Who is telling
the story and who is benefiting from the way the story is being told?= Then
we should ask those whose story it is, how they feel. Perhaps then we will
have the truth.
Looking Ahead

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Sunday events. Meet us on the
steps of the post office between 11am and 1 pm. Programming begins at
noon.

December 10 Poetry Share

Join our monthly poetry share by listening and/or sharing a poem that
inspires you as you work for justice and equity.

December 17 Discussion: Westerly Sun ARC Column <It9s All About

Belonging=

Read our column in the Sun on December 16 and come to our discussion
with author Madeline Labriola on the following Sunday.

December 24 Holiday Gathering

Special Announcement: Conversations with

African American Art
Westerly ARC is excited to be organizing an upcoming educational exhibit
at the Artists9 Cooperative Gallery of Westerly and a series of
conversations with visiting artists and art collectors at the Westerly Library.
Much more information will follow, along with a page devoted to these
events on our website. For now, please mark your calendar for these
important events.

Conversations with African American Art

On exhibition January 5 through February 28

Westerly Artists9 Cooperative, Community Gallery, 44 Railroad Avenue,

Westerly, RI

Wednesday 3 Saturday, 11 a.m. 3 7 p.m., Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Opening Receptions, 5-8 p.m.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Friday, February 2, 2024

On exhibition: A selection of pieces of the Bill and Paula Alice Mitchell

Collection of African-American Art, selected and interpreted by ARC
members April Dinwoodie, Leslie Dunn, and Kevin Lowther. This is an event
not to be missed.

Conversations About African Art:

Talks with Artists and Collectors
Westerly Library and Wilcox Park

Sponsored by The Washington Trust Foundation

Session 1

Robin Holder: "Raising Your Racial IQ with Art"

Saturday, February 3, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

Session 2

Bill and Paula (Alice) Mitchell: "Why African-American Art?"

Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

Session 3

Curlee Raven Holton: "Below the Surface: An African-American Story in

Printmaking"

Saturday, February 17, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

 Free and open to the public.

Call for Help

Personal Care Products Needed

We received word from The Jonnycake Center of Westerly that they will
need personal care products for their clients. As members of ARC, we have
had a long-standing tradition of bringing soap, toothpaste and brushes,
shaving supplies, lotions, feminine products, and other personal care
supplies to Leslie Dunn for distribution. Please consider bringing donations
to the Sunday rally beginning this week. Thank you for your generous
support as we remember to care for one another.
 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

Get Involved

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

Dec 4 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Dec 6 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Dec 18 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Click below for meeting and agendas and minutes:

Town Meetings

More Ways You Can Help

Share
Spread the news! Forward this newsletter to at least one person you think
might be interested in it. Ask them to sign up for our newsletter on the
Westerly ARC website.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, comment, and share on our social media
posts!

Donate
ARC advocate Amanda Dunn continues to collect toiletries, personal care
items, and non-perishable food to distribute to our community. Please
bring your donations to Amanda at our Sunday rallies. Your kindness and
generosity are greatly appreciated.
Show Up
Stop by one of our weekly gatherings.
Join one of the events listed in this newsletter.
Attend a town meeting.
Ask about volunteering on an ARC committee.
Help out with this newsletter!
Offer your talents!

EDUCATE

Word of the Week

Improve your vocabulary and understanding of justice by deepening your

understanding of the words we use. Some may be familiar, some new,
and many words are defined differently depending on your point of view.
Send us your ideas of words that should be featured in this column
(westerlyarc@gmail.com).

Disability Justice
Disability justice is a social justice movement that recognizes and
challenges ableism, the discrimination and oppression of disabled people.
It seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable society for disabled
people by addressing issues such as access to education, employment,
healthcare, and other resources.

Disability justice also involves working to change societal attitudes and

beliefs about disability, and advocating for the rights and dignity of
disabled people. (Anti-Racism Daily)

Read more and find out ways to support the fight for disability justice:
Disability Justice - Anti-Racism Daily

This Week in History

Understanding the history of past injustices can inform us as we advocate

for justice and equity today. Let us know your thoughts on our articles, and
send us your ideas!
December 3, 1970

Cesar Chavez Jailed For Leading Boycott Against Coercive

Farmers
Imagine being put into solitary confinement for leading a boycott. This
happened to Cesar Chavez, the Mexican American labor leader and civil
rights advocate. The nonviolent activism and decades of work of Cesar
Chavez led to increasing rights and greater protections for farm laborers.
Though he and the United Farm Workers Union accomplished much, we
know that migrant farm workers are still subject to many injustices.

Read this article to learn which famous women visited Cesar Chavez in jail
and to watch a mini-biography of his life. Cesar Chavez Jailed For Leading
Boycott Against Coercive Farmers
image: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Culture Calendar

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3

In 1992, the United Nations proclaimed December 3 the International Day of

Persons with Disabilities. The purpose of this observance is to raise
awareness of disability issues as well as to point out the benefits of
creating a more inclusive society. Here are a few facts from the UN:

Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in

developing countries.
An estimated 46% of older people aged 60 years and over are people
with disabilities.
One in every five women is likely to experience a disability in her life.
At the same time, one in every ten children is a child with a disability.

Disability issues are equity issues. Use the sources below to learn more
about the author of this week9s quote, Judy Heumann, and to delve deeper
into the issues faced by persons with disabilities.

What Made Judy Heumann, Mother of the Disability Rights Movement,

an American Hero | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine
Crip Camp
International Day of Persons with Disabilities | United Nations
Pope9s December prayer intention: 8For people with disabilities9 -
Vatican News
Calendar

Calendar of Events
Town Council Meeting, Westerly
Dec 4
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

Poetry share at our weekly

Dec 10 gathering, Westerly Post Office steps,
11-1

School Committee Meeting, Westerly

Dec 16
Town Hall, 5:00 pm

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Dec 18
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

Discuss ARC9s monthly column in the

Dec 17 Westerly Sun, Westerly Post Office
steps, 11-1

ARC Holiday Gathering, Westerly

Dec 24
Post Office steps, 11-1

Online Calendar
 Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition

This Newsletter is a publication of the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition. ARC is a

community coalition unaffiliated with any state, national, or international
organization. ARC embraces multiculturalism to address racism.
Join our weekly gatherings, Sundays, 11am-1pm, the Westerly Post Office steps,
downtown
CONTACT US: westerlyarc@gmail.com Visit Our Website: westerlyarc.weebly.com
Website Manager: Tim Flanagan Weekly Writers: Tim Flanagan, Madeline Labriola
Editors: April Dinwoodie, Tim Flanagan, Madeline Labriola, Anne Pearce, Geoff Serra

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