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Weekly Newsletter | 21 January 2024

<Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit

political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for
one group of people and deny it to others.=

4 Coretta Scott King

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

"African American Art: Powerful Storytelling"

by Bill and Paula Alice Mitchell

Click to Read

ENGAGE

This Week
Did you see this month’s <Embracing Multiculturalism= column in the
Westerly Sun which was published January 18? <African American Art:
Powerful Storytelling= is authored by Bill and Paula Alice Mitchell, local
residents and collectors of African American art who provided the works of
art for ARC’s exhibition.

This Sunday, January 21, Bill Mitchell will join us to answer your questions
about the column and his journey of discovering African American art. We
will meet as always on the downtown post office steps from 11:00-1:00 with
our program starting at 12:00. We hope you can join us!

Last Week

In celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, several members of the ARC

gathering on the post office steps came forward to share a reading or
thoughts about this prophetic and charismatic leader of social justice.
Madeline Labriola started by reading a powerful sermon Dr. King preached
on Christmas Eve 1967 called "Christmas Sermon on Peace." His
challenging words continue to reverberate today.

"Now let me suggest that if we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties
must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must
transcend our race, our tribe, our class and our nation and this means we
must develop a world perspective. Individuals can not live alone, no
nation can live alone, and as long as we try, the more we are going to
have war in this world. Now the judgment of God is upon us; and we must
either learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we are going to
perish together as fools.=

Christine Davidson also contributed some short excerpts from King's

writing, including this quote:

<Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love
harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.=

Geoff Kaufman, always ready with a song and fresh off his recent
performance at Friday Night Folk at the All Souls Congregation in New
London, warmed our hearts with the beautiful and timely freedom ballad,
<Let Justice Roll Down= by Aileen Vance.

When Kevin Lowether is in attendance, we can always expect words and

music from the heart. He spoke of MLK's contribution to the cause of
justice. In honor of King, he sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often
considered the Black national anthem, which warmed our spirits as we
huddled together in the frigid air.

Sabrina Rivera offered her thoughts about the continued conflicts raging
throughout the world. She encouraged us to heed Dr. King's words of
peace, justice, and brotherhood.

The group celebrated Geoff Kaufman's and Sabrina Rivera's birthdays in

fellowship.

Poetry Sunday continues to be an opportunity to give voice to the many

people who attend our Sunday gatherings. We encourage you to prepare
a short poem or reading that reflects our mission of diversity, equity, and
inclusion to share with the beloved community next month.
Special Announcement: Conversations with
African American Art
Now open!
Westerly ARC is excited to be organizing two events about African
American Art.

The first is an educational exhibition at the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of

Westerly, and the second is an upcoming series of talks with visiting artists
and art collectors at the Westerly Library. Much more information is
available on our website. Mark your calendar for these important
events. Visit our website for more information.

Conversations with African American Art

On exhibit January 5 through February 28

Westerly Artists’ Cooperative, Community Gallery, 44 Railroad Avenue,

Westerly, RI

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

Opening Reception, 5-8 p.m.

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.

Free and open to the public.

 Conversations about African American Art: Talks with Artists
and Collectors
Auditorium, Westerly Library

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.

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.

Jan 22 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Feb 7 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Feb 12 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Feb 26 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Click below for meeting and agendas and minutes:

Town Meetings
January 23, 4-5 pm

Teaching with African American Art

Please share this workshop opportunity with any teachers you know!

Register Here

Housing Survey
One way to make a difference is to share your opinion. Take the Town of
Westerly Housing Survey as the town analyzes residents' housing needs
and experiences.

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).

Classism

Refers to the ideological belief that people deserve the privilege or

oppression of their class based on their <merit,= <social status,= level of
education, job, work ethic, etc. . . . Access to knowledge or to education,
the privilege to choose when to be an <activist,= when to be risk taking (eg.
risk arrest), and the use of exclusive language (i.e. <activist= language,
acronyms, <academic= language) are examples of elitism embedded in
class privilege. (Classism | Colours of Resistance Archive)
Culture Calendar

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 27

Since 2005, the United Nations has recognized January 27 as International

Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is also the anniversary of the
liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Commemorating
this day is an opportunity to learn more about the Holocaust and take
steps to prevent further genocide. The UN resolution also encourages
governments to preserve Holocaust sites in order to educate future
generations and combat Holocaust denial.

Learning from our history is essential in creating a more just world. Learn
more on this page from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Community Events
 Funda Fest 26 - Family Storytelling Fun with the
Rhode Island Black Storytellers!
January 20

Westerly Library Terrace Room

12:00-2:00 pm

Funda is a Zulu word spoken by the people in South Africa. Long before
there were books, the elders, griots, and jaliyas4the storytellers- were the
keepers of the culture. They passed on stories and songs so the
community would learn its history, values, and traditions in the oral
tradition. That’s what we offer here: a place to learn. Not only that, it looks
like FUN!

Join us for a joyous day of stories and crafts with the Rhode Island Black
Storytellers (RIBS) and Westerly Library. The event is free and open to all
ages! See you on Saturday, January 20th 12-2 pm in the Terrace Room!

#Fundafest26 #Storytelling #Blackhistory #RhodeIsland

Celebration of African and Caribbean Cultures

Featuring Amina Blackwood Meeks and Teju Ologboni

Free: Family Event /All Ages

January 25, 6:30 PM

South Kingstown High School

215 Columbia St, Wakefield, RI

Register Here

I’m Just a Bill (Held for Further Study):

Demystifying Democracy
 Register Here

Building a World Without Nuclear Weapons: An

Urgent Imperative
January 27, 2:00-4:00 pm, Online

Register Here

One More Thing

Westerly ARC was involved in two very special events this past week in
celebration of Martin Luther King Day.

<Celebrate the Dream= at Peace Dale Elementary school had hundreds of

attendees who participated in music, storytelling, art, and learning. We
met organizations and citizens from across the state who are working on a
variety of social justice issues and were buoyed by the creative and
inspirational work they are doing.

Westerly ARC welcomes the many new readers of our newsletter who
signed up at this event. We hope to see you in Westerly soon!

And on Tuesday evening, Westerly ARC, Westerly Area Peace and Justice,
the Rotary Club of Westerly, and the Westerly Library presented a moving
tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King that included readings and discussions.

It is so wonderful to see a range of local organizations promoting justice

and peace.
Calendar

Calendar of Events
Conversations with African
Jan 5 - Feb 28 American Art , Artists’ Cooperative
Gallery of Westerly

Funda Fest 26 - Family Storytelling

Fun with the Rhode Island Black
Jan 20
Storytellers! Westerly Library Terrace
Room, 12:00-2:00 pm

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Jan 22
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

Teaching with African American Art,

Jan 23 Artists' Cooperative Gallery of
Westerly, 4-5 pm

Opening Reception: Conversations

with African American Art, Artists’
Feb 2
Cooperative Gallery of Westerly,
5:00-8:00 pm

Robin Holder: "Raising Your Racial IQ

Feb 3 with Art," Westerly Library, 1:30-3:30
pm

School Committee Meeting, Westerly

Feb 7
Town Hall, 5:00 pm

Bill and Paula Alice Mitchell: "Why

Feb 10 African American Art?" Westerly
Library, 1:30-3:30 pm

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Feb 12
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

Curlee Raven Holton: "Below the

Surface: An African American Story
Feb 17
in Printmaking," Westerly Library,
1:30-3:30 pm
 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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