The Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille (REAL) Schools group is off to a strong start. We have youth and adults who are engaged and passionate about the work ahead. We have collectively agreed upon the concrete goals and action steps that we will be concentrating our energy on in the coming months. I have included these goals and actions below. I hope you will take a moment to read and consider how you could be involved.
Involvement can include so many things beyond attending meetings (although we would love to have you and all your friends and neighbors!). Other ways of being involved are outlined below. If you'd like to know more, please shoot me a message! If you'd like to be added to the REAL Schools mailing list, send me your email!
We hope that you will join us, in whatever capacity you can, in our efforts to build not only safe, but joyous, courageous, curious, open, creative, connected, thriving, antiracist community within the schools of Lamoille County.
The next REAL Schools meeting will be held Thursday, February 20th, 5:30-7:00, at The United Community Church of Morrisville.
———————
This past Thursday, January 30th, REAL Schools held its monthly organizing meeting. Up to this point, meetings have been focused on building the coalition, identifying what brings people to the table, identifying what's at stake in this work, clarifying our vision, and beginning to coalesce around particular goals and actions steps. This past Thursday, the coalition took the next step of identifying concrete goals and action steps that we will be focusing our energy on through the remainder of the school year and beyond.
Below is an outline of the goals and action steps that were agreed upon. At the bottom of each goal description is a breakdown of what supports are needed or appreciated for the goal at hand. Please consider how you can participate:
GOAL: REAL Schools is committed to the formation of a county-wide youth coalition. Building this coalition will be one of the primary projects of REAL Schools.
-This coalition will be youth led with the support of REAL Schools.
- We have a core group of youth who are excited and on-board. These dynamic young folks are in the process of planning their first "planning meeting" to organize an initial roll-out meeting for the youth coalition.
- The youth have determined that their first task within the youth coalition will be working to preserve the "Diversity Club" at Stowe High School which is currently made up of three seniors. The club currently receives no administrative support within the school. The youth coalition will work on building a plan for recruitment and establishing administrative support towards the goal of group longevity.
- Additionally, the youth coalition will work on linking groups and clubs across schools and districts to allow for greater community as well as greater potential for mobilizing around shared causes.
WHAT IS NEEDED:
- The work of this group would greatly benefit from supportive staff within the schools, namely Stowe High School, that may be able to provide logistical and administrative support to the students as they work to grow the club. If you are a school staff member or know someone within SHS who you think might be interested, please put them in touch with us!
- This group will benefit from things that can help get young folks engaged and to the table. Do you have a hook up for tasty pizza or food? Someone who may want to donate some product for the cause of youth leadership and racial equity in schools? Do you have a hookup for cool prizes that could be tapped down the road at gatherings or events? Do you have an awesome location that you want to offer up for a future event or gathering? We would love to hear to from you!
- Does this goal / these action steps spark ideas for you? Send them our way or bring your thoughts to our next meeting!
GOAL: Begin the formal process of building bridges between REAL Schools and the school administrations across Lamoille County.
- We will begin this process by drafting two letters: one will be originally drafted by an adult within the alliance another will be drafted by a young person in the alliance.
- These two draft letters will be submitted to the alliance for review and feedback.
- Ideally, at the next meeting we will have had the opportunity to read through the letters and decide if they will form one letter or be presented as two letters. These letters will be sent to all school administration across the county in hopes of establishing contact, articulating our vision and work, and setting a foundation for coming together in our efforts to enhance safety and equity within the school setting for all students.
WHAT IS NEEDED:
Keep an eye out for an email with the draft letters available for viewing. Please offer any thoughts or feedback you may have.
GOAL: REAL Schools is committed to building an "Ally network" to ensure that students, parents, and families never have to be alone as they navigate their relationship with the schools of Lamoille County.
- REAL Schools will work towards the formation of an ally program. This ally program will allow any parent, family, or student to have access to a racial-equity conscious ally who will offer in-person support as needed. For example, if a parent had a meeting scheduled with a school principal and they were feeling uncomfortable attending this meeting, they can access the ally network and an ally will attend the meeting alongside that parent.
WHAT IS NEEDED:
- There are many steps involved in the formation of this program. The first step is forming a group of people who are interested in and willing to work on the formation of the project. If you are interested and willing to commit time at home or in person to the research and development of this program, please let us know!
- If you have experience with programs similar to this one, we would love to hear your experience.
If you are aware of grants or funding streams that could support this type of programming, please let us know.
As you can imagine, there are an infinite number of directions that our work can and will take us. The above goals and objectives are the action items that we have collectively chosen to focus our energy on at this time. We hope that you will join us, in whatever capacity you can, in our efforts to build not only safe, but joyous, courageous, curious, open, creative, connected, thriving, antiracist community within the schools of Lamoille County.
Oct 11, 2024, 8 AM to 3 PM
Holcomb House Opened for Visitors on Friday MorningOct 11, 2024, 9 to 11:55 AM
Estate Sale! - Cliff St - Oct. 13-14Oct 13, 11 AM to 3 PM, Oct 14, 2024