CLX Social Justice League
Winter 2018 Newsletter
Family Voices Night
Thank you to all of our community members that supported our Giving Smiles/ Family Voices Event and families that participated! We appreciate the feedback our families gave us and will be sending out the notes and staff action steps in January.
Our series of social justice workshops is designed to provide Claxton Elementary families, caregivers and staff with a safe space to learn and grow, but anyone is welcome to attend. These sessions are facilitated by the Claxton Social Justice Team and Craig White and sponsored by the Claxton PTO.
All sessions are from 6-8pm. Childcare is free for Claxton Families only and available starting at 5:45pm.
February 21
- Colorblind vs. Color Conscious: Families talking about race: Is your family more color blind or color conscious? Join us to explore how we talk to our kids about race--what is hard, what goes well and why it's important to step out of our comfort zones.
March 7
- Understanding Gender Identity: Transgender, cisgender, gender expansive--what's it all mean? How can a school be welcoming for students of all genders? Join us for activities and discussion led by Allison Scott and Craig White of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
March 21
- Asheville's Hidden Racial History: Some of Asheville's racial history is hidden away, and some of it is hidden in plain sight. Who were the people behind names like Vance, Merrimon, Patton and Dickson? What people and places have been mostly forgotten? Learn about the research Claxton students have done, and join us in a discussion about how we as a community are affected by who and what we choose to remember.
April 11
- Divided America: Finding Common Ground: How can we “Be the change” in our own families and communities? In this session we will recognize the divisions that exist in our country and discuss tools and skills that will help us forge a path towards resilience and peace.
Which Way Is Forward? A Conversation on Race and Racism
Which Way Is Forward?
A Conversation and Workshop on Race and Racism
with Tyrone Greenlee and David LaMotte.
7 – 9 PM, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at the Black Mountain Public Library.
105 N. Dougherty St. | Black Mountain, NC 28711 | (828) 250-4756
Light refreshments will be provided. Suggested donation $10.
Please register in advance, to help us prepare for the proper number of people.
Jan. 14 is the rescheduled date, after a snow cancellation on Dec. 10.
To register, go to: davidlamotte.com/whichway
This two-hour workshop will provide a space in which to deepen your understanding of issues around race and racism. You will be offered a chance to engage in conversation and connect with others who are interested in making our community an even better place to live for every one of us! Expect to develop a broader perspective, deeper empathy, and a clearer framework and common vocabulary around issues of race and racism. There will also be discussion around next steps for creating a more racially equitable community. The conversation and workshop will be led by Tyrone Greenlee and David LaMotte.
Tyrone Greenlee is the director of Christians for a United Community, a non-profit coalition of churches focused on mobilizing people of faith around issues of social justice, with a focus on dismantling racism. He also works as a mentor/mediator at the Francine Delany New School for Children in West Asheville. He was one of the Mountain Express’ eight “Asheville Influentials” of 2016, nominated due to his tireless work in the areas of racial justice and the wellbeing of children. Tyrone believes that, “As creations of God, we are called to celebrate and nurture our oneness.”
David LaMotte, who is a local Black Mountain resident, has presented at the PC (USA) Mission to the United Nations, keynoted at peace conferences in Berlin and at the Scottish Parliament, as well as teaching conflict transformation in Zambia. He has facilitated conversations about race, privilege and positive change for students at the Montreat College Conference. He is a professional musician with 12 CDs as well as the author of three books.
Monday, Jan 14, 2019, 07:00 PM
Black Mountain Library
2019 Peace March & Rally
Please join us at St. James AME Church at 11:30am for the kick off ceremony of our Peace March & Rally. At 12:15pm we will march down College Street to City-County Plaza where the rally will be held. This is a free event. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items which will be donated to Manna Foodbank.
Monday, Jan 21, 2019, 11:30 AM
St James AME Church, Hildebrand Street, Asheville, NC, USA
MLK Recitation Competition
On MLK Day 2019, middle and high school students wil gather to celebrate the words and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will seek to perform the most accurate and engaging reenactment of some of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's most famous and important writings and speeches.
For complete details:
https://sites.google.com/view/mlkrecitation/home?
Monday, Jan 21, 2019, 07:00 PM
39 S Market St, Asheville, NC 28801-3731, United States
Conversation w/ Imam Latif on Interfaith Dialogue
Imam Khalid Latif is the University Chaplain for New York University and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, the first ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. Imam Latif's exceptional dedication and ability to cross interfaith and cultural lines on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout NYC, including being selected as the youngest chaplain in the history of the New York City Police Department. In 2012, Imam Latif co-founded the “Of Many Institute” with NYU's Vice-Chancellor Linda Mills, Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, and Chelsea Clinton; a groundbreaking programmatic model for multifaith leadership at the university level. The OM Institute supports a new generation of religious and civic leaders who, deeply rooted in their own religious and spiritual traditions, reach across faith boundaries to solve social problems together.
Sunday, Feb 10, 2019, 06:00 PM
Trinity United Methodist Church of Asheville 587 Haywood Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28806 Show Map
CLX Family and Community Workshop Series: Colorblind vs. Color Conscious, Families Talking About Race
Thursday, Feb 21, 2019, 06:00 PM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
CLX Family and Community Workshop Series: Understanding Gender Identity
Thursday, Mar 7, 2019, 06:00 PM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
CLX Family and Community Workshop Series: Asheville's Hidden Racial History
Some of Asheville's racial history is hidden away, and some of it is hidden in plain sight. Who were the people behind names like Vance, Merrimon, Patton and Dickson? What people and places have been mostly forgotten? Learn about the research Claxton students have done, and join us in a discussion about how we as a community are affected by who and what we choose to remember. FREE for anyone to attend with childcare provided to Claxton families only. Please RSVP to help us with numbers.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2019, 06:00 PM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
CLX Family and Community Workshop Series: Divided America: Finding Common Ground
Thursday, Apr 11, 2019, 06:00 PM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
Around Here: Shiloh: A Historic African American Community
The Shiloh Community, originally established circa 1865-1870, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited African American communities in the Asheville Area. This talk will explore the community’s origins on a small parcel of land in the area of present day Biltmore Estate and its relocation in 1889 to the current location in South Asheville. The talk will also focus on Shiloh’s relationship to the nearby African American neighborhoods of Rock Hill and Petersburg and the institutional and cultural elements that helped Shiloh grow from a sparsely populated rural area to the vibrant community that it is today.
Anita White-Carter is a retired librarian. She grew up in Shiloh and has spent most of her adult years in the community. She retired from the UNC-Asheville library after 30 years as a Public Services Librarian. She is active in the community and is currently researching the history of the neighborhood. She is a graduate of Allen High School (Asheville), Bennett College (Greensboro), and the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).
Bobbette Kilgore Mays grew up in the Montford District in an African American community known as Stump Town. She attended Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Shiloh. Her extended family also lived in Shiloh. Bobbette graduated from Asheville High School and attended Winston-Salem State University where she studied nursing and psychology. After living in California for 14 years, she returned to Asheville and retired from the American Red Cross as a phlebotomist.
Around Here talks are free of charge and all are welcome. Complimentary coffee and cookies will be provided. The event will be held in the Ramsey Center, which is located inside Renfro Library on the campus of Mars Hill University.
For events that happen before 6pm on a weekday, please park in the lot on Bailey Street just next to the Greenway – across the street from Chambers Gym. After 6pm, visitors may park in any available green or white parking space, even if it is designated “faculty” or “students.”
More information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2135146896810266/
Monday, Apr 15, 2019, 03:30 PM
Mars Hill University 100 Athletic St, Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754
An evening with Bryan Stevenson
Stevenson is an acclaimed attorney, author and activist that founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). The EJI is "committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable members."
Thursday, Apr 25, 2019, 07:00 PM
UNCA, University Heights, Asheville, NC, USA
Stand Against Racism Day
Monday, Apr 29, 2019, 09:00 AM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
Have some recommendations for us? Retweet, share or post with #clxsocialjustice
Podcasts:
Cult of Pedagogy, 10 Ways Educators Can Take Action in Pursuit of Equity: This episode features professor and activist, Pedro Noguera about 10 specific things we can do to help pursue equity. Great blog post about it here as well.
Code Switch: This NPR podcast features conversations around race and identity in America.
The Mind Online: From Teaching Tolerance, conversations around Digital Literacy and how we shape and create content.
Podcast: Seeing White: A 14-part documentary series exploring whiteness in America—where it came from, what it means, and how it works.
Podcast: The Waters and Harvey Show: This Asheville podcast explores the experiences of historically marginalized people and their communities, and considers the influence those experiences have within our increasingly diverse society.
Podcast: The Show About Race: the podcast that gets real in not-so-post-racial America
Articles:
Early, Often, and With Increasing Depth: Talking with Children about Racism and White Privilege: This article was shared by a community member with our team. Check it out!
Actions for Allies for LGBTQ students: Here you can find specific ways to be an ally for LGBTQ students of color, students with disabilities, & trans and GNC students.
Teaching the Life and Legacy of MLK: Lots of resources and articles from Teaching Tolerance
Webinars:
What is White Privilege, really?, January 15, 3:30 CST: What is white privilege, anyway? And do we really need to teach about it? Deconstructing white privilege in the classroom requires educators and students to understand the origins of whiteness and how the legacy of white supremacy endures. In our webinar What Is White Privilege, Anyway? educators will learn about all this and more, reaffirming their commitment to anti-racist education and developing practices for inviting students into this work. Join Teaching and Learning Specialist Stef Bernal-Martinez and anti-racist educator and scholar Ronda Taylor Bullock for this interactive, resource-rich opportunity that can help you create a more racially just classroom and community. Register here!
What is your team all about?
Our team has been working on racial equity since 2014 when we received funding from Asheville City Schools Foundation and a recap of that work can be found here.
This year, we are self-funded with the support of Claxton administrators and our fabulous Claxton PTO. Our team felt strongly that we need to carry the momentum of our work on and were able to build a bigger team to create sustainability for our school in order to make sure we have socially just and culturally responsive classrooms.We strive to grow our work with trust in each other, the process, and ourselves that will see us through any imperfection to a place of deeper understanding and respect for all.
We will continue to measure our progress by the changes we see in ourselves, and the whole Claxton staff, and the impact those changes have on our students.
Contact us!
Link to our CLX Social Justice Website
#clxsocialjustice
Email: kimberly.eggett@ashevillecityschools.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/acsgmail.net/clxsocialjustice/home
Location: 241 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
Phone: 828-350-6500
Facebook: facebook.com/claxtonelem
Twitter: @claxtonelem