Peirce FORJ
FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice) is a city-wide racial justice organization with chapters at most Newton public schools. The Peirce chapter, founded in 2017, is a group of parents and teachers whose goal is to promote cross-racial connection and racial justice within ourselves, our families, our communities (with a focus on the Peirce community), and the world at large. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. We are all learners at different stages in our racial justice journeys. We educate ourselves and our children about racial history and current racial situations. We seek to be activists and allies.
Ways in which Peirce FORJ makes a difference:
- Student Awareness
Expands on what our children learn about race and diversity in the classroom through story times around racial justice and appreciation of diverse backgrounds, as well as “kaleidoscope bags” (book and activity kits) for PEDP to help to broaden student access to diverse and anti-racist books and activities. - Parent Communication, Support & Advocacy
Provides information for parents about cultural holidays, heritage months, and local events as well as learning opportunities through parent workshops and resources. Watch your email for timely information about holidays and heritage months celebrated by Peirce families throughout the school year! - Multicultural Night
An annual educational and community-building evening filled with delicious food, colorful crafts, cultural dress, and fun-filled activities and entertainment.
If you or your child have been the victim of discrimination, racialized teasing or other racial trauma within our community (whether the incident occurred with racist intent or not), we are here to support you in whatever ways you need. If you are looking for the Newton Public Schools’ Non-Discrimination protocol, you can find it here. Please also feel free to contact us to support you in reporting, advocacy and/or healing.
We also partner with other FORJ chapters to work on various citywide initiatives. To learn more about FORJ citywide, please check out https://www.forj.org/. If you are interested in learning more about the meaning and importance of anti-bias work and education more generally, here are two of the many excellent resources available for kids and adults: The Story Starters program brings local families together for activities and discussions about race and diversity through the medium of children’s literature, while Harvard's Outsmarting Implicit Bias website shares information about the science behind the many kinds of implicit biases that exist in all our minds in order to help lessen their effects on our actions.
For more information, to get involved, or to request support, please contact Peirce’s FORJ Chair Claudia Arno. We hope you will join us for various events and initiatives this year, or consider joining our team!