The Harmony Foundation is a member of Newton’s Overdue Coalition addressing the need to talk about race in Newton. Here is a sample of some of the events organized by the Coalition.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 7:00 pm, Raising Anti-Racist Kids:
https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/6842289 (contact: Ellen Meyers, [email protected])
Join us for the first in a multi-part educational series on being an anti-racist. Cosponsored by the FORJ (Families Organizing for Racial Justice), Harmony Foundation and Newton Human Rights Commission. All are welcome! The panelists will be:
David A. Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools will moderate
Ellie Axe, Director, Story Starters
Michele Leong, Newton North High School Office of Human Rights
Kathy Lopes, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Newton Public Schools
Henry Turner, Principal, Newton North High School
Wednesday, October 28, 2020, 7:00 pm, Jerry Craft, New Kid Author Event: https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/7116622 (contact: Megan Coffey, [email protected])
Newbery Award and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author/illustrator Jerry Craft takes us behind the scenes of his bestselling graphic novels New Kid and the upcoming Class Act. Join us on Zoom as Jerry gives tweens and their families a look into his writing and drawing process. This event will be moderated by Morgan Harper, a Library Teacher at Peirce and Williams Elementary Schools. For 5th to 8th-graders and their families.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 6:30 pm, Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law Author Event: https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/7087081 (contact: Ellen Meyers, [email protected])
In, The Color of Law, A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, author Richard Rothstein argues with exacting precision and fascinating insight how segregation in America is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state and federal levels. Join us for a virtual session with Mr. Rothstein. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by FORJ, the program cosponsor. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of the systemic issues that contribute to housing inequities, particularly as Newton engages in a comprehensive review of its zoning codes.
In preparation for this event, attendees are encouraged to watch the 17-minute video, Segregated by Design, which was written and narrated by Richard Rothstein and directed by Mark Lopez.
Jerry Craft Author Event supporting programs:
There are several programs to help get the kids psyched that lead up to the Jerry Craft event. Please note: Registration for each book club is limited to 15. Up to 75 can register for New Kid Trivia. Up to 50 can register for the Comics workshop.
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 7:00 pm, New Kid Book Club: https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/7140383, (contact: [email protected])
Take part in a lively conversation about Jerry Craft’s Newbery Award-winning New Kid. This is a lead-up event to our author visit with Jerry Craft on Wednesday, October 28th. Participants will help brainstorm questions to ask Jerry Craft during his visit. New Kid is available on Hoopla. Grades 5-8.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 7:00 pm, New Kid Trivia: https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/7121519 (contact: Megan Coffey, [email protected])
Come join the fun and test your mastery of New Kid by Jerry Craft. This is a lead-up event to our author visit with Jerry Craft on Wednesday, October 28th. Library staff will challenge players with questions from a variety of categories on Zoom. No restrictions on team size. One registration per team. This event is for kids, tweens, teens and their families.