Post date: Jun 06, 2020 4:41:36 PM
Select Board,
In light of the current civil rights inequity in this nation, and my own families experiences in the town of Williamstown, I respectfully request that Williamstown accept the challenge of becoming a My Brothers Keeper Community.
Thank you,
Colleen Little
160 Water Street, #25
Dear Select Board,
It's clear that all communities in the US need to do more to ensure we are welcoming to all our residents.
I agree with the suggestion that others have made that our town become a My Brother's Keeper Community: https://www.obama.org/mbka/our-work/.
Anne Jaskot
41 Manning St.
Dear Williamstown Select Board,
I am writing to express my support for the idea of Williamstown becoming a My Brother’s Keeper community. In the past week, many of us have heard stories from citizens of color, especially African Americans, who have experienced racism firsthand in Williamstown. The huge turnout at the rally yesterday suggests that many in town are looking for ways to come together to make our community safer and more inclusive. A town-wide initiative such as MBK could be one way to raise awareness and organize efforts to make meaningful change. It’s a commitment we should make.
Thank you for your consideration, and I am ready to help in any way that I can.
Molly Magavern
31 Sabin Dr.
Hello,
I am writing this email today because I would like to share some ideas with you. These ideas came to me from my experience at the protest on Friday. I'm going to go ahead and say it, my sign is the sign that said "Put your money where your mouth is Williamstown". I whole-heartedly stand by this statement. I was shocked by the sheer number of dirty looks and scoffs I received. I even received a few comments challenging my statement.
While I understand that some well-meaning Williamstown residents wanted to come to the protest to feel good about themselves and their allyship and didn't like to be reminded of the ADDITIONAL financial privilege they have (ontop of and because of their whiteness) but at the end of the day we must remember we are in a capitalist system. In a capitalist system you vote with your dollar. So, what will Williamstown vote for?
As a MGRHS graduate, I very clearly remember the blatant difference in experience between privileged students in Williamstown vs students from Lanesborough and Hancock, and that was within a high majority white graduating class (like they all are, quite frankly). I had MORE THAN ONE teacher who told me Williamstown kids are smarter than Lanesborough kids. I had teachers tell me I wasn't smart enough or "too lazy" to take an honors course. Not to mention the purposeful separateness of "honors/ap tracks" and "regular" classes.
It is no secret that Williams College has BILLIONS to their name. Since residents seem not to want to part with their own individual wealth, the residents of Williamstown must call on Williams now to be a leader in the fight for racial justice and equity in the Berkshires. I've worked in higher education before and understand the importance of PR, what better PR is there be than to take massive action to benefit the community at large?
Below I have suggested some actions that Williamstown could consider:
Take your money out of Williamstown and invest in Black and POC businesses on main streets of cities like Pittsfield and North Adams. Foot the bill for a year long lease on a storefront. Many stores had to close due to our state and federal leadership lacking the decency to cancel rent. I have copied both Mayors of Pittsfield and North Adams to this email as they are most likely best equipped to tell you where you can invest.
Reserve a portion of store fronts on Spring Street for specifically Black or POC owned businesses.
Through town legislation, declare the racism against Black and POC americans as a public health crisis.
Defund the Williamstown police and reinvest those funds into community agencies that are on the front lines of fighting racial injustice in the Berkshires.
Sponsor paid training FOR community members BY community members (in communities OTHER than Williamstown) in things like mental health first aid, deescalation, mediation, cultural competency, ect. When I say paid I mean community activists are PAID to lead them and community members are PAID to attend them. Time is money.
ALSO EDUCATE YOUR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Williamstown has white women that refuse to acknowledge the separate experience of BIPOC Americans in our society. I know because I talked to one of them today (or tried to until she told me I was making her too anxious and that I 'had to leave' ) during the graduation drive. Encourage uncomfortable conversations and open dialogues in a judgement-free zone and EDUCATE your white residents on their privilege. Even racists will show up to paid training.
Listen, I'm not saying I have all the answers. What I AM saying is it is high time we use our white privilege to stand up for people who would otherwise be shot doing so.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS OR ELSE WE CAN'T FIX THIS
I welcome the opportunity to meet with the boards to further discuss how to implement these suggestions and am open to questions. This email is the best way to reach me.
Thank you,
Bri Morrison