WILLIAMSTOWN RACIAL JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM
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We are a diverse group of Williamstown residents taking on issues of racial justice and police reform at the local level.
We envision living together in a community that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable residents, centers the voices of those who have been historically marginalized and excluded, and collectively practices transformative justice.
Our mission is stewarding our community toward more just and transparent systems of governance through anti-racist practices of education, activation, and transformation.
Our Strategic Intentions are to:
1. Populate town government with leaders who identify with and/or intentionally center historically marginalized populations.
2. Build alliances with others working toward transformative justice—locally and nationally.
3. Amplify the voices of marginalized community members.
4. Educate ourselves and our community toward justice and inclusion.
5. Build our own internal community/relationships.
Our current work is divided into four subgroups:
Social Work
Our social work group brings a unique perspective to issues of mental health in Williamstown, focusing not only on ways our town can better serve people struggling with mental health challenges but also on the structural and environmental problems that affect community members’ overall well-being.
Over the past several months, we have worked with Town Manager Jason Hoch to create a Social Work Research Facilitator position to more deeply examine the needs in our community, as well as how town leadership, including the Williamstown Police Department, currently responds to those needs.
As social workers, we approach these challenges from a social justice perspective, with the goal of creating a more equitable and inclusive community where individual and collective needs are met and people are empowered to advocate for themselves and others. We will continue to work with Jason Hoch in an advisory capacity as this project continues.
Data Analysis
This group seeks to go beyond transparency by providing clear analyses of Williamstown government policy and spending. You can find their first analysis of the police department budget on the Budget Analysis page.
Education
We must commit more to learning about racism and its roots in Williamstown in order to dismantle the systems that uphold it. The education team is gathering resources for people to learn more about how to promote racial justice and police reform on a local level. They are also exploring ways local school leaders can promote anti-racist education.
To learn more about anti-racism on a local and national level, visit the Resources page.
Digital
The digital team aims to build an online space, beginning with this website, that compiles knowledge, resources, and advocacy tools relevant to promoting racial justice and police reform in Williamstown.