Welcome to our Newsletter! Newtown Allies For Change is a grassroots advocacy organization run by volunteers to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in Newtown. We are an unfunded organization and our mission is to center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Newtown.

Our monthly newsletter will be a way to stay informed about issues and events, learning opportunities and ways to help.

Please subscribe here to receive our monthly newsletter and stay up to date with upcoming events.

On July 18th, NAFC members gathered to discuss the topic "Things I Never Learned About Black American History That I Hope the Next Generation Will." A lively discussion was had around the firepit sharing drinks, snacks, and personal experiences of the lack of education about Black American History. At the end of the evening participants left in agreement that it is important for ALL Americans to be represented in historical education. We look forward to the next Fireside Chat on August 22nd at 7:30, where the discussion will be "How to Make Change in Ourselves, Our Town and Our Country." Click here for more information or email newtownallies@gmail.com

NAFC held its 3rd annual Allies in Education Award night shortly before the school year closed. The winners were nominated by community members to highlight their work and dedication to DEI in our schools. The event included a panel where participants had conversations around topics related to race.

Click below to see the article in the Newtown Bee about this amazing event.

A Newtown resident since 2018 and NAFC member since 2020. We sat down with Carrie and asked her a few questions about herself and her journey in NAFC.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with NAFC?

My antiracism journey started when I was in college. I grew up in a family where racism was the norm and so I truly did not know how my bias and ignorance truly hurt those around me. I wouldn't have identified myself as racist, only bad people were racist, but there were ideas I held as true because of the messages I received growing up. As young college student on a liberal campus, I began to understand how my upbringing and beliefs harmed BIPOC around me. I eventually went to school to work in youth ministry, and I made sure I incorporated educating myself about race issues and racism into my learning. However, it wasn't until the murder of George Floyd and finding a group of like-minded individuals where I could have safe conversations when I felt like I truly was understanding what anti-racist education was. I started off by reading White Fragility and then checked out every book I could about anti-racism, along with listening to podcasts and watching documentaries. I saw members of NAFC acting to make a difference in our town and I wanted to be a part of positive change.

Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your time with NAFC?

This is like asking me to pick a favorite child; I just can't decide which experience has been most memorable. I can say that coming together with everyone to fight the efforts of Moms for Liberty to ban books in our town was definitely memorable, but the highlight has to be rolling up my sleeves and working side by side with brilliant and compassionate people. I enjoy hearing about others' perspectives and I really love collaborating with others to help make positive changes in our community. The Department of Justice event we had back in 2023 is one of those events!

How do you balance your involvement with the group along with your other commitments, and what advice would you give other busy people who are thinking of joining our group?

I am a very involved person in my community. As a mom of four active boys, I am often driving them places and also volunteering in their events as well. There are times I am overwhelmed with the amount of life that is thrown at me, but I generally set timelines for myself and write myself a schedule so that things don't fall into the cracks and get lost. I am not perfect at this, but we are all a work in progress. My advice to people who are interested in joining the group: Make the first step. Volunteer for something little. I began my involvement by using my strengths. I enjoy writing and am not afraid of public speaking, so I started writing speeches for public meetings at the Board of Education. That turned into writing for our blog and has morphed into me handling a lot of editing and writing in general. You don't have to solve the issue of racism in Newtown single handedly, but be willing to do a small thing. Read a book and attend a discussion. Come to one of our many events. Reach out to one of our Executive Committee members and ask where you can make a difference.

What do you believe is the most important issue our group should focus on right now, and what are your hopes for the future of NAFC?

This is a hard one. All of the work is important! Right now, however, with the appointment of a new superintendent in our town and the ever-changing face of the BOE, the most important work is reminding our standing BOE members of the DEI policy put into place by the Board back in 2020. The demographics of our school have changed a lot over the past 4 years, but our teacher representation has not moved. I would like there to be more effort from the board to implement DEI training for ALL employees and for schools to take a harder stance on racially motivated bullying that happens in our schools. My hope for the future is that the community will see our organization as a tool and a help for them in learning more about how to make Newtown a safe place for ALL of our residents. We have a long way to go, but more and more people are seeing what we are for and about, and are able to see past the negative narrative some people have tried to push out.

Four hundred years ago, in August 1619, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the 250 years of slavery that followed.

“1619,” a five episode podcast by New York Times audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, examines the long shadow of that fateful moment.

Episode 1: The Fight For True Democracy

In 1776, the nation was founded on the ideal of democracy. In 1619, when enslaved Africans first arrived in what would become the United States, black people began the fight to make that ideal a reality.

Listen here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/podcasts/1619-podcast.html

On July 21st, Joe Biden made history by being the first President to step down from being the Democratic Candidate for 2024, because of pressure from the Party about his age. Without missing a beat, he nominated Kamala Harris, his Vice President to slide into his shoes and become the first Black woman to run for president.

A few days later, she delivered this speech to a crowd in Wisconsin, sharing her vision for America's future.

https://youtu.be/hmd3btOv87k?si=VeiFC83sewRH0cce

After the murder of George Floyd, Newtown residents organized the Rally to the Flagpole to protest, like much of the country.

This grassroots effort quickly developed into a Facebook group that instantly garnered 1,300 members and became the group Newtown Allies for Change (NAFC).

Read about the positive impact that is being made by the tireless volunteers in this group in a blog, written by Carrie Grummons, a Newtown Allies member and blog contributor, on March 5, 2024.

This month's NAFC events

• August 7: Online portal will be available for the Presidential Election absentee ballots for Newtown.
• August 22, 7:30PM: Fireside Chat
• August 31, 11:00AM-Noon: NAFC Youth Voices

Want to be more involved in NAFC?

Join our next meeting on September 29th, location and time TBD

Have a question about NAFC? Please reach out to us at: newtownallies@gmail.com