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Coming Soon...
A new page will launch on our website including, the full length version of A TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS: Race and Education on Long Island and supporting research on how LI's public schools can be improved. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Take 2 Film Festival
ERASE Racism's documentary A TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS: Race and Education on Long Island will be screened.
Saturday and Sunday, November 20th and 21th, 2010 Follow link for more information. |
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ERASE Racism in the News
As appeared in the Long Island Business News, Elaine Gross provided one reason for education reform by saying, "historically, the majority of the African-American and Latino students on Long Island has been denied access to high quality public school education."
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Now you can keep up with what's new at ERASE Racism on FB, Twitter and You Tube.
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Telephone: (516) 921-4863
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Fall is back and so is ERASE Racism's E-Newsletter EMERGE, thanks to our newest staff person, Olivia Ildefonso, in her role of Communications Coordinator. Read more about Olivia below.
"Back to School" is the theme of this edition of EMERGE, which spotlights our Students Partnering for Racial Equity Program. Christian Adames, a high school student from Hicksville High School participated in the 2009 inaugural class. He will share his thoughts about the program and why he is now volunteering to work with the second class of high school students who begin the program with a full day workshop on November 11th. Mariel Kasschau is a member of the ERASE Racism Partnership for Racial Equity and an active volunteer. She will also share her experience volunteering with the Youth Partnership.
Joan Skelly is our volunteer spotlight this month. Joan is a recent retiree who is now a volunteer leader for our Youth Partnership and Public Schools Policy campaign. When Joan was working at Eastern Suffolk BOCES she was a wonderful collaborator. I am so pleased to have someone with her expertise and enthusiasm as a volunteer with our Youth Partnership.
Let me close by thanking those of you who have been participating in our new Theater Party fundraising effort. If you missed the notices about it, please see below to get the details. |
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Students Partnering to Achieve Racial Equity
Last year ERASE Racism launched the Student Partnership with the Student Leadership Forum to teach high school students how to become racial equity advocates. The one-day forum increases their understanding of institutional and structural racism. After students attend the forum they are invited to participate in other Student Partnership events throughout the year, which continue to build upon their knowledge of racial equity. As ERASE Racism prepares for its second class of leaders, which will be held November 11, 2010, we are proud to present the voices of two volunteers: Mariel Kasschau and Christian Adames. Mariel is a volunteer with ERASE Racism and writes about her experience facilitating The Game of Real Life. Christian is a graduate of last year's forum, who will volunteer this year, and writes about what that experience has meant to him and what he hopes the new students will learn.
 | | Christian Adames and Mariel Kasschau |
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The Game of Real Life
By Mariel Kasschau
In everyday life we are faced with the harsh realities of situations that we cannot change, such as our family, our race, our gender and our sexual orientation. On a fall afternoon the staff of ERASE Racism assembled a group of high school students to teach them this important lesson. Rather than lecture the students about the affects that structural and institutional racism have on our everyday life, the students played a board game called The Game of Real Life. This game was a realistic twist to the classic Milton Bradley edition of The Game of Life. Read more...
 | | Game of Real Life participants and facilitators |
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The Student Leadership Forum
By Christian Adames
The experience participating in last year's Student Leadership Forum was eye-opening and great. The seminar taught me that people are not defined by the color of their skin or their culture, but from their character and their actions. The most memorable part of the Forum was the group session. I got to meet many new people who I am proud to now call my friends and I got to learn how others have been affected by racism or discrimination. Read more...
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Volunteer Spotlight: Joan Skelly
When Joan Skelly, ERASE Racism volunteer for the Student Partnership, was asked what issues she is most passionate about, she responded with three words, "kids and education." This answer makes sense coming from a woman who has spent her career working in the public school system, taking on the roles of a teacher, a principal, and a senior administrator of Eastern Suffolk BOCES. In conversation with Joan she recalled a discussion that she had with her mother when she was in elementary school, which helped her to understand the importance of education: Read more...
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Suburban Diversity Dinner
If you were asked to name one location that is defined by multiculturalism and diversity, would Long Island come to mind? Since many Long Islanders live in such an intense racially segregated environment, it is easy to forget that our region is in fact made up of people from all around the world. On October 26, 2010 over 400 people came together to bring Long Island's multi-cultural diversity into the spotlight. The event, entitled "A Celebration of Suburban Diversity," was organized by The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. The evening began with multicultural performances and inspirational speeches, and concluded with the recognition of community leaders who are promoting diversity on Long Island. The six honorees included ERASE Racism's President Elaine Gross, who was recognized as a life-time advocate for racial justice. Kudos to Larry Levy and Mohinder Taneja for hosting such a unique and important event!
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Thank You for Attending our Theater Fundraiser!
"I can't believe I waited this long to discover what a wonderful gem we have in our own backyard on Long Island in the Northport Theatre! The talent, ambiance and acoustics are top drawer. This is such a great way to contribute to a worth-while organization and also have a fun night out at the same time."
~ E. Beckett-Tuggle, Glen Cove, NY
Our biggest thanks to everyone who went to the theater in
support of ERASE Racism! The next ERASE Racism Theater party  will be held on January 13, 2011 to see The Sound of Music at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport. Remember, even if you don't attend this specific performance you can still participate in the fundraiser for ERASE Racism and receive the ticket discount. For more details, click here.
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Staff Spotlight: Olivia Ildefonso
Olivia is ERASE Racism's Communications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor.
 Olivia Ildefonso is ERASE Racism's newest staff member, but she is not new to the organization. Two years ago Olivia worked with us to conduct a research report on discriminatory mortgage lending on Long Island. Olivia grew up in Bethpage, attending the Bethpage public school district from K-12, and attributes this experience to her decision to study race and ethnicity in college. Olivia explains, "Throughout all of my years attending Bethpage's schools, I never once had a class with an African American student. Going to Brown University was the first time that I was exposed to a racially diverse environment, and my appreciation for such an enriched and thought provoking atmosphere led me to devote my academic studies to understanding racial segregation and discovering ways to create change." Read more...
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Tell us what you think about our electronic newsletter. We want to hear from you! Click here. |
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