Schools Committee to Host Board of Education Candidates Forum April 14 at 7:00PM
| Coalition
BOE Candidates Forum Is Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 7:00 PM at Marshall School
Our Schools have always been a central focus of the Coalition, and this year seems to be
an ideal time to present a series of questions to the candidates that
challenge them to consider the relationship between school policies and
integration in our community. Questions will
range from leveling in the middle schools to how candidates propose to
fulfill the district's goal of hiring more minority
teachers. Candidates will be asked to respond to questions regarding the
minority achievement gap and changing institutional behavior to support
and encourage students of color to excel.
The Coalition is strictly a nonpartisan organization that does
not endorse individual candidates, but it is our opinion that a candid
dialogue on issues around race in our school district is an imperative
step toward integration and inclusiveness in our community. We want the
candidates to consider how policies they propose will affect integration
within the schools.
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Conversations on Race with Dreamcatcher Theater: "Some of My Best Friends Are..."
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Some of My Best Friends Are..." with
The theme for
this year's annual event is Conversations on Race: Some of My Best Friends Are...which includes a series of improvisations performed by
Dreamcatcher
Repertory Theater, followed by small group discussions on the
successes
and challenges of social
integration. This event is part
of the Coalition's Integration Through the Arts Program which utilizes the transcending power of
the arts to create
and strengthen bonds among people of different races and
backgrounds.
It will be held on Wednesday, May
5th in the Columbia
High School
cafeteria at 7:30 pm. Our Integration through the Arts
program, thanks to the
vision and grant-writing skills of Program Director Audrey Rowe,
received increased funding for 2010 from the NJ State Council on
the Arts/Department of State, a Partner of the National Endowment for the Arts
and administered
by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
The program will continue in the fall with the return of Two
Towns Sing-ins
and a new dance-in event. Check our web site at wwwtwotowns.org for
 updates or call 973-761-6116, ext. 4. |
Gospel Show/Fundraiser About the Underground Railroad
| The Coalition will also host a fundraiser this spring that promises to be entertaining as well as supportive of our mission by offering opportunities for people to build new relationships. On Sunday, May 16th, at 4:30 pm, the Coalition will present the award-winning show about a family on the Underground Railroad, "Singin' wid a sword in ma hand."  This piece uses Gospel music to tell the story of the Underground Railroad and how small African-American churches helped slaves escape to freedom. Oheb Shalom Congregation in South Orange is generously providing the venue for this event. Drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts will be served at a reception following the one hour performance. Tickets are available by calling Coalition office at 973-761-6116.
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| Nancy Solomon's Mind the Gap Wins a Peabody!
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Coalition Trustee Nancy Solomon's documentary for PBS, Mind the Gap, has won the most prestigious award in radio -- a Peabody. Nancy is a long time member of the Schools Committee as well as a Coalition
Trustee. Learn more about the Peabody Awards here. Nancy says, "I'd like to extend my gratitude to S OMSD Superintendent Brian
Osborne and Columbia High School principal Lovie Lilly. The access that I
was given to spend time in the school and interview teachers and
students was extraordinary and it was the voices of those teachers and
students that won this award."
The documentary is still available on Nancy's website at nancycsolomon.com
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Community Conversation on "Mind the Gap!" Draws Large Crowd!
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On March 2, 2010 at 7:00 - 9:00 PM in the library of South Orange Middle School, the Schools Committee of the Coalition and the Seth Boyden PTA co-hosted a discussion of aspects of the Academic Achievement Gap as highlighted in the National Public Radio program "Mind the Gap!" Participants focused on leveling in our schools, and included Peabody winner Nancy Solomon, producer of the program and Coalition
Trustee, as well as Janet Mandel, a veteran CHS teacher, Line Marshall, another CHS teacher, Donna Smith, a parent, and three high school seniors, Jay Baker Johnson, Lila Tally, and Ben Drucker.
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race has taken a position supporting the Sixth Grade reorganization plan, but it does nothave a position on leveling.
To listen to the radio program, click on Mind the Gap.To see local responses to the program, go to the Local and Patch.
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| Robert Marchman One of Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America | 
Former trustee and chair of the Community Coalition on Race Robert Marchman has been selected as one of the top 100 most influential blacks in corporate America by Savoy Magazine, Spring 2010. One of the criteria is that the leaders have influence in their communities and serve to inspire others. Robert named the Community Coalition on Race as one of the organizations he has been part of.
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| Annual Report Coming by April 15, 2010 |
Watch your April Matters magazine for a hard copy newsletter about Coaliton events, and our offical annual report will be available on our website by April 15th!
For more information on our community programming, visit our website at www.twotowns.org.
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Co-Chairs of Schools Committe Invited by School District to Participate in Minority Job Fair
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Carol Barry-Austin and Meredith Sue Willis, Trustees and Co-chairs of the Schools Committee attended a national Minority Jobs Fair in Brooklyn, NY as part of a district team recruiting more teachers of color to our School District. The Schools Committee of the Coalition this year has been working hard on issues around increasing the minority representation in the teacher staff, one of the District's own stated goals, and an important piece in combating the Academic Achievement Gap.
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Sue and Carol with prospective applicant
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Calling All Graphic Designers and Photograhers
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A Request from the Marketing Co mmittee
Your skills
are needed to help get our message
across visually. Only
have an hour or two? That's
fine. We can use
your help and we will work with
your schedule. Contact us as soon
as possible!
Send an email
to info@twotowns.org
or call the office at 973-761-6116,
ext.4 and ask for Audrey.
The Marketing Committee
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| South Orange Needs Volunteers! |
South Orange Village President Doug Newman has announced the need for volunteers to join committees to help improve and govern the community. See recent Gaslights for a list of Committees needing members or call Town Hall at 973-378-7715.
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We're In The News!!
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Nancy Solomon Winds Peabody Award! See article in Patch.
Listen
online to NPR Producer (and Coalition Trustee) Nancy Solomon's
Peabody winning radio piece "Mind the Gap."
Another article about Nancyfrom the Columbia University School of Journalism.
The New York Times Local Blog reports on our Community Conversation Mind the Gap!
South Orange Patchreport on Community Conversation on Mind the Gap! with Pictures.
South OrangeImage Makes Front Pageof The New York Timeson 2/27/10.
See an article about our 2010 Martin Luther King observance here.
There is an article about our community in Newsweek Magazine, and here's one online about our 2009 Report to the Community with lots of good pictures!
Also take a look at articles on Patch about our Sing-Insand about our Celebrating Integrationevent on Saturday, October 3, 2009.
And-- In hard copy-- New Jersey Monthly Magazine featured our community in the November 2009 issue, p. 84, "Dateline: Maplewood How One Small Suburban Town Became A Big Testing Ground for Online News Reporting"
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| A Coalition Wish List ....c...le Headline
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In these times of tightened belts and slashed budgets, the South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is turning to you, our supporters to ask for the donation of:
-- A new or very gently used high speedlaser printer
-- special gift of funds for special softwareto increase our efficiency in running community programs and managing our volunteer lists (for more information, please call the office 973-761-6116)
We are so grateful to be part of a community that supports Inclusion and Stable Integration in so many ways-- including computer hardware and time and energy as well as financial contributions.
Please call the office as soon as possible-- 973-761-6116!
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| If this is your first issue of the Coalition's E-Newsletter.... |
...Welcome! This newsletter is one way we let people know what we are doing, and what we are planning. These  e-newsletters come out three or four times a year, and we also publish a yearly annual report/hard copy newsletter that goes to every home in the community via Matters Magazine. Please let us know what you think-- call us at 973-761-6116 or email us at info@twotowns.org. We are thrilled to have you with us. |
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We hope you enjoy our newsletter. And if you'd like to share our good news with a friend, just click the "Forward email" link below. . . .
Have you a question for us or a comment about the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race? If so, send us an email at info@twotowns.org, or call our office, 973-761-6116 ext. 6 or through the Q. and A. section on our website.
For more information about the Community Coalition and its programs, please visit our website, www.twotowns.org |
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From the Executive Director
Nancy Gagnier, Executive Director
Like all smart non-profits, the Coalition works hard to be a good steward of its resources. To that end, we are printing fewer paper newsletters, rather using e-newsletters and our website as a means to share the news about our towns, our events, and our pro-integrative work.
Throughout 2009, we circulated four e-newsletters that are also available on the website. Special thanks go to published author and teacher Meredith Sue Willis, former chair, long-time Trustee, current Executive Committee member and co-chair of the Schools Committee for doing the lion's share of the work of getting the news out. Sue makes all the updates to our website, writes loads of copy, and does the layout for our print and electronic newsletters. Getting the word out to residents and to people considering a move to South Orange or Maplewood about what we do is critical to our success. Hats off to Sue Willis!
As another way to save trees and financial resources this year, we will be publishing our Annual Report on our website. The 2009 Annual Report reviews our programs and activities for the year, shows you how we used our budget, how we raised our funds, and thanks our donors. To read the report, visit
www.twotowns.org.
Speaking of thanking donors, well, we can't thank you enough! As a local grass-roots organization, our donor base is right here in our towns, and we know that there are many opportunities to give. We deeply appreciate your investment in the Coalition's on-going pursuit of an integrated community where all are welcome.
Feel free to email a response to us at info@twotowns.org
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| Coming Events |
Board of Education Candidates Forum
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010, 7:00 pm Marshall Elementary School, 262 Grove Road, South Orange
Integration Through the Arts: Conversations on Race
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 ,7:30 pm, Columbia High School Cafeteria
17 Parker Avenue, Maplewood
Spring Fundraiser-"Singin' wid a sword in ma hand"
Sunday, May 16th, 2010, 4:00 pm
Oheb Shalom Congregation, 170 Scotland Road, South Orange, NJ 07079
Realtor Conversations
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 , 9:00-10:30 am
Ethical Culture Building, 516 Prospect Street, Maplewood
Neighborhood Associations Summit
Call the Office for Location and Exact Time
Join a Commttee! The Coalition Committee are open to new members: call the office for meeting times for these opportunities! 973-761-6116
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About Us |
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The South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is in its thirteenth year of service. The Coalition is a nationally recognized non-profit organization with hundreds of volunteers who work together to build an inclusive community free from racial segregation in housing patterns and community participation. The pro-integrative work of our South
Orange/Maplewood
Community Coalition on Race serves as a successful model for other communities nation wide.
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