Uh good good evening everybody. Welcome to the Greenfield Human Rights Commission meeting. Today is April 13, 2026 and the time is right on the about 6 p.m. and we are meeting at the city hall in via Zoom.
Anybody this meeting is being recorded by the Greenfield human rights commission in the city of Greenfield. If anybody is present is doing the same thing, you must notify the care person. >> Okay, I'm not seeing none. Uh and I >> sorry
>> I call this meeting >> I call this meeting to order at 602 >> latest >> just I will do it but we don't have to because none of our members >> mustn't come we should just >> but we I'm I'm just saying which we do
not Okay, let's go around. Pia >> uh present. >> Linda >> present. >> Nate >> here. >> Kathleen >> here. >> Angela >> here. >> And Paul is also here.
>> Can I just say something off the record? >> Yeah. I >> I mean I not to say I don't care about that. I just mean like not meeting. So I might have to leave um because I have two grandchildren in the emergency room. Okay. Okay. So,
>> we are going to approve the minutes from the February 9th. >> Um, that was a while ago. Um, >> has everybody been able to look at February 9th's meeting minutes? >> A while ago. >> While ago, we we don't we don't have any minutes from March because we were we
did not meet >> that. Okay. No. >> So, can I have a motion to approve the minute meeting? >> I believe so. Do they vote on this because they weren't here? >> They they can't
>> they can't vote on it because they weren't members at the time, but next month they'll be >> You will >> get them from now on. >> Yeah, you'll get them from today. >> Thank you. That sounds okay. >> And we'll be happy to send you all the old minutes, but you were at the
meeting, so you know more than the minutes. Okay. So, can I have a motion to approve the February 9th, 2016 meeting? >> Motion to approve the minutes during the February meeting. >> Second. Anybody? We'll second by. All in
favor? >> Oh, Linda. Sorry. All All in favor that was here? >> I Great. Thank you. Is any Is anybody here for public comment? >> Okay. and close public comment at 6:04
p.m. Um, updates from the mayor's office who's not here. We'll come back to them when they decide to show up. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, >> how did we get in? >> I got it from >> Oh, thank you. Just wondering.
>> Um, and then updates for us, the coaches, do we really have any updates? >> Um, only what I said before for people who haven't looked at their email in the last four minutes. Um, I I emailed out an updated version of
the onboarding um packet um to both Angela and Pia, but really to everybody else also based on all the changes that people at the past
meetings thought we needed to make it. And um so that's all done. And the best thing we could do with that is for both of you when you have a question and it's not in
there just write it down so we can then put >> add something add >> add other times. Um I realized and and I dated it too. I said this is the 2026
onboarding packet and what I realize already that's not in there is when we meet. >> Yeah. >> Um so for the next one we should put that
when we meet officially in there. Um, and I think I caught all the changes cuz I took notes >> when we were speaking about it. And the other thing that I sent out is for the first time a human rights commission
actually has a contact list. So, uh, and I sent it's in the packet. >> Yeah. >> Um, but, uh, it's also separate. So, everybody has everybody else's email. And the only thing I'd like to remind
people is you can't email about any issue. Like if it's I need a ride to, you can or um you know, who's getting the food kind of stuff, you can email everybody
and anybody. And same thing with texting. But if you are um anything related to an issue we're working on, you can't email more than three people because four people is a quorum and then
we're breaking. Right. >> That's why when we send the agenda, we send it on the behalf of the commission. >> Yeah. >> Right. And and so I just say that because it's so easy just to say, "Oh,
let me send it out to everybody." It's >> you can >> you can speak upates >> that that's I think the only updates that I have although you should update them and I will then update them on what
you were initially told about when >> I will do that I will do that after after >> um as one of my updates is you know um I'm very close friends with a lot of people um and not very close friends
with the family, but Brandon Floyd who passed away in March um old student from middle school. Um I want the body to acknowledge that and to um not have a
moment of silence, but just to be aware of that. I went to the funeral. It was lovely. Uh my brother Ben, who has classes with him, was very touched. Um and I've been texting the family and making sure that um they are okay. But
um we send our condolences fully to the family as a city official and as a body. And we also um you know are in support of anything um but the Hoy family. And uh yeah um >> the name of the student again please.
>> Brandon. >> Brandon. Thank you. Um and uh it means a lot and just just you know um like we haven't convened since March and it happened in March and I think they raised over $35,000 and GoFundMe donations.
>> Um and I'm just happy that our city can come together and honor a student who was just hardworking and dedicated to his friends, family and school. Um so yeah it there's no words to express
how well Brandon was um around his friends. So we do send our condolences to the Hoy family and um to the GMS Greenfield Middle School family as well. >> Yeah the my son teaches there and he
likewise said the funeral was really >> special. Um before we go into our first business, I think is it are we reviewing anything before we go into that? Before we do that, um we were notified um I don't know if it's on the agenda that we
have to look over, but um we were notified that um that we were told that our meetings would be moved every other month um due to cuts of budgets um in our city
government. Um, at the moment me and Paul are going kind of doing some research around that because it would mess up a lot of our progress and a lot of our um a lot of our stuff because the award ceremony that we do in December
are um our um are when we made the process last year, we had a specific timeline for the awards process and how we had things go on. Um, so that's something that we really need to look at into. We've even
add suggestions of moving our meetings to a fire station where we've had them before. Um, and that also look um so that's just something to put in mind of others. Um, I don't think it will be moved to every other month, but
I'm I'm hoping not actually. Um, but I see >> so to my knowledge and speaking with several people in the city, it's a couple of things. It's the space and it's the um
I'm just like sleepd deprived. It's the um person who comes here, you know, they're paid. That's a paid position. >> Mhm. >> So, and I'm not sticking up. This is just the information I have. So, I always feel like everybody should have all the information, right? So I guess
there's I don't know if it was 53 or 57 meetings a month and they can't afford to continue with that amount. They don't think it will be forever. Um we can meet without a quorum and have discussions and kind of get around it in
a way like say we were having an event and Linda and I like last year did our little things. we our fund that we have now has new brisket and new friend um you know we could continue with that kind of evolvement as a committee but I
think if they um you know they can't just let us be that special person who gets to be here every month when everyone else this is what I was told I'm just passing along the information when everyone else is cut >> so my my question is so every other
committee and every other every other council And every month it's going to go to every every other >> every other month. City council city council's meeting every other month. >> City council that's a different bag of tricks. They get a stipen. It's different than a committee or a
commission. City council is not in the pay bucket. But let's say the opioid task force which is in our bucket. >> Mhm. >> So >> school committee it's meeting every other month. >> Committee is not in our bucket. There's different buckets and you have
to acknowledge and as much as I'll be the first person to think this is a great organization and a great committee. It's not the school committee. It's not the city council. It's not the same. We can all have our heart and all our energy in here, but you have to acknowledge it's not in the same
>> which which I think we understand. But I think what we made the process last year >> about you know we had all these wonderful people come because we met every single month >> right and that's great and I'm not negating that or saying that we shouldn't. I'm just saying this is what
I was told just the message here. >> Well my concern >> I'm not saying it's just which is fine. So my concern is that the individual whoever relayed the message or whatever should have came to the body and said this is how we're going to be doing it
and we can have a deliberation. >> They haven't done it yet. So again, but I've heard it from three different people. >> So I and that's why I was three different entities. >> I was hoping that that update would be tonight. >> So I don't believe that they know yet. I think they're still in the middle of budget season
>> cuz you're dealing with the budget is >> I think that they haven't come to the conclusion yet. I think >> that it's on the table and it hasn't been decided yet. I think when it happens then we'll be told so that I mean I've heard it from three different
people in city government who aren't related. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. >> And we may and we may be able to determine >> rather than an every other month piece if you're saying we can only meet let's say six times a year as opposed to 12.
>> We can move it around a little. >> We can we can say well I think last year we didn't meet in July right >> because of you know >> that's what I mean. >> We probably don't need to meet in January. I mean there are times right right I think that are really slow and
that we may be able to >> November December because that's our >> that's September right and planning in August >> yeah exactly >> and do and do that um what it will impact >> troubleshooting >> what it will impact
>> is if somebody brings a case to us >> right totally we have a legal obligation >> and then we have a legal obligation but at that point then you can go and say we have >> we can deal with this because we have we have no choice, >> right? Absolutely.
>> And so I think that might be >> I think that might make some sense of >> absolutely >> how we deal with this. >> Okay. >> Oh, God help me. >> Is it possible to have meetings online in the balance of like if you can only
have physically or is it that you can't even use any city resources even for like the online? they're still paying that person who's on that Zoom call. So, let's say it's the mayor's assistant, right? And they usually work 9 to5 on
committee day. Now, they're working 11 to 7. They're missing out on 2 hours of work for the mayor. You see where that's what their argument is, you know, only because Yeah. So, that's the issue. >> It's actually they get overtime, >> right? And they
focus. >> No, it's about the money. >> It's really not the room. It's the money. We're all writing all this information. >> It's all about money. Everything's all about money. >> So, I'm just asking for information. So, all the other like public safety commission have been told they're only meeting,
>> right? I opiate task force. I mean, I don't know all the committees. I didn't look them up, but but committees like that ones like this. But I think I I think we have >> I think we can figure it out in a way that you know that
>> works for us >> that makes that we can do the events that we're committed to. Um and then when we run into a legal issue >> then you know >> Yeah. >> that's that's much easier. That's right.
And that's um and and that's in the we don't you know there's no choice around that. So we deal with what we can choose um in order to comply. >> Angela Angela can talk to Linda. Linda can talk to Paul and then Paul can talk to Nate and Nate can tell Pia like you
can do a workound without it being overly >> whatever. not saying it's opportunity from that from the events piece >> I think you know reviewing applications doing all that kind of stuff >> that's not that does not have to be we
don't have to be present in order to >> but you do have to have the present discussion >> absolutely absolutely but we can >> I mean we'll have to work with what we have like I always feel like you're it's a good workaround solution if it comes to that of course none of us want to see
it go to every other month. I don't think it's something that we can negotiate per se like and say, "Oh, we're more, you know, we have, you know what I mean, to a point." So, I think we'll have to prepare ourselves to prepare ourselves to work differently if and when it happens. And it may not
happen. Maybe it won't happen. We don't know that. It's just something they put out there. So, I'm just saying I don't think, you know, I think we're all really intelligent people and we'll figure it out. And the other question is if if six o'clock if six o'clock is is
is the is the issue from opening having somebody work overtime and and that piece maybe breakfast meetings are the way to go. >> Well, there may be other ways. >> We have people who are full >> working and full-time in school and
minor things like that. I Oh, that universe. >> Really? No. >> Well, I was just joking. >> But I mean, as part of, you know, as part of whatever I mean, >> you know, I I also was working full-time and knew that there were certain things that I could
>> I could I could do. So, I I think it may be I think it may be workable. >> And we this discussion can continue when the update comes. So, but anyway, I want to move on to my new business. Um, everybody has known
we've lost a member of ours, Becky Wheelen. And, um, we're just going to do like a 30 seconds moment of silence because um, not only was she hard work into our city government on this body, but I mean around the country for, you
know, Jim McGovern made a Twitter post about her >> um, just >> her incredible work. actually got to see her daughter at the Nok rally and speak to her for a little bit. Um, but if we can just have like a quick one to 30
seconds of moment silence, that' be appreciative. feel the presence in the screen, her love. And now our kind of going into her hard work with how the commission can honor Pathy's work. Um that's
another discussion that we can have here on the floor. What are ways that as commissioners we can bring out her work in you know you know just something I know her funeral I believe is June
>> I I have it in my calendar I can look at it it's in Northampton I sent it to everybody and I am planning on going >> I will be there >> it's in Northampton >> like a memorial service right yeah I know I sent it to everyone and I can
resend it but I know I did think it's Yes. >> Is that when it is? I'll look in our notes. >> I have it on. >> Oh, that would make sense. >> 10:30 a.m. First Churches
>> in Yeah. Main Street, North >> So, >> I know I sent it. >> We'll be attending what time that >> 10:30 a.m. was that? Saturday. >> How long was Py a member of the of the commission?
>> Can't ask me. You'd have to >> Does anybody know? >> Um, okay. Let me just think. So, you guys came here last April or May, was it? Or do I have that? >> It was um It was fe It was Well, we were sworn in in February. So, >> okay. February. So, the March meeting
was like January or December. >> Came at the same time as I as I came on and then she came on like two months later. >> Really? Was that soon after you? Yeah. When did you >> So I've been on here now. It'll be two years in October. >> All right. So she she was
>> she was here for a year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. She was here a year. Yeah. So she came like I want to say it was right before the um celebration did we have that year. So yeah 2027 and December. >> So she was here for a year.
>> Yeah. A year. Yeah. I we don't own a lot of things so it's hard to name something after somebody >> I was thinking >> but she was I knew about
her work in this country and protest work in this country. Um um she's was you know did civil obedience things more times than most of us have
had a vacation. Um >> but she also went to two or three foreign countries as well to do her work. So I'm seems to be the kind of person that
should be honored somehow beyond just we're all going to attend. >> I wonder we have time to do this. I wonder if we can do like a plaque of some sort.
>> You know what would be really going to be and I don't know how much it costs but you know she was always out on the common with the whatever protest it was. Wouldn't it be great to get her a bench? Maybe we could do a like GoFundMe page kind of thing for all her people or talk
to them about that. I have no idea how much the bench cost, but I can find out. >> But like if we can get like No, we got the award plaque for Larry. >> We can put a loving memory of dedication to Pyan,
you know, and then we put the year that she was on to this year. And then on the bottom it has our names on it. Um and then at the funeral we can present it to their family. Um as a token on the behalf of the commission. Um that's
something that I've had it thought of because we have money to do that. >> Where would we get the plaque from? That's >> we have where we get the plaque for the for the rewards. >> Oh. Yeah. >> So if we can get that in before June.
Well, flowers. >> I mean, I like the idea of the plaque, and I'm not trying to be, what's the word I'm looking for? Negative Nelly. It's a lovely, lovely anecdote as a person who's lost their parents. I don't know what I would do with that
plaque. Like, do you know what I mean? It's I'm just going to say this from my point of view. All the things that you get that you keep from losing your parents are cumbersome. out to me. My mother's been gone 11 years, my father's been gone four, and I still have I'm
just and my friends and I talk about this. So, this is I'm just bringing it up like even just some of their things and have bags and bags of stuff and it's really hard to let go of stuff that you know where any of your loved ones, no less your parents, especially when it's your last pair, then it's like really
hard, right? Because then that's the end of that and now you're the old person. And I just feel like then you feel like, "Oh god, I have to put that up in my house. Where am I going to put it? Do I want to look at it? I don't know if a plaque's the thing." I I'm just from
that's just my point of view from someone who's lost their parents and I still have like a bag of mass cards from my mother's services and I in my heart can't throw them out. Do you know what I'm saying? It's really hard. I just
feel like >> flowers I think or a plant would be nice. >> Yeah. But I think that it should be something bigger. I feel like she's she was more than just a person in Greece that she was a national person. >> Right. So that Yeah. But I don't know about a plaque,
>> right? >> I'm just thinking of something that her name would stay around here. So >> I whenever I see things award that would be lovely student I love the student award. I like the idea of a student,
>> who is that person or is a name there, >> right? I love that. Or yeah, student award is a scholarship. >> And we'd and we'd figure out, you know, we'd figure out a way of funding it, which needs to be separate from >> um you know,
>> it's not city funds. >> It's not city funds. >> Like a $500 a year scholarship to a student to you know, raise >> or what or whatever it is >> or whatever. even better than a bench or >> for a student whether it's middle school
or high school who is committed >> to social justice. >> No, I love that. >> And there's a nomination process the same way there is >> and it carries her forward. >> A nomination process the same way there's a nomination process for our HRC
commission. Oh. Uh, all I was going to say is when of, uh, it comes to giving things with the family, it just makes sense to talk to the family to figure out what they'd like. It can sometimes be and I think the other part of that that's lovely, right?
Cuz it's o it's overwhelming is what I'm going to say. When it happens to you and then I don't mean to use the word you're stuck with all this stuff. You're already stuck with the stuff in their house that you have to get rid of, right? And you have to find a place where like I've done this twice, right? And now you're stuck with new stuff that
you don't even feel really bad about getting rid of the new stuff because it's a lot, Nate. It's just stuff is a lot as you age and as you have to take over someone else's stuff. >> No, I I get it and I appreciate all the
ideas. Um, I was thinking about like if we did go with a plaque, we could also offer to put the plaque, >> right, >> in a public space, >> but it would give um I think part of to you can speak for yourself, but
>> I I think what's nice about receiving it initially is the honor and the right, you know, it it's it's it's a higher honor and then you and satisfied. That's
a real point that Kathy brings up. It can be overwhelming to just be left with a lot of stuff, but to offer, you know, when you're ready and or if you'd like us to take it, you'd be happy to talk to you later about where we could post this in the city, where it could be there for
posterity, blah blah. >> It's a thought. >> I like that, too. >> Sounds lovely. Posting in in the city is tough because then other people want to post other people and other
>> Does Lady Okay. She's part of Lady Liberties, right? >> What's that? >> Was she part of Lady Liberties? >> Yeah. Um I I don't She She was part of Raging Granny's by now, right? >> I'm not sure. >> Lady Liberties. >> I don't know if they have like an office raing.
>> I don't think so. I think it would be great to collaborate with some of the other organizations that Paky was with to do something like the student award and I can um get a hold of like Jim or someone like that, you know, McGovern. I've um seen just saw him at the trash
thing and see if you know he was a big big big fan of Pakis and we could try and maybe collaborate and do something really special with a couple of other groups and you know that could be >> and they may be in the process of try of
>> they may already have something in place right because it's only April so the service isn't until June so we have next month you we could do a little research and kind and revisit it maybe next month. Put our heads together >> like if we wanted to do that scholarship
option that something >> that is part of the HRC award ceremony is given you >> a junior or senior or whatever great idea that I'm against award
the award. >> Absolutely. And that's why I I think you know and if if you were to raise funds through a um >> GoFundMe >> through a GoFundMe or whatever and >> a different entity >> and it's sitting at a bank and earning whatever you know so that it's something
that's endowed um and >> and the banks here do it for free you know they all do it at no charge at cooperives all of it >> and so the account is you know the account is there and you pull out of it what >> right whatever um for that year. >> Yeah.
>> Um and make and make the award. Um >> u just one consideration for the award um that I think it might be good to be mindful of. Uh Paky's name in the UK and
like some parts of the US is a slur for Middle Eastern and Indian people. >> Good. >> Well, that's why I think you're correct. And it's a name she chose for the second half of her life, >> but it wasn't her
>> um and her original legal name. >> So, >> beginning >> I think it would have to be both words, both, you know, surname and >> right >> last name. >> Yeah. I just wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't feel comfortable not putting
both Paky on there. >> Yeah. >> That's how she was known. I understand the concern, but I would feel very uncomfortable if id put up a name. >> And I mean, anybody who knows her knows that. And I mean, I understand people could take a lot of things offensively.
I'm not, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm offended. I'm glad you said that. But >> so hopefully they would know enough about her to know that it was not meant in an offensive way. It was meant in a loving way. So hopefully people would see that, right?
>> So who's doing the investigating? I I can investigate as soon as everyone's out of the >> think of who else is in groups with her >> and see what they're doing. Um, I know what a wonderful discussion.
We're going to move on to item two and welcome our new members of our HRC, Angela Campbell, and Pia Martin. We are just welcome and excited to have you guys here with us. Um, so glad that the process went smoothly for you guys. Went difficult for me, but I'm so happy that
you guys went smoothly for you guys and um, just happened. >> Well, you were the racial leader. I was >> and then it, you know, made it easy for them. So, >> so anyway, do you guys have any like
words you guys would like to say? >> Well, I wasn't prepared for a speech, but um thank you so much for having me, >> being here, being part of the process. >> Yes. Thanks for coming. I just I know you're very conscious of germs, and I I'm a crazy person today, so I'll just
come. I mean, I'm probably a crazy person every day, right? I'm ultimately really over the edge right now, but I don't have um disease. I have really bad asthma and allergies, and that's why my cough I sound like I have emphyma or something, but I'm going to have to leave in 10 minutes because one of my um
grandchildren is now taking an ambulance ride to a different place. >> I am so sorry. Have a safe have a safe travel and let us know if you need anything. >> Thank you. That's nice. I mean, I'm just wiped out. It's been a day. >> Where are you going?
>> Oh, just to Franklin. They're going to be going to Boston. >> Okay. >> And then one staying there. He has he had an accident on his ebike >> which is now getting taken away. >> Gotcha. >> Two different family, you know, my family, but two different parents. They've already seen each other in the
ER. That's very nice. >> 14 and 16. >> Um, Angel, do you have anything to say? >> I'm happy to be here. Uh it's an honor to be a part of this esteemed group. Um I look forward to contributing
in meaningful ways here in the city of Greenville. So >> and we do and we do have some lively conversations which is nice. Um but we I think we've I think we've learned over time um that we're all passionate about
we're all passionate about what about what this commission does. Um, and um, every now and then we step on toes, but you know, toes toes, you know, recover. Um, and we don't we don't hold on to it
very long, which is nice. Um, there's there's a good vibe in this room. >> I think so. And I think I can say I I know for myself, I like to reach out and anyone who wants to have coffee, tea, dinner, um, whatever, we all know I love
that. A and um B, I think we've all, you know, made new friends and new associates. And I always think like in your life, you can never have enough of that. >> And then on another note, totally different. Um, but I'll just say it because I am going to leave after this. This is not part of the ARC, but I'm
doing Blooming Greenfield and I was going to text you, but I've had the craziest day, so I didn't get all my info out. And we're doing on Saturday, April 25th, we're doing, you came last year, Linda, a um beew wash where we wash the bees. If anyone wants to be um
part of the beew wash, a beew washing team, I'm going to send out a text. I was going to do it today before the meeting, but my day got way late. It's really fun. And they have a Tak from town that comes and sprays it and you just go out with buckets. We provide like you get a friend, you know, we
could, you know, and wash the bees. Remember >> you were at the table. You didn't watch the be. You were at the table with >> table with the uh >> field. Yeah. >> Thinking >> before you leave, two things. One, >> we need another member.
>> Yes. >> Be on the outlook. >> Yeah, we are. >> Look out. Be on the outlook. Jeez. >> Be on the lookout for >> Yes. >> people who you may think would be good candidates. And the other thing is just a topic I
was going to bring up, but I think we need to vote on it. So before Kathleen leaves, as part of the onboarding booklet, there is a procedure that
uh for when people put in a complaint form, how we go about dealing with that. It's called a procedure for compliance. I think that needs to be up on our
website. And when we went around the table looking at the procedure, everybody agreed, right? >> We asked, were there any changes? This is a biggie. >> And nobody had any changes. Everybody thought it was really well thought out
by the previous HRC people. And I think for anybody who fills out that form, they should know this is all the possibility. This is how it's going to be dealt with, including that
they need to get an answer within 15 days and a committee has to be pulled together to investigate it, etc., etc. So, I'm making a motion that we put that on the website underneath where it has
the forms, >> but the form is not on our our specific website, I think, >> but there's a part of our website that takes you to the form. >> It takes you. Let me just look here.
>> And that's where I think it should be. >> Okay. It's going to do that. >> Yeah. >> Right. because I agree with the mayor that anything that's an official procedure and I'm not that's where I had
my argument whether you know how we're buying the cake and when we're uh meeting to pick people that's not an official procedure but this is an official procedure and it belongs up on our website >> right
>> yeah I don't think that would be too hard right what would be so hard about that It took them a few months to >> Well, I know I right, but I'm just I don't think they're opposed to it. I just think that um we're like a lot of things not on the top of their list.
>> Well, that you're absolutely right, but in this particular we're dealing again with a legal issue, >> right? No, and I agree. >> So, as as you are, you know, when you >> It's not about the about the cake and the uh >> Right. I absolutely. >> Okay. So we have a mo you made a motion.
>> I second the motion. >> Second motion. >> I >> All in favor? >> I >> really my apologies for my crazy but >> don't be apologizing. >> I hate watching an ambulance ride. >> Only you.
>> All right. So I guess we kind of resolved. Um I resolved tomorrow. I'll be Thanks. Um, we resolved, we kind of just went
over item one on the old business. Um, so we're going to move on to item two, which is the update on the city plaque, the last year, and 2025's award. person. >> I asked a friend who has a friend who
does engraving and they never heard back from their friends. So, I was not successful. >> So, we're just going to have to bring send it to a company that does engraving because >> I know I just we can't find the issue. >> I know that sounds in name.
>> Well, I know Den Trophy does it, but I just there I think Den is in Springfield. Um, I mean that's what >> I have no problem giving go to the Springfield. >> Yeah. I mean D trophy is where at UMass when I was working at UMass they did all the plaques you know.
>> So if I we bring them the two pieces of metal they'll engrave them. >> I would need to know exactly what what it is and I will contact somebody at Drophy. >> Okay. >> Okay there. >> Yeah. I'll show you exactly. >> Show me what it is. >> We'll make a little It's about this big.
Let's just take a picture. And if nothing else, they may be able to tell me where to take it. Also, Clearary Jewelers is now opening is reopening. >> Um they are reopening in the end of this month, >> right? >> They may not do it, but then again, they
may know who who could. And since they're reopening, >> that might be that may be a a way of of getting it figured out. >> Yes. >> What um what's the material that's being engraved? Is it just metal? >> Yes, just >> Did you want me to just take it to my
studio and engrave it >> with Come look outside if you can do it >> and make it look like the ones that are out there. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. Like I would say definitely
contact any everybody else first, but if that falls through, I I can figure out how to get that done. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's great. It's uh >> we'll take we'll take a picture of it >> because anybody who has a computerized engraving machine
>> can do this in five minutes. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um the other thing I've been known to do is just put something out on everything green field and say, "Gee, looking for somebody who can who can, you know, um engrave this whatever. know
of anybody who you know and I'm always amazed at what pops up. Um so >> so do you have a computerized engraving machine or >> uh I'm part of LA uh Launchpace in Orange and they have a computerized laser cutter and engraver. >> Good.
Perfect. >> Yeah, cuz we I would like to get that done like before the summer. >> Before the people who got it pass away. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because we have Wendy. >> It's a bad joke. Yeah. >> Wendy
years. Yeah. So, it's been a while. >> So, we got to get that done like ASAP. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I mean, I'll I'll contact in. We'll take the picture. >> Um I'll wait until Curry reopens, you know, see what um that they can
recommend. And my third my third piece is putting something out on everything Greenfield, seeing what kind of response I get. and I will leave. Um if if that can't happen, you're the one but we'll do. Okay.
All righty. So item three is the continuation of discussion about the approach to take about bullying and racism in public schools. Let's start that discussion. I have not been very active on it. Um in
because we have a new superintendent coming in June. Um so I believe that Daniel did additional training. I think >> well he has a tab training this week at
GCC happening this week. >> Yeah, but I I didn't mean that one. I meant specifically for the Greenfield schools. I thought he had an additional one. >> Yeah, I I would know that. >> And but it has to be beyond
the idea. I I love what you guys did, but this has to be something that's built in from kindergarten >> through 12th grade in and members of the staff have to run stuff.
They have to be trained and run it and it it's a commitment. But schools have been transformed in two three years. But this
And again I you know I understand why the superintendent who's you know interim is not doing it but >> it shouldn't matter actually who the superintendent is if there is a comm if
there's a commitment from there's a commitment from the town and from the school committee. >> Yes. Um, it doesn't matter who your superintendent is or even who your principal is. I don't know that this the superintendent signs off on on math
curriculum. It is do they every year? >> Um as super the the assistant superintendent actually does every year >> curriculum coordinator and does >> but this is something that has not
traditionally been something like science and math and art and gym and >> etc. some schools, some districts, it is >> right >> and it's happened over decades
just happens all the time. And then there are other places like here where we had a little bit happening at the Newton school for a while, you know, like 15 years ago and a little bit happening, you know, teachers were
trained on that, but it's not a consistent thing. And again, the reasons biggest reasons parents leave with kids in the middle school is because of the climate, not because
of the courses. >> Did you have something to say? >> Yeah, I have some things to say if that's all right. >> Um, so yeah, we all know that there are issues in the uh middle school. I have
not I never lived here as a child and I don't have kids and it was well known to me that there was there were issues in the Greenfield Middle and High School with racism. Um, I have told people with children not to move here because of the
issues with the racism. And when I'm hearing this discussion, um, like yes, we hear about like the children in the schools and we hear about the teachers and I'm wondering if
some of the staff like are the source of this discrimination, like is that 100% where we want to start? Because when I I joined like the meetings, one of the things that I was hearing was that the parents and the families didn't feel empowered to
report. And um we have the all these I I haven't read the handbook yet, but we have all of these specific rules and like limits within the government that we've had to that we have to work within. But for
like an anti-racism initiative like this um or like any form of like community building like nonprofit initiative like this, the way that I've been taught to start this is start on the ground because when you have problems like this, there are always people who are
already organizing. Like whether that's just like bitching through text messages, pardon me. Um whether that's like complaining about the school through text messages with their friends, whether they have an online community, whether they're meeting like in somebody's like kitchen once every
two weeks, like there people are not helpless. If they're doing something, what are we what are they doing? Where can we find them? And like how can we connect with them? And also the issue that was brought up like several meetings ago,
like if the cops keep pulling me over because my tail light is out, like I'm not I'm not going to report the cops even if like the tail light passed inspection. Like are you going to pay me to go to the court date and fight it? Like are you going to pay me to like be
out of my job while I'm fighting that court date? like is there anything within our limits that we can offer these families like to support them through like whatever backlash that that they're worried about.
So I don't think it's possible to do anything without incorporating some of those things. Does that make sense? I mean, all those things all those things are incorporated. Some of those things were incorporated when I went to the
schools and taught about anti-racism >> and acted by the standard. Now, I'm not I'm not opposed to any idea. Well, my concern is the students. We have all these white people trying to figure out racism in a all white school with five
black kids and they're the minority. Uh so, and that's what I worry about. Um, and that's and I and I continue on worrying about that cuz I have two brothers who are black. I know friends who are black. Um, you know, that's that's my main concern. My other main
concern is, you know, um, we're not the school committee. We may have initiatives that we want to do, but the school committee needs to bring up those initiatives. The school committee hasn't even brought up an initiative, but the school committee is worried about some other BS that
they're worried about. Um, and so if they really cared, okay, because I've brought up the issues to school community members, hey, you got black students here. Where's the curriculum about civil rights movement? Where's the curriculum about black history? Not a single word in any of
them. Okay? Period. Um, and so like I understand that this is a problem that we've been tackling a long time ago, but um, if it's a public school thing, school committee should be in charge of doing it. And I honestly have not seen the school community do a damn thing unless they want to. They do um you know
the active bystander training. Okay, that's great, right? Uh where's the active anti-racism training? Where is black history in schools? Um that's taught what once a day in one once a time one time in on a on a Friday on
during Black History Month, >> you know, in February. Like that's the only time you hear that. And there's other months too like there's indigenous month, there's Latine month, there's all these other months and none of it's being taught. So my that's my concern. I don't think we should really be like
that's just my concern. I want to hear from Angel. >> Yeah. So um I think that we've you've just identified kind of the a major player in this is the school committee. Could we build a bridge, a partnership?
Is there some way that we can have a regular standing meeting to talk about this and move an agenda forward with some strategic goals and some real actions that we can support the school committee. We can also hold them
accountable. So I don't know what the politics are between school committee HRC mayor's office but could something um could we be positioned in a way to to influence the school
committee. Um, yeah, >> I think that I think that's a a I think that's the a significant way to approach it. Um but just reading about all the stuff where they're trying to have, you
know, someone help them, you know, with their own um with their own negotiations within the school committee and couldn't, you know, couldn't hire somebody because it was going to be out for whatever, you know, all of that. Um I guess it also had to do with open
meeting, >> right? Because it was going to be done in executive >> exact in exe in executive sessions. They can't even get along with each other, >> you know? So, it's an interesting I mean it's a very interesting dynamic. Um, and it may require
someone from the HRC every month attending a school committee meeting >> strategically. >> Strategically. >> Yeah. >> I I just wanted to follow up on what you were saying. The same way we took the
um healthc care, the city council >> to the city council. Um I think we can take this officially to the school committee
because we're supposed to be looking at human rights. Um, and so we can take there's not a bill in Congress, but there is a um
it it is a um city curriculum issue and it's two things I think. One is I think we should take it to
people on the school committee who have ignored it >> because I've spoken to at least two people on the school committee about it. The second thing is I just want to back up a little and say
when I introduce this as bullying and racism, I think it is they're not separate. >> They're not separate. >> And that bullying encompasses a lot of
other things. encompass, you know, body image and economics and all sorts of stuff. But, uh, all of racism is about bullying, whether it's from students to student or teacher
to student or in many cases teacher principal to parents. um where parents are not treated with respect, parents of color are not treated with
respect when they've gone to schools. Um, so the reverse of what you're saying is when people are looking at do we want to make a big thing about
this cuz there's only five kids in the school. The answer should be of course we should. But beyond that, I don't think we're going to get this to happen without teachers being on board and without
parents being on board and which is why it was talked about a coalition of of having this happen because all all the anti-bullying all the conflict resolution
stuff has to have parts of it. I mean, I'm thinking of just whole curriculum I know of for conflict resolution. All of them have a racism, but it's beyond that. It's just how do
you deal with conflicts with anybody and um and you need to talk outright about racism is one of the kinds of bullying and conflicts that go on. Um, and that's
why I talk. You're doing different things with kids in kindergarten than you are with kids in fourth grade, than you are with seventh graders, than you are with >> 12th graders. >> Um, and other than the work that Nate and
Daniel did, we've done nothing in the past 10 years about any of that. Well, besides the fact that people are they are conflict averse until they're not, you know, you're you're dealing with setting up all kinds of ways of of of
people just explo you know what happens is they just explode. Um you've got you've got students who um are committing suicide. Um, and I don't know how that in Greenfield particularly, but just in general with bullying, um,
that's not taken seriously in the schools or you hear about parents just going regardless of their race going to schools over and over about their kids being bullied. Um, and absolutely nothing is done. Um, and you know, it's
and I've never been able to figure out why it's never addressed regard whether it's dealing with racism or racism, anti-semitism, or just, you know, your your 12year-old who's being harassed because, you know, some group in in
school thinks this is funny. Um, and it just decade after decade after decade not being dealt with. And and that's why I say you need to have teachers on board because the teachers
the places where I've seen this work is where teachers boarded. >> Yeah. >> And said this is part of my job even though I'm the math teacher. This is part of my job. Even the gym teacher
>> etc etc the science teacher it doesn't matter. Um it there was one school I taught at where on the interviews when we were interviewing teachers coming in we said
to them you realize if you come here you are a teacher counselor. Not expecting you to have counselor training, but part of your job is to have a relationship at least with 15 kids who
you speak to regularly about stuff and you know their families and you know, etc., etc. So to have conflict resolution training going on for kids there, every teacher in the schools knew they were going to do that because it
was beneficial where and I need to say this, Greenfield teachers have been not treated as professionals for a very long time. So what I mean so >> and therefore when you're asking them to
do something else >> that that's hard. >> So what I mean but what actually prevents it from what actually prevents it from happening? >> I mean I'm just curious not having a a
child in the school and and whatever. What prevents somebody from saying this is this is human we're talking human beings here. >> Right. But you you're >> what is stopping this? >> It is frightening to at least
a third of the teachers dealing with what we're talking about. Racism, bullying, body image, gender identity. I mean, all it's just frightening to them. >> So, right. >> And and I'm you're saying and they're
saying to you, I'm going to facilitate this. And the answer is, yeah, you're a teacher. >> You're a teacher. >> But that is not where the teacher what they are taught. >> That's not what, as you said, didn't happen when you were in school. Didn't
happen when I was in school. So the if they had been through a place where it was happening all the time, they'd be comfortable with it because they were on the other side of it >> or part of you know part of in order to get your your teach you know in order to
be certified as a teacher. >> You know how many >> you have to have I mean you have to do you have to have all this other stuff. >> You know how many colleges had that in Massachusetts? >> Oh I would imagine zero. >> One. one >> because I ran the departments. I ran the
middle school and high school program at Leslie and I went to all the other colleges to look for what kind of course did they have and what kind of training did they do with teachers on this >> and the answer was nothing. >> When I went there, I didn't want to make it up from scratch in Massachusetts.
I've been doing it in Brooklyn, but none, zero. created a course called creating a community of learners >> and you have to and >> it was a required course for everybody
who graduated from our program and it was new to all of them. >> That is >> and I had a hard time getting professors to teach the course. >> That's what shock that's what well actually it's not a surprise but that's what's shocking. Um, and having, you
know, 30 years ago moved from from Texas, which is not exactly the most liberal place in the world. Um, having moved from Texas from V, having lived in Virginia for six years and Texas and moved to Massachusetts, I was
flabbergasted of the racism that I came across um in in the in the work that I was doing um in Massachusetts. I was just I hadn't been in the Northeast in 30 years. I mean, I hadn't been in the Northeast in
20 years. And I was absolutely blown away by the by um it was it was amazing to me. Absolutely amazing to me. So, it's systemic in the state. Um probably systemic in the region, but
it's definitely systemic um in in the state. And I would call upon the teachers of color to be leading this except there aren't any. So seriously, not one whole school system
>> and why is it their responsibility? Well, it's not But what I'm saying what I'm saying not their responsibility to fix this is there's not even a a vision to have teachers of color that you know it.
So it app it appears to me that obviously this needs to be a continuing an ongoing discussion but re but figuring out a process and a plan to bring this up every school committee
meeting when there's open whatever every single time is what's going to be um I think is going to be key In other words, we're not going to go away. The
idea is that if you, you know, if you you get you keep going time and time again, and you know, at some point it gets brought up every single every single meeting. >> And and it's interesting what you say.
had brought it up to uh a person who's been very active on the uh >> for years was active in PTO's in the schools from when her kids were in elementary
school and her oldest kid in youngest kid is now graduating high school and she says it's everywhere. I mean, when you talk about bullying, she said, "My daughter has the biggest hardest time on her
on on her um sports teams." I mean, so it's not just in school. This >> it's everywhere, >> an issue everywhere. Um, so, um, and and I think there's enough
parents, like somebody said here, who are really concerned about bullying and who are really concerned about racist behavior, whether it's Latinics parents or black parents
or whichever that But, and you guys have to tell me better than that. I mean, I know about the black community um mostly through Gloria Matlock and her
work with lots of people, but it's not a coordinated community. >> Well, it's not going to be coordinated if there's not a lot of people. >> But there's >> but if it is but if it is broader than
simply one group. In other words, if it is if it is including if it is including part of the Latino community, the Jewish community, this the you know the the gay community, every p every piece of what is supposedly
and I say supposedly um not white and straight >> and you and you create and you right and you create you create a broad coalition that show that continues to show up
um that can that continues as a group month in and month out. Um, and I don't, you know, and I don't know what kind of backlash there would be against that particular group of people. Um, you know, whether it's parents,
educators, um, who knows, you know, in Greenfield. Um but that every every single month that group is there >> demanding us some accountability >> because the bottom line for a human
rights commission is if kids have conflict resolution skills, if kids know about their own racism, if kids know about their own, you know, anti-gay, if kids know,
Then for those who stay and not a lot too, but for those who stay in Greenfield, Greenfield then becomes a much better place because this has been going on and on and continuing on and on with the people who are here.
>> But we also have to acknowledge the fact that a lot of these behaviors are learned behaviors. And I can >> that's what I mean, >> right? And I can understand why um parents who have taught these behaviors might be very upset that their kid is
has decided that well you know mom or dad that's not okay. That's you know that's that's not why do you treat people that way you know why is that you know why is that happening?
Those are those are big big convers those are big conversations. >> They are >> um and um >> and kids know when to bring that up with their parents and when not to. >> They're not stupid. >> Right. >> But I can see where where I can see
where the push back is from from a large number of the parent community. Yeah. >> Who don't who either believe it or or are not going to deal refuse to deal with it. until it affects their own kid. >> When it starts to affect their own kid
in a negative way, it's amazing how all of a sudden >> um things can things can change. But I think P is right and where where where are those underground where where
where are those groups um who are in fact talking to each other um and and parents and and uh trying to get some support and figuring out where those are. The groups are that are talking are
definitely out. We have we have the um at least at my household, we have the first move there, we had that race as any black person would move when they move into a neighborhood. They had the
race of you know how you speak, how you dress, you know, what do you do if this was to happen or that was to happen. We still have those conversations, you know. can't do things that white privileged
kids can do. >> They look that much different. >> Oh god. >> Much different. >> And it's it's in the black nature and the black culture. We learn it every day. That's the first thing we learn when we're
starting to walk is >> DWB driving while black >> being stopped for tour. >> Yeah. Um those are you know like but you know and I and you know
you know as our you know as a commission like we we just have to be mindful and I think that that's you know something I worry about not that I worry about but it's stepping on too many
people's toes and then and those parts are school committee and city council school committee I don't even know what I don't even think we know what day it is. And you know, city council, different story,
you know. Now, me as as a person, I I'm not going to talk about my racism experience uh in the schools because I maybe had two in the last what 10 years I've been
here. But um At least in my experience, it was resolved very quickly because not only am I what some people call a big person, but I'm also a advocate. And so if I see something that's wrong,
I'm going to go say something. And when those issues happen to me, I said something. I said, "Well, if it's not done, there's going to be a problem." >> Right? Um, and but some people are not like that. They don't know how to do that. And that's what you know when Daniel did his active
bystander training when I did my active bystander training, he said go to a trusted adult and find somebody, excuse me, that you can talk to about these issues. Um I I just
it really starts in the school committee. Um because I think there should have already been legislation passed about, you know, you know, Black History Month and you know, for somebody to, you know, I don't think I was doing a presentation about
it too and for somebody to come up to me and be like, "Oh, I don't who is that? Oh my god, I was red." Like, "Wow." Um for somebody to come up to me and ask me those questions. Um, like you said, those curriculum, I mean,
if you were to teach those curriculum, I would feel comfortable a black person was teaching this curriculum and a white person teaching about black history. And I will keep to continue on saying that. Um, you know, my family from a different um,
you know, from my parents are from Connecticut, my dad lived in Philly and all that. He he was taught all that stuff. Those those stuff was raised in the house and those was taught. Um yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I have a lot of thoughts
and I can't give them all now. Um but yeah um I mean my mentors were some of the people who created the first African-American curriculum in the 70s60s. Um I knew who the I actually know those
people national models for curriculum um anti-racist curriculum. So these really these aren't new issues. There are case studies around these issues. They there are resources. Um this this is when I say resolvable I
don't mean that racism will be resolved. I'll say that like some of these issues they just a lot of school districts have have made a lot of headway. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, I mean a lot of places this I'm I'm a little shocked
that um I shouldn't be shocked but I guess I thought um it was a little more progressive than New England. So um but I think the absence of racial diversity is part of the problem but that it becomes very you know racial equity and
racial justice becomes very intellectual and not like a lived practice because you don't have you have to have people you have to live with people who are different from you go to school with them work with them eat with them but even if you were talking in even if you
were in Dorchester Roxbury um Brockton, you know, other other parts of Massachusetts that are more racially diverse. Springfield, um, you're going to run into the same you're going to run into the same you're going to run into some of the same.
>> I mean, we haven't solacism wasn't solved in Philadelphia. >> Oh, I understand New York either. >> And I don't know. >> I agree. >> Right. But I'm just saying it's it's it is it is a shock sometimes when you're dealing with when you think about progressive New England. >> Right. So the one thing I would would
add strategically is to kind of repackage uh anti-racism repackage it in a way that is more palatable. It's it's been co the the language the definitions have been co-opted. So if you say DEI people
think you're talking about something that it's not. So strategically it's I I would approach it. I mean, as a teacher educator, as one that's I've created programs. I've done this work in schools and graduate schools, K12 schools for
years. I started a multicultural parents association so I could, you know, I I have experience around how to even help organize parents and teachers and administrators to then come together to the table and really look at the benefits of
anti-racism, racial equity, how everyone, white faculty and students actually benefit from this. So unfortunately, I have to almost package it in a way that helps white people see how they benefit first, >> right? I mean that's that's typically been >> I get it. How you even get someone to
listen to it >> and and once you kind of sell it >> as something that actually makes them uh and helps everyone but also helps them because the fear is that this focus on
black people and POC people is going to harm our kids. It's going to put them at the bottom. It's going to reverse the social order. That's the biggest fear that the order that white supremacy has created would be flipped. And that's not what racial equity is. It never has
been. It's not what DEI is. It never has been. So you almost have to kind of represent the case just as just to get the door open and then talk about these values and the mission and all of the ways that our
lives are enriched by learning about each other. Um, even among POC, we have different stereotypes and thoughts about each other. We are not, even within the black community, we are not naturally organized with affinity for each other.
>> None of us are. >> It's one of the most horrible things about I mean, you would think we would, but we're not. White people are not, >> right? >> Exactly. >> They're not just naturally organized around a whole lot of things just because they're white. So it's breaking those kind of myths down and just saying
what do we all need and what do we all agree to and then well by bit move up from there. Then it sounds to me that it would be it would be advantageous
to the commission or it certainly would be advantageous for me personally to read some of the things that you're talking about that you've repackaged that you've done because if we are going to present if we've if we decide that
we're going to present these things to the school committee person. I need to be educated in the language. I need to be educated in the in the approach. I need to understand fully and completely what I'm doing um
in order to present it properly. >> Um I'd be happy to put some resources together. >> That would be great. Okay. >> Ask you all, you know, if you have other resources as well. um >> and and then we can >> look at some things and talk about them
>> and deal with my own discomfort with the with some of the issues. Okay. >> And saying because if I can understand some of my own discomfort around it um then I am better prepared >> to deal with a school committee um that
may not be open at all. Um, and I know just with my own history, every now and then I just fall into a, you know, I just say something or do something that's um that's clueless cuz I don't know any
better >> because I haven't been taught um because I just don't know. Yeah. >> Um and so, you know, I'd rather stumble here than stumble in front of the school committee. Okay. I'd rather Yeah. >> Yeah. So, um, to what Nate was saying
earlier, um, you mentioned that like a lot of these, um, principles we've talked about have already been done or like have already been attempted in in the schools. Would it be possible to get or to for us to build together like a
document of what has already happened in this project like what programs the school has already had like when the last time they were done was like activities that have been organized but um either through the
school or by like teachers and students. I mean the one program that was through the school that they did with the YMCA >> for any student in you know >> any student low low income and whatever um they had a swimming program and you
were able to take swimming classes for like it was like six weeks the school was funded by the school was approved it from the YMCA and they would take students to the swimming pool and they will at the Y and teach them how to swim. you know, I was I learned how to
swim in fourth grade after being scared of the water, you know. Um there was that. There was times where we used to go into this was when Miss Goodwin was was principal. Um she led all these initiatives. Um and then what was the
other one that we used to do? We used to have a person, her name was Miss Pickles, come in. and she was a black woman with a dog and she would come in and teach or not teach but she would read books um to the students to individual students if wanted like if
you had a tough day you know Miss Goodman would call you down to her office and tell you hey I need you to go check in with Miss Pickles and the dog would sit there and you would read the book with the dog and you know have conversation with the lady and you know get to know the lady oneonone um
uh and I I will say this and >> to the point of yes, there's not black educators, but there are people of color who are educators. Um I think Miss Roberts, Miss Robertson is still the eel teacher at Newton who's been there since
I've been here and I've been here for almost 11 years. Um Miss Ortiz, who's the teacher at the high school who teaches EEL as well. She's been here for a while. Um, you know, once upon a time we had a
black associate principal and she left. Um, but you know, I'm from Springfield, so I don't discriminate, but cuz I've been around all of them, but um,
you have those uh, and we did uh, that was it probably. Um but there was that those are two programs that I can think in my brain that are not happening right now. They're not functional since co
>> I know during co we had a great amount of people of color as teachers and they all right away after they went to different popular schools around the state. Um takes a village. Don't you all agree? Yes, totally agree. I agree. It takes a
village to solve a problem, unfortunately. >> And it's an ongoing it it it's nothing that's nothing that stops. >> Um and you know, I realize that um to um
most of the world I you know, clearly present as white. I'm blue-eyed, freckled, and very and about as pale as you can possibly get. But I've spent my life as other, and I'm other because I'm a Jew. And
that has and that has never changed. I can't relate to I can't relate to the the um the immediate judgment that's made when someone of color walks into a room because that judgment is is
instantaneous. um because of what's what's presented. Um somebody has to go down one one one more step before one more step before I get there. >> Um and um and it always has been um and
continues to be um so on that level there's a there's a certain piece of of um understanding and and affiliation and I and I realize that it's different. Um but in many ways it is also very sim
um and um it's um been highlighted lately in ways that's pretty troubling. So it's um so that affinity to to that understanding. Um but clearly the the
piece of for me of educating myself further is is is important to me. And I I'd like to just add something if that's possible. When I was um growing up, my it was a Jewish community. Um
black Jews and blacks, you know, often times either lived in the same community or right after Jews left, blacks moved into this community. So, but the point is that in Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, the large Jewish um well, it was a
burgeoning Jewish community. first thing that they did um was to get on the school committee and change the curriculum. So by the time like a like maybe a decade or maybe 15 or 20 years before I started going to
school in the school district, they had already their the influence because their survival was dependent upon people understanding never again. That was something that was just repeated over and over and over and over again in my learning. The reason I'm bringing it up
is because when the the parents know that that they have power to influence the curriculum, it affects generations after. So the original group I'm a benefactor of the work that
they did because I'm not saying anti-semitism was solved or resolved but it was the resurgence of it only makes me look back and say this would have never happened even in even in my day
>> because it was that are happening now because we were taught very clearly um Jewish history, culture, arts contributions. It's massive and it was and it was
wonderful. I think we should have gone to the next level. I mean, it took generations later for African-American history and culture to come, but it was right there. The model was set for every group to like model after that. So, um, one of the things that I would do here
is to go back and find out what white ethnic groups because many white ethnic groups have had to go through the same thing. Irish people, Italians, Germans, and so um but I appreciate you sharing that
because that very a lot of my growing up and influences in my in my childhood had to do with influence of Jewish edi educators and even dealing in Greenfield. Now, I'd asked I asked the mayor around the
lack of turnout to the Manura lighting in December. Um, like I was just like, what what's going on? And she actually said that members of the Jewish community had said that they didn't feel they
didn't feel safe and they didn't want and they didn't want an issue made of it and so they didn't show up. And I'm and I'm thinking I I was there. Um but I'm thinking in Greenfield now this is
>> Are you kidding me? I mean I was just >> um Yeah, I was I was I was flabbergasted. I was also really disappointed. >> It's a different world, >> but it's it you know it's a different world, a different place. Um and it doesn't um um >> we need to bring back some human we need
to bring back some you know our humanity. >> Yeah. >> Um that's really >> um and bring back our Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. Just to say quickly to answer a question you asked before. >> Massachusetts
has never had an MCCAST in social studies. >> What in social studies? That was the That was the um >> because >> it's an art. Have >> you ever heard of graduation >> PSSAs?
>> No, it was a it was in order to graduate in order to get a degree from a Massachusetts high school, you had to pass certain >> things in science and English. They don't have social studies ones, middle school or anything >> because they can't it's too frightening. That's right.
>> They can't find agreement. They can't find agreement about all these issues we're speaking. >> That's right. And and and the history and the history in Massachusetts around around slavery and financing, you know,
and financing all and all of those pieces, you know, pre preivil war and all all of that. They're they're they're simply not going to deal with it. I mean I uh was I can tell you I can tell you other stories. I know our time is um is up but
I will share with you a couple of things when I when I move back um that were just like wow I was >> so okay so uh great questioning everybody we have no updates um from sub
committees we have no um there's no tableabling or recruitment but there is recruitment to have somebody feel pack seat so please find somebody in your liking. I'll try to find someone who's near my age um who can kind of hop on.
>> Yeah. >> You have you you already have a cohort of old friends. >> Um so just just to remind folks um I'm hoping to be at this next meeting. It's also 3 weeks before I graduate, so I might be doing it's the week of prom, so
you know. >> So our next meeting is May 11th at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30. um in person or via Zoom. Um and we will see you guys in May. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you.
>> Oh, we didn't. >> Can I have a motion to adjourn today's meeting? Motion by second. I adjourn this meeting at 7:32 p.m. >> Take a vote. All those in favor in >> favor. You do.
>> Wow. We really went over. Sorry. >> So, just to so I was working I did I'd spent two years working for the um hotel association of Massachusetts. I was one of the directors