OUR ORIGINS
Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. Both unarmed. Both Black men. Both killed by police.
Their names were at the heart of a Black Lives Matter meeting held in Newton in 2016. Three Newton mothers -- from different races, religions and ethnic backgrounds -- came together in that moment.
They started to plan.
They wanted to find a way to engage families in the work of racial justice.
The three women looked for curricula to use, or groups to join. But most racial justice programs catered either to children or to adults only. In the absence of any family-oriented programs, they decided to create something of their own. They called it Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ).
Their hope was that FORJ would unite like-minded families who wanted to improve their community.
That work is ongoing by families of Newton who seek connection, and advocate for:
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ongoing antiracist training
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inclusive recruitment
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proven retention practices
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bias investigation
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equity in academic success
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restorative justice for students and staff alike
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sustaining the Calculus Project
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boosting belonging of METCO students
In 2016, FORJ held the very first meeting and it was clear from the diverse races, religions and backgrounds of the adults and children in attendance, that there was a deep yearning to learn and grow together.
Shortly thereafter, FORJ invited parents attending a Newton Public Schools event called “Talking to Kids About Race: Why and How?” to join a mailing list for future meetings. By the fall of 2017, we launched a formal partnership with NPS funding a School Coordinator to support parent groups throughout the district. Parents became enthusiastic students, learning to navigate the deeply complex racial landscape that exists in our country and in our own backyards and how to be actively anti-racist.
In 2020, the Board of Directors registered FORJ as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit and we are pleased that in the years since its inception, FORJ has evolved into a thriving, city-wide community organization.