| Celebrating Integration: Moving Into the Next Decadedline |
 On Saturday night, November Third, nearly a hundred happy people including Congressman Donald Payne, Mayor Fred Profeta, Village Trustee Stacey Jennings, and newly-elected Assembly member Mila Jasey joined the trustees of the Coalition and many neighbors and friends to  celebrate more than ten years of intentional integration with an evening of conversation, delicious foods and exquisite wines, plus harp music that included everything from Bach to jazz. This special fund-raiser was hosted by Patricia Bell in her elegant South Orange home and demonstrated, once again, how our community comes together to model and support integration.
(People in photographs include Jean Campbell, Carol Barry-Austin, Congressman Donald Payne, South Orange Village Trustee Stacey Jennings, Board of Ed Member Beth Daughtery, Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, Chip Madsen, and OPEN Executive Director Barbara Heisler Williams.) |
| Pre-School Open House |
Are you looking for a pre-school or child-care agency for your little one? Would you like to know what is expected of your child upon entering kindergarten in the South Orange/Maplewood School District?  Join us for our Sixth Annual Pre-School Open House, on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 from 7 to 8:30 PM, at the Columbia High School Cafeteria. The evening will begin with a presentation about kindergarten readiness given by Seth Boyden principal Mr. Mark Quiles followed by an exhibition featuring more than twenty child-care providers from the surrounding area. Admission is free.
Child-care agencies interested in participating in this event should call our office at 973-761-6116 x4. We'd love to have you join us! |
Highlighting CHS: Facts, Fears, or Folklore? |
Calling all Middle-Schoolers and Middle School Families! Tuesday, November 27, 7:30 p.m. is the date for a special interactive program at Maplewood Middle School that will explore perceptions and facts about Columbia High School. The program was created by CHS senior, Samiel Cameron. Samiel and friends will lead this innovative program that teaches you everything you never knew about our high school. Our special guest for the event is Dr. Lilly, CHS principal. This program is sponsored by the Schools Committee of the Coalition and co-sponsored by the Home and School Associations of Maplewood Middle School and South Orange Middle School. For more information, call 973-761-6116.
{Image is of Samiel Cameron at last spring's Facts, Fears, & Folklore Program}
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Coalition Rolls Out Five Steps
for Superior Schoolse Headline |
The Schools Committee of the South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, after much discussion, developed a list of points aimed at making our school district more equitable and even more excellent. The Committee sent its ideas on to the Trustees of the Coalition, who worked diligently over the summer to agree on a platform for superior schools.
After presenting the platform to our town governing bodies, South Orange-Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA), Board of Education, and Superintendent Osborne in September and October, we are now presenting them to other groups, including PTA/HSA Presidents and the broader community.
As an organization, the Coalition does not take positions on curriculum, but we do believe that these steps will create an atmosphere that is conducive to an increasingly excellent school system.
To see the full platform and its statement, look on our website at Five Steps.
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October Was Coalition Month!
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Once again, the Month of October was Coalition Month in South Orange and Maplewood. Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta and South Orange Village President Doug Newman at their separate town meetings presented the Coalition with a special pr  oclamation.The towns were busy all month with Coalition events, starting with the annual "Report to the Community " at which the new superintendent of schools, Brian Osborne, gave opening remarks. This event, which took place at the Baird Community Center in South Orange, was our usual open dialogue between Coalition committee chairs and residents regarding our work to create a community free of racial segregation in housing, civic life and schools.
There were also "Introduction to the Coalition" events at private homes, and on October 16 and October 30 the Schools Committee of the Coalition presented Parent Advocacy Workshops, one for elementary school families and one for middle school families. These programs, with lively role plays, lots of information, and the presentation of the second draft of the Parent Advocacy Handbook, were led by Dr. Linda Cameron and the Committee with presentations by Karen Weiland from the Parenting Center, and Alison Steiner, SOMS Social Worker.
(Image is of the Parent Advocacy Workshop at SOMS with Dr. Cameron and School Social Worker Alison Steiner.)
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| Fun-Raising Dessert Party! |
Join Us for a "FunRaising" Dessert Party on November 29 at 7:30 PM at the Women's Club in Maplewood! In one hour, you will learn more about the Coalition, meet new friends and neighbors over dessert and, hopefully, be inspired to join us in our efforts.
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| Holiday Party for All Coalition Volunteers! |
Join Coalition Trustees and Volunteers at Cryan's on First Street in South Orange on December 13 at 7:00 for our annual holiday bash. The cost for a buffet dinner with beverages including wine and beer is $25.00. Please call to RSVP: 973-761-6116 . |
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We hope that you enjoy receiving our newsletter. If you'd like to share our good news with a friend, please click on the "Forward email" link below ...
Have a question or a comment about the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race? Send us an email, info@twotowns.org,
or call our office, 973-761-6116 ext. 6.
For more information regarding the Community Coalition and its programs, please visit our website, www.twotowns.org |
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Chair's Column:
Celebrating Integration: Moving Into The Next Decade
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Together, we continue to make tremendous strides toward our goal of creating and sustaining a community that is integrated in schools, civic life, and housing patterns.
Maplewood and South Orange continue to set the standard of what an ideal community looks like in the 21st century, and you, our neighbors are responsible.
We can all read the headlines around the country and recognize that there is still much work to be done. We can be proud that, as a community, we are not accepting of intolerance. We continue to strive for equity and excellence in our schools and a community that is truly inclusive.
Racial integration in the United States is, unfortunately, a rare and precious thing. The community of South Orange and Maplewood is proud of its racial integration, but history tells us that staying integrated requires intentional policies and a lot of work. For more than ten years, our two town governments, our citizens and volunteers have been working to make this a reality, and we look forward to continuing this work.
On behalf of the Executive Committee and Trustees, as we move into the holiday season, I thank you, each neighbor and friend, for your support.
Carol Barry-Austin
Chair
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About Us |
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, now in its tenth year, is a nationally recognized non-profit organization of more than 200 volunteers working to build a community that is free from racial segregation in housing patterns and community involvement. The pro-integrative work of the Community Coalition serves as a model for communities nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.twotowns.org or call 973-761-6116 ext. 6. |
| Calendar |
or call 973-761-6116 x6
for details on
all of our events!
November 14
Pre-School Open House
7:00 p.m.
Columbia High School Cafeteria
November 27
"Highlighting CHS: Facts, Fears or Folklore?"
A program for middle school parents and students
7:30 p.m.
Maplewood Middle School
November 29
"FUN-Raising Dessert"
7:30 p.m.
Women's Club of Maplewood
2008
January 21
Annual Martin Luther King Day Observance
Congregation Beth El
South Orange
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