| October Is Coalition Month! |
October 2009 will mark the eleventh year that the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race celebrates Coalition Month.
The opening event this year is Celebrating Integration: Building Inclusive Community on Saturday, October 3rd at 7:00 pm. at the Woman's Club of Maplewood, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood. We will be honoring long-time supporter, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, and our special guest will be Governor Jon Corzine. Ms. Jasey has served on the school board, HSA/PTA's, the South Orange Civic Organization, Columbia High School Scholarship Fund, Achieve Tutoring, and has been a consistent volunteer and supporter of the Coalition. We are so pleased to be honoring Ms. Jasey whose commitment to our residents, to excellence in education for all students, and to the pro-integrative work of the Coalition gives us good reason to celebrate our community. To be sure you receive an invitation, contact the Coalition office at info@twotowns.org or call 973-761-6116.
Executive Committee Member Carol Barry-Austin with Governor Corzine.
The Coalition's annual Report to the Community: A Roundtable on the Value of Integration will be held Wednesday, October 14 at 7:30 PM at the Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker St., Maplewood NJ. There, Coalition Officers, Trustees and committee members will briefly share their accomplishments for the past year and plans for the coming year, and- very important!-
this year we're using the Report as an opportunity to hear ideas from residents about how our committees can best serve them. If you've ever thought "Hey, that's something the Coalition should do," then we invite you to come and talk to our committees.
 Coalition Month extends to November with the Two Towns Sing-in, a free series of workshops for community singers from the novice to the professional. This year's professional guest conductors and performers include Ahmondylla Best, Cantor Perry Fine and Tina Marshall, coordinated by music conductor Vicki Carter. They will be teaching music that reflects the racial, religious and ethnic diversity of our community, including gospel, Jewish traditional, American pop and global heritage genres.
Workshops will be held on Wednesdays, October 21st, 28th, November 4th, 11th and 18th at the Baird Community Center in South Orange.
The final sing-in features an afternoon of selections by the chorus and each of the professional conductors and will include audience participation. All are invited to this inspirational concert on Sunday, November 22nd at Prospect Presbyterian Church, 646 Prospect St., Maplewood NJ at 3 PM.
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| A Toast to Integration!rticle Headline |
On Friday July 31st, The Community Coalition on Race hosted its Toast to Integration wine-tasting at Les Saisons in Maplewood. Residents from South Orange, Maplewood and surrounding towns came out on a stormy night to talk about the benef  its of building an integrated community and to learn how they could support the Coalition's efforts. Art and Libby Christensen, owners of Les Saisons in Maplewood, generously donated both the use of their splendid inn as well as the hors d'oeuvres. Desserts were provided by Eden Gourmet and Cait & Abby's Bakery, both of South Orange. The wine-tasting was conducted by a sommelier, Kristen Murphy, from the Wine Library who introduced the guests to seven wines from France.
Judie Fujita of South Orange, newcomer to the Coalition, said "I have never attended such an amazing party! People new to the Coalition and veterans alike were welcomed with open arms. I'm so grateful to  live in a town with a heart like this!"
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| Schools Committee Participates in New Teacher Orientation |
Schools Committee co-chairs Carol Barry-Austin and Meredith Sue Willis participated in the District Teac her Orientation
on Friday August 21, 2009. They gave a presentation on the Coalition's history and what it has done for the schools to new teachers in the South Orange Maplewood School District. This is the fourth year that committee members of the Coalition have participated in orientation for teachers new to our district.
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| Ten Top Tips for Supporting Your Child's Academic Achievement!eadline |
The Schools Committee of the Coaltion, as part of its Aim High! Focus on the Minority Academic Achievement Gap program, is distributing thousands of brochures to the elementary school community with concrete ideas for getting the most out of our schools for your child. The tips ar  e the result of the committee's research combined with the wisdom of teachers and parents who know our schools. The Tips range from #1- Set high expectations for your child to # 8- Advocate for your child and #10- Plan ahead for your child's academic career.
As Superintendent of the School Disctict Brian Osborne says in the brochure, "Your Involvement will have a profound effect on your child's success in school."
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| Pre-School Open House Coming up in November! |
On Monday, November 16, 2009, the Schools Committee of the Coalition and the Neighborhood and Civic Life Associations of the Coalition will sponsor the Eighth annual Pre-School Open House in Columbia High School's cafeteria. This popular event brings a member of the School District's  administrative team to talk with families about kindergarten readiness. Meanwhile, representatives from 20 or more local pre-
schools and day-care centers are available at tables to discuss their services with parents like the gentlemen with their children in the photo above at last year's event.
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| Trustees Meet the Public at South Orange Yearly Festival |
Trustees Alice Baldwin-Jones, Abby Cotler, Mark Mucci, and Meredith Sue Willis. Photo by Nancy Heins-Glaser
The Coalition has an ambassador table at as many events as possible in our community. At this 2009 Celebrate South Orange event, rain did not stop the laughter and conversation and meeting new people.
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| Chair Marlon Brownlee Speaks to Board of Education in June About Adoption of Five Steps to Superior Schools |
Coalition Chair Marlon Brownlee made a presentation to the SOM Board of Education at their regular June meeting. He said, in part, "There has been some public misunderstanding of the Coalition's Five Steps for Superior Schools about how to structure our schools best to serve the needs of our children. The history is that in September 2007, our trustees  approved and published a paper titled 'Five Steps for Superior Schools.' which recommend guiding principles for how our schools should operate." To see the 'Five Steps' in full, click here.
"The Coalition," said Brownlee, "does not take positions on curriculum; rather, we work to ensure our community's racial inclusion and integration. To that end, we drafted the Five Steps which we believe- if taken in totality- would ensure the achievement of what our community desires: an increasingly superior school system.
"We believe that as presently structured, out schools do not fully realize the district's goal of having all students achieve at the highest levels of which they are capable. We are not willing to accept differences in access to various academic resources being correlated to race. The fact that there are such dramatic differences in academic achievement correlated with race is indicative of a
problem. Therefore, it is our position that doing nothing is not an option.
"We encourage community members, school administrators, and civic leaders to read as a whole the full Five Steps. It is not our intent- and it would be a distortion of our intent- for any single element to be taken out of the context of the rest of the document.
"The essential principles are that
1. There must be zero tolerance for racial bias
2. All students should have equal and open access to academic resources, including course selection.
3. There should be an absolute and unconditional understanding that school is a special place where seriousness of mind, hard work, self-discipline, and respect for others are core values
4. School staff should assert their authority by setting an example for students
5. District governance should focus on accountability.
"We feel that the Administration should conduct a fresh evaluation of our school and governance practices to determine if they truly adhere- in structure and actual practice- to all of the overall principles articulated in the Five Steps. We believe that these Five Steps are vital to achieving a superior school system, and that a superior school system is essential to stable integration in our communities.
"Therefore, we call for the establishment of a specific plan with corresponding measurable criteria to ensure that these principles are actually being followed, and not merely espoused. We stand ready to work with the school district and the community of Maplewood and South Orange to further these goals."
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We're In The News!!
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See The New York Times Local Blog! The Local has been running a discussion about the lack of racial representation at recent public events in our community. Coalition Executive Director Nancy Gagnier, representing the Executive Committee, is featured in the latest article.
More: CHS graduate and Princeton University student Amira Karriem's research on deleveling and African-American students includes Columbia High School.
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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. |
Join Us--We Need You!
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 The Coalition needs your help. If you're a grant writer, a fund raiser, a web consultant, a graphic designer or a photographer (especially one whose digital camera is always handy!), please let us hear from you. If you want to actively support the Coalition's efforts to create true integration in our Two Towns, please call the office at 973-761-6116 and VOLUNTEER! |
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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.
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
After an event-filled spring, we took a moment this summer to gather together Coalition supporters with people new to our work in the community for a wonderful evening of wine, food, conversation, and fellowship. For more details on the Toast to Integration - see the article and the pictures in this newsletter. I can't think of a better way to spend a rainy, steamy July night.
The staff, trustees and volunteer committee members worked through the summer on various pro-integrative efforts. The Marketing Committee met with two local professionals in the field-RJ Lennon and Nekia Lewis-to learn about social media networking. In our effort to be a model community for the nation when it comes to integration, we are planning to take full advantage of new and better ways to share our work and connect with other communities.
The Schools Committee produced a wonderful pamphlet for parents of elementary school children called Top Ten Tips for Supporting your Child's Academic Achievement (See accompanying article!).
The Neighborhood Association & Civic Life committee is working on a booklet that will help community organizations attract and retain a diverse body of volunteers.
October is Coalition Month and this year our kick-off event-Celebrating Integration: Building Inclusive Communities- will honor Assemblywoman Mila Jasey. Ms. Jasey has a long record of community service in our towns and beyond. We'll also have as our special guest Governor Jon Corzine.
As part of our Integration Through the Arts program, we are again hosting the Two Towns Sing-ins. Workshops begin in October and the final workshop/ performance will take place in November. If you want to meet new people, sing, learn new kinds of music with professional directors, and have fun, then this is event for you. I had a great time myself last year and can't wait to see what new music is in store this time around!
The Coalition's annual Report to the Community will be on October 14th at the Maplewood Public Library. This year we're using the Report as an opportunity to hear ideas from residents about how our committees can best serve them. If you've ever thought "Hey, that's something the Coalition should do," then we invite you to come and talk to our committees.
Feel free to email a response to us at info@twotowns.org
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| Coming Events |
October 2009 is Coalition Month!
The Coalition Celebrates Integration
Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the Woman's Club in Maplewood. honoring Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.
Annual Report to the Community: A Roundtable on the Value of Integration
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 7:30 PM
Maplewood Library
Two Towns Sing-Ins
Workshops at Baird Community Center, South Orange on
Wednesdays Oct. 21, 28 and Nov. 4, 11 and 18.
Closing Community Sing-in on
Sunday, Nov. 22, at Prospect Presbyterian Church.
Pre-School Open House
Monday, November 16
Please visit
or call
973-761-6116 x6
for updates and details!
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About Us |
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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