Racial Equity Parent Group Update
February 2, 2023
REP’s Response to the Death of Tyre Nichols and Invitation Into Spaces for Conversation
Peirce’s Racial Equity Parent Group (REP) steering committee wishes to express our condolences and love to the family of Tyre Nichols and his community in Memphis, Tennessee at this time of mourning and righteous anger.
We condemn the callous brutality of police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and emergency medical responders and reject the violence and dehumanization that led to his death.
Why a statement now? Because we know it has hit home for many, and our wider Peirce community is talking, strategizing about how to respond to each other and to our kids. We want to encourage these conversations and offer some resources.
We acknowledge the desire of many in our community for classroom conversations to process Mr. Nichols’s murder.
And we acknowledge that many Black and Brown Peirce families want and need to have these conversations at home.
We encourage all Peirce families to process together at home, and for white families to talk openly about why that’s important, and why it can be painful for their Black and Brown friends to be part of other people’s processing at school.
As parents we call on our fellow community members to lead with love–to educate ourselves, be mindful of one another and our children, and support each other in our different needs as we take part in this community.
Join an affinity group. REP supports efforts to open more spaces for parents to come together in affinity groups of shared racial experience:
White Parents Affinity Space. REP will be holding space on Thursday, February 2, 8:00 - 9:00 pm for white parents and care-givers who want to discuss how to talk to your kids about racism, police violence, or other topics.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2072593439?pwd=S0JDcDBDTVpYRE5TRkVmLzNCMWg5Zz09
Parents of Color Affinity Space. “Voices for REP” is a no-agenda What’sApp space for parents of color. Open this link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I9DUEwAw3B03Zy9hQzGmfK
Affinity Space for All Parents. Attend REP’s meeting, Tuesday, February 7, 8:00 - 9:00 pm, registration link here: http://bit.ly/3WMwvC2
Resources for Supporting Kids in the Wake of Racialized Violence:
Resource for All Parents & Care-givers:
Resource for White Parents of Children of Color
Resources for White Parents
NPR’s “Talking Race with Young Children”
Anti-Racism for Beginners: a Tool Kit
“Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice” (for ages 4 to 8)
“Talking to Your Kids About Racism: How to start the important conversation and keep it going.”
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults Common Sense Media
“(divorcing) White Supremacy Culture: Coming home to who we truly are” a Tool Kit
Video: “Raising White Kids”Author talks about how to talk to your kids about race (5 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-St147SeEnM
Video: How to Raise Kids to be Anti-Racist and Talk to Them About Racism (5 mins)
12 Part Video Series: Facing Race
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=facing+race+king+5+seattle
Racial Equity Parent (REP) Group Steering Committee:
Sean Johnson Andrews, Ashley Cross, Bridget O’Connell, Kristen Over, Jess Rooney, Bonn Wade
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies
Email: lzaimi@cps.edu
Website: peirce.cps.edu
Location: 1423 W Bryn Mawr Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-534-2440
Facebook: facebook.com/peircecps