A Response to Ferguson and What we see happening Across the Country
Dear Friends,
We need to call a time-out for a moment.
As staff and founders of the Field Academy, there is so much alive in our hearts and minds about the recent events in Ferguson, MO, Staten Island, NY, and so many other communities around the United States. We need to call a time-out on the other work of our organization right now and just talk about this because these events have shaken us, educators and students alike.
We know that the tragic deaths of young men of color at the hands of the police - Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon - and the lack of accountability for those deaths are only the most recent iteration of the long history of institutionalized racism and violence within this country. Each individual story, still, breaks our hearts. The Field Academy was founded with a commitment to bringing together young people in this country, across lines of difference, to examine and confront critical issues within our country. As an organization, we need to hold ourselves and our work to the intentions at the heart of the Field Academy. In the face of injustice, we need to be clear - not just with a statement of our values, but with a set of commitments and recommitments to action. To begin, we offer these:
We know that this is not enough and we want to be honest with you about that. And we recognize that every individual within this organization has his or her own perspectives and emotions about these recent cases. We want you to challenge us, and this organization, because you believe in us.
Tell us what you think. We want to hear your reactions, your ideas, your suggestions, and your questions. What are you committed to?
With love,
The Staff, Founders, and Trustees of the Field Academy
Jen, Heather, Annie, Claire, Katherine, Spencer, and Tim
*In the past weeks, we’ve been reading a lot of things that have moved and challenged us. In particular, Yolanda Pierce’s Litany for Those Who Aren’t Ready for Healing has struck a chord with us (and has done so regardless of our own personal religious or spiritual backgrounds). We’d love to know what you all have been reading and if there are things you would encourage us to read. Please share.
We need to call a time-out for a moment.
As staff and founders of the Field Academy, there is so much alive in our hearts and minds about the recent events in Ferguson, MO, Staten Island, NY, and so many other communities around the United States. We need to call a time-out on the other work of our organization right now and just talk about this because these events have shaken us, educators and students alike.
We know that the tragic deaths of young men of color at the hands of the police - Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon - and the lack of accountability for those deaths are only the most recent iteration of the long history of institutionalized racism and violence within this country. Each individual story, still, breaks our hearts. The Field Academy was founded with a commitment to bringing together young people in this country, across lines of difference, to examine and confront critical issues within our country. As an organization, we need to hold ourselves and our work to the intentions at the heart of the Field Academy. In the face of injustice, we need to be clear - not just with a statement of our values, but with a set of commitments and recommitments to action. To begin, we offer these:
- We commit to holding space for open dialogue for our alumni and student community every two weeks - a space for processing, listening, and sharing our own individual experiences as students, as community members, and as citizens; a space to foster connection, understanding, and a deepened conviction to creating a just and healthy world.
- We commit to working with community partners across the United States on how best to engage critical issues about race, authority, privilege, and power through our programs as we travel within their home communities.
- We commit to a pedagogy that actively seeks honesty and transparency over political correctness and neutrality. We commit to a way of teaching and learning that asks whose voices and perspectives we’re hearing, and whose we’re not. We commit to enabling our students to ask for and seek those perspectives when they aren’t satisfied with what they’ve found.
- We commit, as educators and as an organization, to not rushing to offer a band-aid during times of collective grief and anger.* We will not ignore or “get over” what is happening in our country.
- We commit to supporting and connecting students, educators, and community partners who are working for justice in their own homes and lives.
- We re-commit to building an organization (students, staff, board, advisors, and supporters) that speaks to the diversity of this country. Recognizing our own privilege, we commit to seeking out our own organizational blind spots and challenges relative to the diversity and accessibility of the Field Academy.
- We re-commit to listening to young people across this country and ensuring that their voices are brought to bear on a race and class analysis of our own programs and pedagogy.
- We re-commit to building an educational community that confronts and examines the intersection of power, privilege, and justice within our society and within our school.
We know that this is not enough and we want to be honest with you about that. And we recognize that every individual within this organization has his or her own perspectives and emotions about these recent cases. We want you to challenge us, and this organization, because you believe in us.
Tell us what you think. We want to hear your reactions, your ideas, your suggestions, and your questions. What are you committed to?
With love,
The Staff, Founders, and Trustees of the Field Academy
Jen, Heather, Annie, Claire, Katherine, Spencer, and Tim
*In the past weeks, we’ve been reading a lot of things that have moved and challenged us. In particular, Yolanda Pierce’s Litany for Those Who Aren’t Ready for Healing has struck a chord with us (and has done so regardless of our own personal religious or spiritual backgrounds). We’d love to know what you all have been reading and if there are things you would encourage us to read. Please share.
