The widespread closure of public schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic have put a spotlight on their importance not just in educating children, but providing nutrition, mental and physical health support, and critical services to the neighborhoods and communities in which they’re located.

Across Waltham, well before the disaster of COVID-19, our schools were suffering from the crisis of racism and systematic disenfranchisement of our black and brown students documented not only in their stories but formal investigations.
To date we haven't done enough to address this and all students white , black, and brown have been asking for help.

Our public schools aren’t failing: they’re being failed.

While we must be responsive in the here-and-now to the pressing need of mutual aid and the safety of our schools with Covid-19, this crisis is also an opportunity for us to re imagine public education from the ground up and build the social movements needed to make a more just and equitable public school system a reality. Every child deserves a well-funded sustainable community school that’s the beating heart of their neighborhood.

As WBFF & Community members meet with school council to discuss anti-racist policies & initiatives we hope to build a show of solidarity around the kids and young adults who have shared their stories in preparation while the meeting is being held .

Lets show them we are listening and Waltham wants a unified movement forward to build a stronger school system. We are dealing with two pandemics in our community and its time we answered the call to better protect all children and ensure equal opportunities.

Join us for a wide ranging conversation about the danger and hope of this moment from students, parents and educators, how people are forging new bonds through struggle, and what you can do to make sure we emerge from the crisis stronger than we entered it.

KID FRIENDLY EVENT - Social distancing/masks required.