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Weekly Newsletter | 24 December 2023

<Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the

charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.=

4Marcel Proust

Embracing Multiculturalism
Read our latest monthly column in The Westerly Sun.

"It's All about Belonging"

by Madeline Labriola

Join a discussion with Madeline on December 31

Click to Read

ENGAGE

This Week
At Westerly ARC, we are grateful for all of you who bring us happiness and
<make our souls blossom= by your commitment to creating a more
equitable and just world. Your efforts are truly a special gift during this
holiday season and throughout the year.

As always, we will gather on Sunday to send a message of peace, love,

and understanding as we embrace multiculturalism to address racism. On
Christmas Eve, we honor the diversity of celebrations that occur at this
time of year. We are grateful to have Geoff Kaufman join us with some
music for the season.

Join us from 11-1 on the Westerly Post Office steps and hopefully enjoy a
cookie or two!

Last Week
Though there was no formal programming last week, many ARC
supporters gathered on the post office steps to check in with each other,
meet new people, engage in conversations about world and local events,
discuss holiday plans, and share a laugh or two. ARC is made up of
ordinary citizens from a wide range of backgrounds.

Our community continues to grow with new people joining our mailing list
each week and new faces appearing on the post office steps. Thank you to
all who participate in our weekly gatherings and to those who support us
from afar.
Looking Ahead

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Sunday events. Meet us on the
steps of the Post Office between 11 am and 1 pm. Programming begins at
noon.

December 31 (new date): Discussion: Westerly Sun ARC Column <It’s All
About Belonging=
Read our column in the Sun on December 21 and come to our discussion
with author Madeline Labriola on December 31.

Special Announcement: Conversations with

African American Art

Westerly ARC is excited to be organizing two upcoming events about

African American Art.

The first is an educational exhibition at the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of

Westerly and the second is a series of talks with visiting artists and art
collectors at the Westerly Library. Much more information will follow, along
with a page devoted to these events on our website. For now, please mark
your calendar for these important events.

Conversations with African American Art

On exhibit January 5 through February 28

Westerly Artists’ Cooperative, Community Gallery, 44 Railroad Avenue,

Westerly, RI

Wednesday 3 Saturday, 11 a.m. 3 7 p.m., Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Opening Receptions, 5-8 p.m.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Friday, February 2, 2024

On exhibition: A selection of pieces of the Bill and Paula Alice Mitchell

Collection of African-American Art, selected and interpreted by ARC
members April Dinwoodie, Leslie Dunn, and Kevin Lowther. This is an event
not to be missed.

Talks about African American Art: Conversations with Artists

and Collectors
Auditorium, Westerly Library

Sponsored by The Washington Trust Foundation

Session 1

Robin Holder: "Raising Your Racial IQ with Art"

Saturday, February 3, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

Session 2
Bill and Paula (Alice) Mitchell: "Why African American Art?"

Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

Session 3

Curlee Raven Holton: "Below the Surface: An African American Story in

Printmaking"

Saturday, February 17, 2024, 1:30-3:30 pm

Free and open to the public.

We meet every Sunday from 11:00-1:00 on the steps of the Westerly

Post Office on High Street. Join us anytime!

EMPOWER

Town Meetings

Get Involved
Westerly ARC encourages those who can to attend Westerly Town Council
and School Committee meetings. Your presence and involvement are
important ways to show our elected officials that creating a more
equitable and inclusive town and school system must always be a priority.

Jan 3 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Jan 8 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Jan 17 School Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm

Jan 22 Town Council Meeting, 5:30 pm

Click below for meeting and agendas and minutes:

Town Meetings

More Ways You Can Help

Share
Spread the news! Forward this newsletter to at least one person you think
might be interested in it. Ask them to sign up for our newsletter on the
Westerly ARC website.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, comment, and share on our social media
posts!

Donate
ARC advocate Amanda Dunn continues to collect toiletries, personal care
items, and non-perishable food to distribute to our community. Please
bring your donations to Amanda at our Sunday rallies. Your kindness and
generosity are greatly appreciated.

Show Up
Stop by one of our weekly gatherings.
Join one of the events listed in this newsletter.
Attend a town meeting.
Ask about volunteering on an ARC committee.
Help out with this newsletter!
 Offer your talents!

EDUCATE

Word of the Week

Improve your vocabulary and understanding of justice by deepening your

understanding of the words we use. Some may be familiar, some new,
and many words are defined differently depending on your point of view.
Send us your ideas of words that should be featured in this column
(westerlyarc@gmail.com).

Multicultural Competency

There are some who dislike the phrase <Happy Holidays= because they see
it as a replacement for <Merry Christmas.= On the contrary, saying <Happy
Holidays= could be considered an example of multicultural competency as
it is a way to acknowledge that you might not know if the person you are
greeting celebrates Christmas. Read this definition below and consider
how you are developing your multicultural competencies.

A process of learning about and becoming allies with people from other
cultures, thereby broadening our own understanding and ability to
participate in a multicultural process. The key element to becoming more
culturally competent is respect for the ways that others live in and
organize the world and an openness to learn from them. (Racial Equity
Tools Glossary)

This Week in History

Understanding the history of past injustices can inform us as we advocate

for justice and equity today. Let us know your thoughts on our articles, and
send us your ideas!

Santa's Not-So-Jolly Origin Story

This week’s history source is not about a specific event or day, but it is very
relevant this time of year. Learn all about Santa's Not-So-Jolly Origin Story
in the interview from Skipped History. Host Ben Tumin interviewed Stephen
Nissenbaum, a professor emeritus at UMass Amherst about his book The
Battle for Christmas. You’re sure to learn some fascinating facts about the
history of how Christmas is celebrated.

<So modern-day Santa Claus was largely the invention of an anti-

abolitionist looking to go back to the good old days when his power
wasn’t threatened.=

Culture Calendar
 Merry Christmas
Happy Kwanzaa
December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 - January 1 Kwanzaa

We wish all who celebrate these holidays a very Merry Christmas and a
most Happy Kwanzaa. May you enjoy the warmth and love of those who
are dear to you.
poster artwork by Cookie Rivera
Community Events

Peace Gathering
January 1
Westerly Area Peace and Justice will gather at the Peace Pole at Christ
Church on New Year’s Day to pray for world peace at 12PM. All are
welcome. The Peace Pole is on the Elm St. side of the Church.
January 16

An Evening with Dr. Martin Luther King

In celebration of MLK's birthday, there will be a community reading of
several of Dr. King’s writings followed by small group discussions.

Jan. 16, 5:3037:30 Westerly Library Auditorium.

In coordination with: Westerly Area Peace and Justice, Westerly ARC,
Rotary Club of Westerly and Westerly Library.

Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.

Funda Fest 26 - Family Storytelling Fun with the

Rhode Island Black Storytellers!
January 20

Westerly Library Terrace Room

12:00-2:00 pm

The Rhode Island Black Storytellers will share a selection of African trickster
tales, including that famous trickster Anansi The Spider!

No registration required, open to all ages.

Calendar

Calendar of Events
ARC Holiday Gathering, Westerly
Dec 24
Post Office steps, 11-1

Discuss ARC’s monthly column in the

Dec 31 Westerly Sun, Westerly Post Office
steps, 11-1

Prayer for World Peace, Christ

Jan 1
Church peace pole, 12 pm

School Committee Meeting, Westerly

Jan 3
Town Hall, 5:00 pm

Conversations with African

American Art (Exhibit opening),
Jan 5
Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of
Westerly, 5 - 8 pm
 Town Council Meeting, Westerly
Jan 8
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

An Evening with Martin Luther King,

Jan 16 Westerly Library Auditorium, 5:30 -
7:30 pm

School Committee Meeting, Westerly

Jan 17
Town Hall, 5:00 pm

Funda Fest 26 - Family Storytelling

Fun with the Rhode Island Black
Jan 20
Storytellers! Westerly Library Terrace
Room, 12:00-2:00 pm

Town Council Meeting, Westerly

Jan 22
Town Hall, 5:30 pm

Online Calendar
 Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition

This Newsletter is a publication of the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition. ARC is a

community coalition unaffiliated with any state, national, or international
organization. ARC embraces multiculturalism to address racism.
Join our weekly gatherings, Sundays, 11am-1pm, the Westerly Post Office steps,
downtown
CONTACT US: westerlyarc@gmail.com Visit Our Website: westerlyarc.weebly.com
Website Manager: Tim Flanagan Weekly Writers: Tim Flanagan, Madeline Labriola
Editors: April Dinwoodie, Tim Flanagan, Madeline Labriola, Anne Pearce, Geoff Serra

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