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Wellesley Public Schools Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Director leaving for state job

March 22, 2022 by Deborah Brown

Dr. Charmie Curry, Wellesley
Dr. Charmie Curry

The Wellesley Public School system’s first director of diversity, equity & inclusion, Dr. Charmie Curry, is leaving her position effective next month, Curry announced in a letter to families. Appointed in September 2019, Curry previously served numerous roles in the Boston Public Schools system as a teacher and principal, and had experience working at organizations focused on teacher development and leadership.

During her tenure, her responsibilities included formulating a strategic plan to support district diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; deepening community awareness, understanding, and respect for diversity, equity and inclusion; overseeing the METCO program; and working with the A Better Chance program.

During an update to the School Committee last year, Curry identified the need for a town-wide commitment to dismantling inequity as a major goal of her office, noting that studies show Black and Hispanic students are three to four times more likely to be identified for certain learning disabilities.

“When we talk about equity, student outcomes and experiences are not correlated with race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, ability, or other identity markers,” Curry said in the meeting. “Currently in our district we do have some outcomes that are predicated by these identity markers, and we need this not to be the case.”

Looking back

In an email to The Swellesley Report, Curry reflected on her time in Wellesley saying, “…the opportunity to steward the WPS’s equity work was an attractive venture because I knew that in this role, I would deepen my leadership expertise, I would be challenged, and I would be able to make a lasting impact on behalf of students. The work of pursuing educational equity has always been deeply personal to me because it is rooted in a vocational call toward justice. So for me, this has and will always be life work. It’s that deep in my bones.

“It is a great joy for me to look back on the three short years I’ve been in Wellesley, and see the immense progress my colleagues and I accomplished together—building educator capacity to be leaders of equity work in their schools; instituting a bias incident procedure as a proactive measure to address incidents of bias in our schools; holding space to listen to our most vulnerable and marginalized students; bringing Isabel Wilkerson to our community. I lived into the power of “we”, and was able to elevate our district’s collective practice toward becoming a more culturally sustaining institution. Though in an office of one, I in no way worked alone. I am humbled by the partnerships I cultivated in order to see our equity work come alive—Wellesley Education Foundation, World of Wellesley, Panorama, the list could go on… I am so proud of our student body. In three years, I have seen young people mobilize to be fierce advocates for educational equity. They have spoken up, exhibiting such vulnerability in sharing their stories. A few of them have even run for public office in the Town—what an incredible affirmation of how students are building capacity to be change makers, and the impact of exposing them to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. They have truly been the bright lights who have kept me focused on such important, life-changing work.

“I am grateful to the Town for getting to know me as an individual, and for providing opportunities for me to bring people together, and to facilitate important conversations within the community. I am leaving the Wellesley Public Schools in a stronger position to continue its equity journey, and for that I am beaming with pride and joy. This same energy will carry me into my new role at DESE.

Looking forward

Here is Dr. Curry’s letter to the WPS community:

Dear WPS Families,

I am reaching out to share that I have accepted the role of Associate Commissioner at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I provided my letter of resignation to the superintendent and school committee chair on March 18th. My last day in WPS will be 4/1.

As Associate Commissioner, I will oversee DESE’s Statewide Systems for Student Support. In this new role, I will lead several teams that provide direct support to schools and districts across the Commonwealth that have been identified by the accountability system as requiring assistance or intervention, among other supports. Coincidentally, WPS has been a beneficiary of the work of this office as it has received  resources and expertise that have enhanced systemic approaches to the district’s equity work, through multi-year academies, grants, and technical assistance. This work extends my deep passion for and commitment to equity, especially in service to some of our most marginalized students and communities in the Commonwealth. There is no question that our work in Wellesley Public Schools has prepared me for this next chapter.

I met some of you in September 2019 as I embarked on an ambitious entry plan, spending time with many community members such as the town clerk and police chief. Some of you met me personally at the Central Office; others I met at PTO meetings or at other district events such as the last WEF Spelling Bee before the pandemic. In my three years here, you have supported the district’s equity work, and you have supported me personally; you have challenged me when necessary to rethink or reframe positions; you have made me a more effective, culturally responsive leader.

Thank you for entrusting me with stewardship of the district’s equity efforts. I have sincerely appreciated your commitment, even in the most challenging of times. You have given me the opportunity to impact the lives of our most precious constituents – our students! I remain grateful for your partnership.

With gratitude,

Dr. Charmie Curry



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Wellesley community book read: “Caste,” by Isabel Wilkerson

February 7, 2022 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste
Photo credit: Joe Henson

The Office of Equity and Inclusion of the Wellesley Public Schools, in partnership with other community organizations, will hold a community book read event online on Thur., Mar. 10, 2022, 6:15-7:30pm. During the webinar, author Isabel Wilkerson will speak to the community about her book, Caste. On hand to facilitate will be Dr. Regine Michelle Jean-Charles, Director of Northeastern University’s Department of Africana Studies, and Dean’s Professor of Culture and Social Justice, and Professor of Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Participation is limited to the first 500 registered participants; here is a link to register.

EVENT: Community book read of Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson
DATE: Thur., Mar. 10, 2022
TIME: 6:15-7:30pm
LOCATION: Virtual event

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Filed Under: Books, Embracing diversity

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New Wellesley Housing Authority director excited to advocate for residents, staff

January 26, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Housing Authority has appointed Jackie Sullivan as its executive director, a position she has honed her skills for through three years of experience with the organization and via past work with seniors.

Sullivan’s familiarity with the organization shone through when we asked her for a fun fact about the Housing Authority, and she had one at the ready: “Did you know that the bodyguard for the New England Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones grew up in the Wellesley Housing Authority? Yup! And, he was Tom Brady’s bodyguard too.”

The Housing Authority is a state- and federally-funded outfit whose property portfolio includes 246 rental units or housing opportunities for seniors, adults with disabilities, veterans, families, and others who qualify. Sullivan takes the helm at the organization following the departure of Sean Barnicle, who served in the role for two-plus years and left in October for a similar job in his hometown of Norwood.

Community oriented

Sullivan grew up in a family that was very involved in their town and that, she says, “instilled a strong belief in giving back to our community.”

Upon receiving her degree in public administration from Bridgewater State University, Sullivan began working with seniors for the Dedham Council on Aging. “I enjoyed working with the senior population, and to this day, I am an active member of the Council on Aging Board, and I am still in contact with many of ‘my seniors,'” she says.

WHA Headshot
Wellesley Housing Authority Executive Director Jackie Sullivan

 

Sullivan learned about housing authorities in that role, and started her Wellesley Housing Authority career as a property manager. While she had no previous Wellesley connections, “I knew it would be the perfect fit,” she said.

“I’m excited to be a strong advocate for our residents and staff,” Sullivan says. “Public housing authorities throughout the Commonwealth are severely underfunded. Executive Directors need to make innovative decisions to maintain our properties to provide adequate housing. I’m up for the challenge!”

Among the opportunities on her radar:

  • Work with local partners to provide learning opportunities for all residents. Examples: First time home buyers’ programs, budgeting, scams targeting seniors, direct debit options for rent payment
  • Work towards a community garden at our Washington Street property
  • Continue to work with the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development to fill vacancies
  • Continue creating equitable policies and procedures for residents

We asked about the possible redevelopment of housing at Barton Road, and Sullivan says she looks forward to being part of the process of investigating options. The town and a cast of consultants have been mulling ideas to modernize Wellesley’s public housing stock in a way that will improve life for existing residents, open opportunities to additional people, and make fuller use of the property.

More: Wellesley’s newest Little Free Library opens at Barton Road Community Center


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MLK Day events in Wellesley, 2022

January 16, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

WOW event

The World Of Wellesley’s annual Dr. MLK Day 2022 virtual program, Good Trouble: Civil Rights are Not a Waiting Game, will take place virtually, Jan. 17, 9am-11am. Events are free, and everybody is welcome. Register here.

Participants will be invited to engage in small- and large-group conversations about Will Smith’s Netflix series “Amend: The Fight for America,” the episode titled “Wait,” and its relevance to the challenges we all continue to face today. Topic suggestions will include actions that can be taken individually and collectively to bring about change. Wellesley Public School students and World of Wellesley board members will co-facilitate the discussion. Watching the series episode ahead of time is not required for participation in the discussion.

EVENT: Good Trouble: Civil Rights Are Not a Waiting Game
DATE: January 17, 2022
TIME: 9am – 11am
LOCATION: Zoom/ VIRTUAL
COSTS: Events are free. Donations accepted here.

Wellesley MLK Day
The Kuumba Singers of Harvard College celebrate Black creativity and spirituality at the MLK Breakfast at Wellesley College, 2020.

Community members who are interested in volunteering can contact WOW at   [email protected]


Town of Wellesley schedule

All Town of Wellesley offices and departments will be closed all day on Monday, January 17 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

The Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) will also be closed all day.

Regular business will resume on Tuesday, January 18. Please check individual department webpages on the Town website for specific hours open to the public.


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Don’t see your community MLK Day event listed here? Contact [email protected] for inclusion.

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Call for volunteers for Martin Luther King, Jr. event

January 3, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

World of WellesleyWorld of Wellesley is looking for community volunteers to help plan the annual  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, scheduled for January 17, 2022. The organization, which strives to foster an anti-racist and anti-bias community, hopes to build on last year’s collaborative and multi-generational event. Volunteers are needed to help with workshops and organizing an interactive, virtual breakfast.

Community members who are interested in joining the planning committee, or providing input, can contact WOW at   [email protected]

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Filed Under: Embracing diversity, Holidays

Red dresses at Wellesley College stand in for missing Indigenous women

December 18, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

During a recent walk on the campus of Wellesley College, we came across a haunting outdoor installation created by artist Jaime Black. From branches of several mature trees hung red dresses, blowing in the breeze. A nearby plaque identifies the artwork as the REDress Project, which “…works to create space for families of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and their supporters to tell their stories and to find solidarity in the struggle to protect the rights of Indigenous women and girls.” The dresses are a visual reminder of MMIP girls and women who have gone missing or been murdered.

Wellesley College, red dress
The REDdress Project, an art installation by Jaime Black, will remain at Wellesley College until Dec. 21st.

Indigenous women and girls face higher rates of violence than any other group in Canada and the Unites States, the plaque continues, calling for the demands of families and communities to dismantle the colonial system that allows perpetrators to escape justice to be heard.

Jaime Black is a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Anishinaabe and Finnish decent. According to her website, Black’s work, “engages in themes of memory, identity, place and resistance and is grounded in an understanding of the body and the land as sources of cultural and spiritual knowledge.”

The dresses will remain in place until December 21. The project’s placement on campus was funded in part by the college’s Native American Student Association. The REDress Project has been installed in public spaces throughout Canada and the United States.

 

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Filed Under: Art, Embracing diversity, Wellesley College

Wellesley community read: Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste

November 13, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley has kicked off a community read of Isabel Wilkerson’s 2020 book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Wellesley Public Schools’ Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the Wellesley Education Foundation, World of Wellesley, and Wellesley Free Library are among the organizations supporting this effort.

It’s time to start reading now, and you’ll have the opportunity to take part in various events between and March, when Wilkerson will participate in a webinar on March 10 with community members (registration opens in January).

Those taking part in the community read should commit to reading the book, and you can request a free copy. You can also sign up to facilitate a book club.


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