Wellesley tolerance pledge (Dec. 12, 2016)
“The Wellesley Board of Selectmen reaffirms its position that Wellesley is a town that highly values diversity, dignity and respect for all individuals. Wellesley strives to be a welcoming town; therefore, the Board opposes expressions of hate, intolerance and discrimination. The Board encourages the entire Wellesley community to continue to exhibit caring and supportive actions in support of our diversity.”
Wellesley’s School Committee in 2020 also issued an anti-racism resolution.
Wellesley’s demographics do not tell a story of great racial or economic diversity. About 81% of residents identify as white, 12% Asian, 3% Black, and American Indian and other races making up the rest, according to census data. The median income is nearly $190,000, according to census data, though Wellesley is also home to millionaires and those living below the poverty line.
But Wellesley residents, town leaders and businesses strive to be inclusive and treat all of our neighbors fairly:
- Wellesley’s Board of Selectmen issued the tolerance pledge seen above, and has reaffirmed this over the years.
- The Wellesley School Department in 2019 hired its first director of diversity, inclusion and equity. Among the director’s responsibilities is overseeing the METCO program, which in 2017 celebrated 50 years of giving Boston children the opportunity to go to school in Wellesley. Wellesley Public Schools also maintains a Diversity, Inclusion & Equity webpage.
- The Friends of Wellesley METCO supports our local METCO program.
- The Wellesley A Better Chance (ABC) program annual gives talented and promising young women of color who seek an academically rigorous high school curriculum the opportunity to live and go to school in Wellesley.
- Wellesley’s most visible proponent of diversity and racial justice in town is the World of Wellesley, a nonprofit organization that in 2020 marked 30 years of speaking out, offering the annual MLK, Jr. breakfast, panel discussions and other programs, essay contests, and more.
- The Wellesley Freedom Team was launched in 2021 to address racism and bias issues
- Prism is a program for all LGBTQ+ and allied high school youth held at the Universalist Unitarian Society in Wellesley Hills.
- LGBTQ resources from Boston Pride
- Building a Better Wellesley promotes affordable housing and housing diversity in Wellesley.
- Wellesley Housing Authority: State and federally funded public housing authority.
- Wellesley Centers for Women is a research and action institute at Wellesley College focused on women and gender and driven by social change.
The Swellesley Report has tried to do its part to celebrate diversity and shine a light on efforts to make the town more tolerant of differences. We regularly cover events such as the annual MLK, Jr. Breakfast, as well as demonstrations and protests, as well as cultural diversity events.
Recent highlights:
- Red dresses at Wellesley College stand in for missing Indigenous women
- Wellesley introduces Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force members
- A very detailed racial equity message to passersby in Wellesley
- Wake up, Wellesley, a series of online discussions in 2020 about racism in Wellesley. School and other town officials have been invited guests.
- Anti-racism protest in Wellesley draws crowd of hundreds
- Congrats to Wellesley’s graduating METCO students
- Wellesley unites against injustice
- Interfaith demonstration at Wellesley Village Church calls for “justice and joy” for all people
- After 48 years, Wellesley ABC scholars get a home of their own
- Wellesley’s Chinese community helps fight COVID-19
- World of Wellesley celebrates MLK Day with 20th annual Breakfast
- Wellesley High School students walk out, demand everyone wake up to racism
- Wellesley schools news: Middle School celebrates Year of the Rat; Addams Family coming to Dana Hall
- Wellesley woman co-chairs OUT Metrowest fundraiser
- Wellesley forum: Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day
- Theater review: Well, by Wellesley Repertory Theatre
- Beyond Wellesley: Theater review of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play,” SpeakEasy Stage, Boston
What’s missing? Email us: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
