ABOUT US

The McFarland Equity Project is a grassroots racial justice organization that was developed out of the passion, courage and needs of students and others in our community. At a rally on June 3, 2020, Laëtitia Hollard, Sean Chislom, Robert Robinson, Emmanuel Barber-Thomas, Jewel Shershok, Marquion Hudson, and Taye Levin used their voices to highlight racial issues they and others have experienced in McFarland.

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"Students of color have wanted to make changes to the school and the village for a long time. The isolation you

feel as a student of color in McFarland is like no other. The black lives matter [rally] gave us affirmation and

enough power to boost the change that had already started, and make strong change. Many people ask me

why I started doing this in McFarland, and I answer them that I had no choice. I could not sit idly by when

I know other young students of color would go through the same experiences I went through in McFarland

over and over again. I'm hopeful that the change we made in the last few months will stop this pain

from continuing." - Laëtitia Hollard

 

That rally motivated the community to connect and develop an organizational structure to make changes in three areas: the COMMUNITY, EDUCATION (the school district), and the VILLAGE.

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Our common goal is to address racial inequities, seek justice by promoting anti-racist policies and practices, and create and maintain inclusive and welcoming environments in the Village of McFarland.

 

OUR OPERATING PRINCIPLES

 

As a group, we will:

• stay true to our mission of addressing systemic racism in the Village of McFarland.

• recognize that we often default to the “norm” of a white racial frame.

• break the pattern of white racial framing by questioning how we make decisions, the choices we make, and how we enact those choices.

• give up our individual and collective power when necessary, so that others can be empowered.

• have uncomfortable, yet civil and respectful conversations when we are in disagreement.

• use our power and privilege when it is in service to our mission.

• hold ourselves accountable to these principles and the resulting actions of the group.

 

As an individual in this group, I will:

• seek to listen and understand other peoples’ perspectives.

• educate myself about racial bias, systemic racism, and the ways that I perpetuate each of those.

• consciously and intentionally make changes in my thoughts, attitudes and behaviors to interrupt my racialized patterns of thinking and doing.

• discuss controversial topics with civility, both in this group and in the community overall.

• listen to and amplify the voices of people of color.

• hold myself accountable for my action and inaction.