This is an inspiring conversation with Ms. Dana Altshuler, Ethnic Studies Director for Holyoke Public Schools, along with Shania, Kassidy, and Shantel, three Ethnic Studies students from Holyoke High School, involved in the community event, “Black Lives Matter at School”.

In this session, we talk about the importance of creating awareness around BLM in our local communities, why these students wanted to get involved, and the details for the planned activities on this community event, that include presentations by keynote speaker Whitney Battle-Baptiste from the W.E.B. Dubois center at UMASS Amherst. Also,  Pa’lante (Restorative Justice Group from Holyoke high) and Ethnic Studies students from Holyoke High will be leading morning sessions, followed by an afternoon of creating murals, posters, and media arts with radioplasma, to take action.

This is an initiative and collaboration between Holyoke High School and Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School, to bring awareness and conversations that also become a call for action. Holyoke Black Lives Matter at School is scheduled as a community event this Saturday, February 9, 2019, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at El Mercado, 413 Main St. in Holyoke, MA. All are welcome.