METCO
CONNECTION
Building a network of METCO alumni
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The summer of 2020 begins with three simultaneous crises affecting our country
—a pandemic, a recession, and a wave of police brutality revealing longstanding systemic racism
—
all harming people of color disproportionately. As METCO alumni, you have an essential perspective, and a powerful voice.
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APPLICATION DEADLINE
Enter the lottery to be part of METCO fall 2020
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ALUMNI WEBINARS
Learn about the Class of 2020 Celebration
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CLASS OF 2020 CELEBRATION
Cheer on the graduates
as only you can
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BOSTON EDUCATION ACTIVISM TOUR
METCO students retell METCO's origin story
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Barbara Hamilton
(
above,
Walpole '79), METCO Director in Lexington, and president of the METCO Directors Association), spoke and offered a prayer at last week's public statement against racism organized by the superintendents of METCO's partner districts. (See video and coverage of the event
here
.)
Ramesh Nagarajah (
Weston '16) wrote the essay
"Reflections from a Token Black Friend"
to share his painful and beautiful experiences as a young black man in majority-white spaces. A young alum named
Kenneth
has been active in Boston protests, and tells
Boston Magazine
, "This has always been my fight, since I first touched down in my predominantly white high school as a freshman." METCO alumni are active in Boston politics and business; City Council President
Kim Janey
graduated from Reading High School and has been outspoken in demanding police reform and civil liberties for black residents.
Meanwhile, METCO itself prepares for ongoing uncertainty. School districts are still processing the challenges of operating safely in the fall, with remote learning likely remaining a major part of life for all students. The HQ team has been working from home since March, and packed up all the supplies and equipment from 40 Dimock Street. The doors were closed on that historic office for the last time; when we re-open, we'll be at our new home in Nubian Square.
As METCO alumni, you have so much to contribute during these extraordinary times. Please read on for ways you can join together in solidarity and build the equitable, diverse world that METCO's founders envisioned fifty-four years ago.
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L to R:
Dr. Tony Laing
(Concord-Carlisle '92) with Wayland families distributing school lunches just after public schools closed due to the pandemic.
Patrick Kimble
(Lincoln-Sudbury '08), Board Chair of METCO, Inc., helping to pack up the Dimock Street office with CEO
Milly Arbaje-Thomas. Dannielle Jones Pinson
(Melrose '08), recording a testimonial video to encourage families to apply to METCO.
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MEET YOUR NEWEST FELLOW METCO ALUMNI!
In the midst of all this, though, our hearts are with the METCO students. Thousands of Boston students have spent their final semester at home, missing proms, games, college visits, and even commencement. They have experienced this traumatic season without being able to hug their friends and mentors, to celebrate and mourn together. That's why METCO Headquarters is throwing them an e
vent unlike any other!
Tune in
on the METCO website from anywhere in the world on
Saturday, June 27 at 1pm ET
to cheer on every Boston resident student who has just graduated from the 30 suburban METCO high schools. Their senior year was far from what they expected or deserved
, so we want the whole world to celebrate their resilience and perseverance. Spread the word with all your old classmates and save the date!
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CELEBRATORY REMARKS FROM DIGNITARIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH
Governor Charlie Baker
Commissioner of Elementary & Secondary Education Jeffrey Riley
Mayor Martin Walsh
Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz | Senator Jason Lewis
Rep. Alice Peisch | Rep. David Linsky | Dr. Jean McGuire
ALUMNI KEYNOTE: Boston City Council President Kim Janey
SENIOR KEYNOTE: Shawn Bernier, Wayland High School
Learn more about the event, and how you can play a special part in welcoming the 264 members of the METCO class of 2020 into the alumni network, at a webinar for alumni.
ALUMNI WEBINAR: CLASS OF 2020 CELEBRATION
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
10AM OR 5PM ET
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LET YOUR LEGISLATORS KNOW THAT METCO WORKS!
As you know, the Massachusetts legislature allocates the entire operating funding for METCO's 33 school districts and central office each year. With so much uncertainty, the State House has not even been able to schedule the budgeting process for FY21, as we approach the start of the fiscal year. We need your voices! Please call, email, or write to METCO legislators to ask them to
support METCO's full funding of $25.6 million
for the 2020-21 school year. We need METCO more than ever in times like these. Visit
metcoinc.org/advocacy
for all the details of what to do.
Advocate for METCO now by visiting
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BE PART OF HISTORY. APPLY THROUGH JUNE 22!
Do you or someone you know in Boston have a child entering kindergarten through 10th grade this fall? There are just
a few more days to apply to METCO.
In this moment of heightened awareness of systemic racism around the world, we know from experience that being together and building relationships from the earliest ages, can help the next generation overcome the poison of racism. METCO's 33 school districts are more determined than ever to make good on this promise. As METCO's founder
Ruth Batson
said, “Integration is as much a part of education as is reading, writing, and arithmetic.”
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THE METCO STORY, TOLD BY TODAY'S STUDENTS
Once again, Boston’s streets are packed with people of all ages and races, carrying signs and shouting demands for equality—much as they were fifty-four years ago, when the movement to end school segregation was reaching its peak. How well do you know that history? Join us to watch eight current METCO high school students recount the boycotts, the Freedom Schools, the demands, and the creative and groundbreaking solutions built by ordinary people (including METCO itself), based on their own research conducted as part of METCO's
Boston Education Activism Tour (B.E.A.T.).
They'll guide you through decades of activism and introduce you to the people and stories that aren't in the history books (yet), along with a Q&A with the students after the presentation!
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VIRTUAL TOUR PRESENTATION
MONDAY, JUNE 30
AT 4PM ET
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Julian Turner
Wellesley alum
Julian's time as a METCO student ended after his junior year, when he was expelled from Wellesley High School in 2004, but his journey brought him back to the community. After earning a business degree at Becker College in Worcester, he worked in a group home helping youth struggling with mental health and behavior issues, inspiring him to earn a Masters in Social Work at Salem State. After serving as a therapist at the Home for Little Wanderers and Boston Public Schools, he was hired by Newton Public Schools to be a school social worker and METCO Counselor. Now, thanks to the Educator Leadership Institute, affiliated with Endicott College, he has just earned his Masters in Education Administration. And this fall, he starts his new job as the Assistant Principal of Brown Middle School in Newton!
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Being a METCO alum gives you a unique perspective on today's struggles for racial equity. You know how racially isolated suburbs can be, and how important it is for white children to build relationships with kids of color in order to overcome the biases that saturate our society. But there is so much more support needed.
We welcome any contribution you can make to help METCO HQ provide teacher training, student coaching, and community programming.
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Milly Arbaje-Thomas, MSW
President & CEO, METCO, Inc.
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KNOW A METCO SUCCESS STORY?
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METCO HQ wants to showcase the successes and pathways of METCO alumni. If you have a cool job, have received an award, published a book, started a business, or surprised yourself with where you are now, send your pic and a quick blurb along with any links and handles to
Colin Stokes.
We might highlight your story in a newsletter or #throwback post on social media!
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Have ideas or feedback you want to share? Email
Ruth James,
our SCI AmeriCorps Volunteer Outreach Coordinator.
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