Upcoming Events and Projects

When Exeter High School freshman Ingrid Janicki presented her research paper, Schools Need To Re-examine The Common English Curriculum, her teachers were blown away. Her essay is a powerful reminder that teachers “can change a student’s life by taking an active stance in adding healthy diversity to [their] classroom bookshelf.” This project seeks to do just that--aid teachers in adding diverse books to their classroom libraries by supplying the teacher with the winning entry a box of diverse novels geared toward their grade level.  

Indigenous Peoples Day 

The event is being hosted to acknowledging their story: Exeter celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day with a Land Acknowledgement while bring the Native American presence into the light:  

Organizations involved include the 

- Exeter Historical Society

- American Independence Museum - Exeter Public Library 

- Racial Unity Team 

and more.

Programming for the day includes

Save the date.

Arts in Action for Social Change ​engages youth in telling stories of our culture’s racism and invites envisioning a neighborhood, workplace, and school without racism. Building on their awareness of inequitable systems and actions that contradict our pledge of “liberty and justice for all,” participants will create a set of peaceful protest lyrics, hip hop, or spoken word poetry.   To find out how you how you can bring this project to your school click on the link below.

A living, breathing proof of the power of the arts.  This annual challenge sponsored by the Racial Unity Team is the largest of its kind in the area.  Join us in celebrating the winners and viewing 44 art and poetry submissions. The reception will be in a tent outdoors and the exhibit will be inside the Portsmouth Public Library. (Please note that the library requires masks indoors.)  Come enjoy refreshments and view the works from kindergarteners through adults focused on the theme of equity. 

On July 1, RUT will  again honor Frederick Douglass's wisdom and truth with an Exeter Community Reading of his speech: "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" This is an invitation to you to be one of the readers in this annual event!  Initiated by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, and joined each each by readers in many New Hampshire communities, the Racial Unity team is excited to participate in this history lesson for readers and listeners alike; we hope you will join us!  Some of you receiving this invitation have joined us in past readings! Some of you will be joining for the first time! All are welcome! In addition to the reading of Douglass's powerful words, we will have a background history lesson about an Exeter connection to this speech, some relevant music, and the presentation of a poem about Frederick Douglass by poet Robert Hayden, read by Rev. Robert Thompson, who will also close the program with the song, "Oh Freedom". The program will be taped by Exeter TV for future viewing.   If you wish to participate and can be present on July 1 at Noon at the Exeter Town Hall, please RSVP with your acceptance by June 15 to pyosha@comcat.net. A portion of the speech will be e-mailed to you several days prior to the event; we hope you will practice it! 

Join the Juneteenth celebration in Exeter. Stop by the Racial Unity  Team table. Meet some of our members and friends of the RUT. 

What is planned. 

JUNETEENTH BLOCK PARTY ft TIFFANY COLSTON STUDIOS Presented by the Racial Unity Team and Kennebunk Savings 1 - 3pm at The Pavilion Stage in Swasey Park 

Performances from Tiffany Colston & Band, Bless Robinson, MZ Starr, Crystal Lezama, and TCS Youth Artists JUNETEENTH JAZZ ft The Marcus Rabb Quartet Presented by  Racial Unity Team and Kennebunk Savings 4 - 6pm at The 2nd Floor Gallery @ Exeter Town Hall, 9 Front St, Exeter, NH  

RUT also invites you to join the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire who will host expanded Juneteenth celebrations this year, with festivities running June 10-20. to celebrate Tour, Panel Discussion, Gospel Choir Concert, Step Dance Performance, Community Art Project, and more.  These programs offer a provocative intersection of history, media, performance, and ideas that deepen our  understanding of our nation’s history and centers the Black experience.  To learn more visit https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/juneteenth-celebration-2022/

Introducing the Comics Workshop with cartoonist Marek Bennett, held at the Little Indonesia Cultural Center. We are excited to see what you will create.  If you would like to present your artwork in a short video after the workshop, we will ask for your approval and approval from a parent or guardian. If you have any questions, please contact the ICC at info@indonesianconnect.org REGISTER with this link https://tinyurl.com/4APFABKK 

Dr. Clint Smith, bestselling author of “Counting Descent”, spoke to a group of 215 Exeter High School students on February 2, 2022, as part of the Racial Unity Team’s Community to School Arts in Action project. This was also an occasion for many to celebrate Black heroes  throughout history who advocated for equity and inclusion through poetry.   

Are you confused by some of the recent state legislation that aims to control what is taught in NH’s public schools? Find out more–and how to push back against it–during the Racial Unity Team’s latest Fireside Chat event, co-sponsored by Oyster River Equity & Justice.  

This event featured the perspectives of local teachers, administrators, parents and that of Devon Chaffee, Executive Director of ACLU-NH.  Please complete the survey after watching the video.

The Racial Unity Team invites you to walk in the footsteps of Exeter’s earlier generations and explore the racial history of this town—the conflicts, concessions, and changes that have taken place over time.   This tour explores how race has affected Exeter’s place in history.  For more information email racialunityteam1@gmail.com or call us at 603-263-6511, or download the Walking Tour Guide 

Indigenous Peoples Day 

The 2021 event was to acknowledging their story: Exeter celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day with

Land Acknowledgement

Bring the Native American presence into the light:

- Exeter Historical Society

- American Independence Museum  

- Exeter Public Library 

- Racial Unity Team 

Oral history of the Abenaki people 

Native Americans shares their story 

Story Walk 

Children’s Activity 

There's much to see and learn about how we are using the arts to create social change. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us and the work of artist and poets in New Hampshire.  We hope you enjoy what you see and read when you visit our virtual gallery.  Y'all come back now. 

Summer Reading lists are everywhere!. The Racial Unity Team's summer reading list is out.  Discuss how books by authors of color expand our racial perspective. Invite your book group and select a list of titles to add to your list. Form a small group conversation with your own favorite book and questions!

Reach out to the Racial Unity Team if you need help with forming a small group or wish to learn more about how to start a small group.

Project Title: It’s More Than Skin Deep: Skin Color and Its Impact on Children.

The 2020 symposium was an examination of how our collective history as well as societal and parental influence have made an impact on children’s perception of themselves and others based solely on skin color; how that perception affects children’s well-being and eventual role in our changing society.  .

On Saturday July 3, 2021 readers delivered the famous speech "What to the American Slaves is Your Fourth of July." You can watch the video and the message it delivers by clicking on the link provided.

You can also read the USA Today Network Article  by clicking on the link.

 Racial Unity Day 2021 will be celebrated center stage at the TEAM Equinox Festival on Saturday 18 September from 4-6 pm on Swasey Parkway as a celebration of the oneness of the human family. The Racial Unity Team works throughout each year on activities and educational programs to express support for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our communities. Our country and our world are in dire need of efforts to promote racial and cultural unity with diversity. We began these efforts in 2015 with a valiant team of volunteers and avid supporters. Please visit our website to learn more about us, or to volunteer: 

This four-part series was brought to you in 2020 by the Racial Unity Team and Robinwood Center. It provided an understanding of racist language and definitions, a basic understanding of what systemic racism is and what it looks like, and how NH fits into this. You can view these videos below.

 In light of national events, we used this Fireside Chat to discuss recent events and spend time healing. The goal of the night was to allow our community a sacred space to share thoughts, to perhaps become enlightened by new thoughts, and at best to spark the minds of the community to unite and lift each other up. 

When: June 3, 2020.  Click on See Video button   

The Racial Unity Team invites you to walk in the footsteps of Exeter’s earlier generations and explore the racial history of this town—the conflicts, concessions, and changes that have taken place over time.  

This tour will explore how race has affected Exeter’s place in history.

For more information email racialunityteam1@gmail.com or call us at 603-263-6511.