Community Events and Projects

 This virtual Fireside Chat will feature personal experiences of four public school  teachers’ responses to how they are addressing racial justice, equity, and inclusion in our SAU 16. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Ryan, will discuss building an anti-bias and anti-racist school system. Community participation will be encouraged.

Panelists: 

Katie Gallo, Curriculum Coordinator K-5, Swasey Elementary School Brentwood.

Caroline Siecke, Social Studies, Cooperative Middle School Exeter.

Adam Krauss, History the ELI Teacher, Exeter High School.
Cynthia Young, Social Studies, Portsmouth High  School.
Moderator: Barbara Rimkunas, Historian, Exeter Historical Society

Register for this virtual program here: 

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

The symposium will be 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.  Funded in part by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities and our event sponsor Kennebunk Savings.

Symposium Zoom Dates:

September 12 

10:00- 11:30 am

September 19 

10:00 - 11:30 am 

October 3 

10:00 - 11:30 am 

The Racial Unity Team is sponsoring its  2nd annual Art & Poetry Contest on the themes of Racial Justice and Racial Identity. There are eight prizes of $100 each being offered for elementary, junior high, high school and adult categories. 

Art and poetry submitted for the contest, as well as video messages from the winners, will be compiled in a virtual exhibit. 

We welcome your participation in the art and poetry contest. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2020.

To learn more click on the link below.

Spoken Word and Song Writing for Social Change ​engages youth in imagining a culture without racism. Building awareness of systems and behaviors that contradict our pledge of “liberty and justice for all” -participants critique business-as-usual and create peaceful protest through musical genres to deliver visions of civility and democracy for all.  The goal(s) and intended outcome(s) of the project/activities are for participants to learn the way lyrics, rhythms, and melodies express feelings of empathy and inspire action to stop hate and bias.  Because of COVID-19 we have moved this project  from August 2020 to sometime in the spring of 2021. Please register if you would like to get on our mailing list.    

The Racial Unity Team invites you to walk in the footsteps of Exeter’s earlier generations and explore the racial history of our 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.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing, we can offer only our self-guided tours at this time.

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

Description of the services:

Curriculum Building for Curriculum Planners and Social Studies Teachers.

Address and prevent racially motivated issues for school principals, SAU superintendents, administrative staff, and teachers.

Field trips and guided tours of historical sites in Exeter for students, teachers, parents and community groups.

Support Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) for students and teachers. Build understanding by taking the classroom into the community. 

SAU 16 Anti-Discriminatory Task Force (ADTF). This is a wide-ranging group  with the clear focus of eliminating discriminatory practices within the system as well as overseeing the development, maintenance, and execution of the plan under SB263. 

Concerned about possible omissions of racial inclusion in the NH Curriculum Framework for Social Studies, the Racial Unity Team launched a project to get involved with the State Board of Education.  The Racial Unity Team is helping to draft an inclusive and diverse NH Curriculum Framework for K-12 Social Studies. If you are interested in learning more or wish to get involved in the curriculum redrafting effort, contact the Racial Unity Team. To learn more click on the button below.

In our role as community change agents, we are increasingly aware of the importance of racial diversity and ethnic inclusion in decisions made in New Hampshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are focusing on the ongoing need of the community while honoring New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu's stay-at-home  order.  We have taken steps to keep you informed  via our scheduled Fireside Chat. The first  event using a ZOOM meeting room is titled COVID-19  and Racial Equity. This event took place on April 29, 2020.  Click on See Video button 

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

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