BFS Celebrates Black History Month

February marks the celebration of Black History Month. In partnership with visioning and ideating from our colleagues, affinity groups and our BFF DEB Committee, this year we center themes of Literacies, Legacies, and Leadership to highlight the historic, enduring contributions and invaluable legacies of the Black community at BFS and the world. The Social Justice Team works in concert with many throughout the school community to make enduring, mission aligned and relevant experiences of learning for all. In our school some of that learning includes: 5th graders in study skills looking at how the Disability Rights Movement was made possible by the Civil Rights Movement. Lower School Learning community invoking Black History Changemakers through a beautiful performance and Preschool Friends reading books about Changemakers and exploring identity in different ways through self portrait projects. Other ways our community is centering the themes are: 

Leaders

• • Anthonine Pierre, Community Activist, Brooklyn Movement Center, Feb. 7, MS collection
  • Dr. Kimberli Gant, Curator at Brooklyn Museum, Feb. 26, US Collection 

Literacies 

• • Megan Madison & Jessica Ralli, A First Conversation About Race, Mar. 15, PS and LSLC
  • Movement from the Bayou with Winston Benons, BFS Dance Educator, 2/13, US

Legacies

• • Karen Blondel, Red Hook Community Activist, MS Collection, Feb. 23
  • Karon Davis, Sculptor, US Collection, Feb. 5

Affinity Community:

• • Black Student Affinity Group Bridge Gathering MS & US Students Feb. 27
  • Black Colleague Pan African Dinner Event Feb. 23 

All Community:

• • BHM All School Community Dinner Celebration, Lower Gym, Feb. 16: READ ABOUT THE CELEBRATION HERE.
  • FAM! Family Arts Making Workshop with artist, Vickie Fremont, Feb. 24: TO BE RESCHEDULED. STAY TUNED.

New York City Cultural Community:

• • Sugar Hill Creamery Kids Karaoke Night Fridays in February 5p-6:30pm 
  • Cultural Events NYC
  • Family Friendly Events
  • First Saturday at Brooklyn Museum“Brooklyn’s Gotta Have It”

Join us in shouting out the invaluable effort, creativity, leadership and partnership of our Advancement, Communications, Facilities, Dining, and Learning Communities teams for this year’s commemorations. In addition, we would like to spotlight some friends who have gone above and beyond to make this year’s Black History Month celebrations so meaningful: Brittany Adkins Williams for her design of BHM interactive posters; Winston Benons for his contribution and collaboration in ideating dance exploration for our community; Meagen Rose inviting Brooklyn Museum, curator, speaker for the upper school; Our librarians Ana and Katie for centering Black stories; Caleb Miller for connecting us to his scholar father Dr. A.G. Miller;  Dr. Tiffany Wright and Cam Clarke for the dynamic month long series of activities in upper school; Isaiah Springer and Judah El-Bey for their continued leadership; Student leaders throughout MS and US leading and moderating collections; BFS Black Affinity groups and the inimitable Joy Williams, Chair of the DEB BFF committee for her leadership, joy and vision for our community dinner. 

At Brooklyn Friends School, all that we do is grounded in action and care. During Black History Month, there are many ways in which you can continue the teachings from our classrooms in your very own home. Not sure where to start? The BFS Social Justice Team has collected a few ways to engage, celebrate, and show up for BHM! Online resources such as PBS Kids, We are Teachers, and PBS Learning Media, are great ways to center this month at home. Here, you can find a list of resources on different organizations to support. Another way is to contribute and shop Black owned businesses here in Brooklyn! 

In keeping with our Quaker values, it is important to always take action for social impact in affecting change. Black History Month and other heritage months provide us an opportunity to do so in a community wide and intentional manner. The BFS Social Justice Team is always a resource to all community members, so feel free to reach out to socialjustice@brooklynfriends.org with any ideas on how you want to partner as a changemaker!

Celebrate BHM with BFS on February 16

We invite all members of the BFS community to a Black History Month community dinner celebration, which will take place on Friday, February 16 from 5:30 to 8pm in the Lower Gym at 375 Pearl Street. Please RSVP to this event at the link.