Race. Conversation. Honesty. Action.
We Montclairians pride ourselves in valuing diversity and promoting racial integration.
- But how racially literate are we?
- Have we grown complacent about racism in Montclair?
- Are our past successes getting in the way of real change to address persistent racial inequality in our town?
Think Montclair is immune from racism? Think again.
Racism is pervasive and insidious. Even in Montclair. It negatively impacts economic prosperity, educational outcomes, and quality of life. But we can do better. It starts with real talk. That leads to real understanding. That sparks real change.
Curious about your own racial literacy? And how it impacts your ability to identify and address racial inequity in our town? Join the America to Me: Real Talk Montclair project.Join the community-wide watch of the documentary series, America to Me.
Become part of this unique project! America to Me Watch Groups are learning circles – in small groups with a trained leader, Montclairians watch a documentary and support each other while they learn more about race and develop their own racial literacy. What makes this project unique?
- Community-members lead the groups after going through a training custom-designed and led by professors at Montclair State University
- Groups watch the America to Me documentary, which examines racial inequities through the eyes of teens in a Chicago suburban high school that looks and feels a lot like Montclair High
Watch Groups are small and can be a collection of friends, neighbors, or colleagues. The groups create space for individuals to explore and advance their own racial literacy See below for more details, and click here to sign-up to become a Watch Group Leader or a Member.
How to participate in the conversation:
Watch Group Leaders are essential to the conversations. This is an ideal experience if you want to learn more about race, how to talk about race, and are interested in doing and leading self-discovery. As a Watch Group Leader, you will join a group of other engaged and invested community members, and participate in a series of interactive trainings with expert facilitators. You’ll learn about key frameworks for talking about race, explore using the film series as conversation prompts for group discussion, and how to lead a Watch Group. Just as important, you will build a connection with other Watch Group Leaders, and turn to each other for ideas and support throughout the program. You can choose who to invite to join your Watch Group, or you can lead a group of people from the community, and you set the schedule for your Watch Group.
Joining a Watch Group is a unique experience to develop your own racial literacy in a supported and collaborative setting. As a Watch Group member, you will watch the film series on your own, and participate in 3-5 group meetings. Watch Groups will launch in October, and conclude by mid-December. You can join the Watch Group of someone you know, or you can be matched with other community members.
Questions? Check out our FAQs. Still have questions? Contact MFEE at info@mfee.org, (973) 509-4021