This is the FINAL WEEK before the forum so please continue to spread the word.  Last weekend’s canvassing went well but we are still counting on the community to spread the word.  This is for students Parents and community members:

“Beating the System”
What Parents and Students Can Do to Avoid Suspensions, Expulsions and Indictments
(A Community forum sponsored by the District Wide Black Parent & Student Support Group)

Peace Neighborhood Center
April 28, 2012
10:00am – 12:30pm
(Food will be served)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why should I attend?

A. If we do not want our kids to continue to fill suspension stat sheets we MUST be organized and informed but most of all, we have to CARE.  Let’s start by attending this event so that we can learn more about the problem, understand how it affects our children in the long term and discuss ways we can make a change TODAY.

Q. I/ my child doesn’t get in trouble, how will this help me?

A. Many parents assume their child will never get in trouble and are shocked and unprepared if they do.  This forum will allow you to learn how to help yourself and your friends if you are found in this unfortunate situation.

Q. How can I help?

A. 1) Plan to attend 2) Tell your neighbors, church members and friends to attend 3) Volunteer to canvass neighborhoods and spread the word tell your friends 4) Print the attached flyer and canvass your own neighborhood

Please call 734-883-1889 if you are interested in canvassing a neighborhood, helping with the event logistics, helping provide food, or helping to provide transportation.  You may also visit email us at dwbpssg@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

DWBPSSG Leadership Team

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FIND US – Web: www.dwbpssg.org
FOLLOW US – Twitter: www.twitter.com/dwbpssg
“LIKE US” – Facebook: www.facebook.com/dwbpssg
PHONE US: 734-883-1889

“But nobody told US!!”
That’s what many of us said last fall when we realized that busing was going to be cut for many of our students or schedules would be changing making it more difficult for students to get to school.  The truth is that there were several opportunities for us to get the information and we started getting informed too late in the process to change anything.

Well it’s budget season and last week the Ann Arbor School Board presented some different options to cut over $13 Million from next year’s budget.  Like last year, several of the options will severely impact low-income and minority families.  Specific ideas of concern include:

1) Cutting High School busing altogether
2) Eliminating or Combining Ann Arbor Technical and Roberto Clemente Schools
3)  Cutting funding for music camps
4) Reducing Staff
5) Limiting Summer School options

These are preliminary talks but if you wait until Fall 2012 to act, it will be TOO LATE. We can’t wait until a crisis happens to get organized.  Now is the time to take action!

Here are some things you can do TODAY to become more informed and take action:
1) Read the most recent news articles about the cuts.  We have them on www.facebook.com/dwbpssg and you can search www.annarbor.com or http://www.heritage.com/ann_arbor_journal/

2) Attend tomorrow’s AAPS Board Meeting and listen to the budget proposals (7PM at the Ann Arbor District Library 4th Floor)

3) Attend monthly Board meetings and prepare statements so that you can speak directly to the Board and let your voice be heard(Board meeting schedule is posted below)

4) Contact board members via phone (preferable) or email and let them know how you feel about the proposed cuts.  Board Member’s Contact information is found below.  Susan Baskett and Simone Lightfoot are usually firmly in our corner, it’s important to contact the other Board members who don’t hear form our community as much.

5) Call the Balas and voice your concerns: (734) 994-2232

6) Submit a budget idea to: http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/admin.super/budget_suggestions

Let’s take a stand early and often.  The budget must be approved by June 13 so there is very little time to make a serious impact.

Regards,
Bryan

Bryan L. Johnson
Chair- DWBPSSG
Meeting Dates (http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/boe.home/meeting_schedule)

4/25 – Ann Arbor District Library (7-9PM)

5/9 – Ann Arbor District Library (7-9PM)

5/16 – Tappan Middle School (5;30PM – 9:00PM)

5/23 – Ann Arbor District Library (7-9PM)

6/12 – Transportation meeting – Balas Building: 2555 S. State Street (1PM)

6/13 – Ann Arbor District Library (7-9PM)

6/20 – Ann Arbor District Library (7-9PM)

School Board Members (http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/boe.home/boe_home#BOEContact)

Susan Baskett   (2010-14)
Trustee
734-478-3338
baskett@aaps.k12.mi.us

Andy Thomas  (2010-15)
Secretary
734-996-8476
thomas3@aaps.k12.mi.us

Simone Lightfoot (2010-15)
Trustee-Parliamentarian
313-585-1052
lightfos@aaps.k12.mi.us

Christine Stead (2010-14)
Vice President
734-717-2493
steadc@aaps.k12.mi.us

Deb Mexicotte (2010-12)
President
734-677-1587
mexicott@aaps.k12.mi.us

Glenn Nelson   (2009-13)
Trustee
734-663-4849
nelsong@aaps.k12.mi.us

Irene Patalan  (2009-13)
Treasurer
734-668-6246
patalan@aaps.k12.mi.us

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—————————
FIND US – Web: www.dwbpssg.org
FOLLOW US – Twitter: www.twitter.com/dwbpssg
“LIKE US” – Facebook: www.facebook.com/dwbpssg
PHONE US: 734-883-1889

R.A.C.E., an acronym for Race And Conciliation Encounters, is a racially diverse group of adults that initiates and facilitates meaningful and productive dialogues about race. The mission of R.A.C.E. is to create spaces for dialogue where people in our community of different racial identities can come together on an ongoing basis to listen to and share diverse experiences about race in a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment in order to promote greater racial understanding and awareness.

R.A.C.E. is hosting a 6-week long series of conversations about race on Thursdays at the Ann Arbor Community Center (625 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, 48105), starting May 3rd and running through June 7th. The conversations will run from 7 to 9 p.m.

Please sign up in advance by emailing: race.washtenaw@gmail.com

The deadline for sign up is Monday, April 23rd. The Dialogue is free and open to all adults in the community. When signing up, please provide your name, phone number and email address. If you have any questions, please include them in your email. One of the facilitators will contact you to confirm your participation and respond to your questions and concerns.

Group capacity is limited, so spaces will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. It is important for establishing trust within the group that participants commit to attending as many of the six sessions as possible. Preference will be given to those able to attend all six dialogue sessions.

If you are unable to attend every session this time, but are interested in future groups, please email your name and email address with a request to be put on the R.A.C.E. mailing list for future announcements.

–

With Peace,

Zarinah El-Amin Naeem
The Understanding RACE Project
Community Engagement Liaison
U-M Museum of Natural History
Cell: 313-377-2857

We are excited that the community is coming together and showing so much interest in the April 28th Forum.  This is for students Parents and community members:

“Beating the System”
What Parents and Students Can Do to Avoid Suspensions, Expulsions and Indictments
(A Community forum sponsored by the District Wide Black Parent & Student Support Group)

Peace Neighborhood Center
April 28, 2012
10:00am – 12:30pm
(Food will be served)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why should I attend?
A. If we do not want our kids to continue to fill suspension stat sheets we MUST be organized and informed but most of all, we have to CARE.  Let’s start by attending this event so that we can learn more about the problem, understand how it affects our children in the long term and discuss ways we can make a change TODAY.

Q. I/ my child doesn’t get in trouble, how will this help me?
A. Many parents assume their child will never get in trouble and are shocked and unprepared if they do.  This forum will allow you to learn how to help yourself and your friends if you are found in this unfortunate situation.

Q. How can I help?
A. 1) Plan to attend 2) Tell your neighbors, church members and friends to attend 3) Volunteer to canvass neighborhoods and spread the word tell your friends 4) Print the attached flyer and canvass your own neighborhood
Please call 734-883-1889 if you are interested in canvassing a neighborhood, helping with the event logistics, helping provide food, or helping to provide transportation.  You may also visit email us at dwbpssg@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,
DWBPSSG Leadership Team

All you have to do, if you have an idea that you think is awesome, is fill out an on-line form letting us know what you’ve got in mind. It’s super easy.

These aren’t loans. They’re grants, and, as such, they don’t have to be paid back. All that we ask is that you use the money in the way you’ve indicated, and make something incredible happen. And, as far as we’re concerned, everything is on the table, from the creation of community gardens to the production of public art. If you have an idea for a community clean up project, we’d love to hear about. We’d also like to know if you’ve got an idea for a way to teach disadvantaged kids about entrepreneurship, or a technology that you think, with a little work, could make the world a better place. When I say that everything is on the table, I really mean it. The big thing as far as the trustees are concerned, is that there’s positive impact. We’re particularly keen on funding projects where $1,000 could be creatively leveraged to produce a disproportionate amount of awesome. And, geography doesn’t matter. Although the groups is called A2Awesome, and almost everyone on the committee is from Ann Arbor, that doesn’t mean that we won’t be awarding funds to people in Ypsilanti, or elsewhere in Washtenaw County.

Those with creative, inspired ideas are encouraged to apply for the grant online.  If your project is selected, you could have $1,000 to work with in just a few short weeks.

Here’s a great little video about the Awesome Foundation, and how it came to be. If this is the first time you’ve heard of the group, we’d suggest watching it.

About the Awesome Foundation: Created in 2009 in Boston, the Awesome Foundation now has chapters in over 20 cities across the globe. In addition to the new Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti chapter, there are Awesome Foundation outposts in both Detroit and Grad Rapids. Projects funded have included efforts in a wide range of areas including technology, arts, social good, and beyond.

http://a2awesome.org/