Dear ASB Families,
 
As our country continues to face anger, fear, and unrest, many have asked for resources for how to discuss this with your children.  As a parent of two teens watching this unfold, answering their questions and addressing their anxiety in the midst of our own are certainly things my husband and I are struggling with as well. 

First, as Catholics, we firmly believe in the dignity of every single human person, their right to be treated with equality, with empathy, with respect, and with compassion.  Reading the Archbishop’s letter on fighting racism is a great place to start.

Second, as we work to develop global citizens who feel a call to build a world of peace, understanding, and collaboration, and celebration of diversity, focusing on building empathy is critical.  We must be willing to have these difficult and critical conversations with our children.  Here are some resources that you may find helpful:

• 31 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance: A variety of story books for all ages that parents can use a discussion starting point

• Resources for Talking about Race: A list of podcasts, articles, and books to support conversations with even young children

• The Conscious Kid: this organization has several resources that are excellent, including how to have critical conversations with kids, reading lists, partner organizations, etc.. They also have a membership option with Patreon for parent and education resources that are through a Critical Race lens. The membership has different levels and is reasonably priced for each level.

• This article, written by a mental health therapist and mother living in Minneapolis, is about how to start having these conversations with young children, based on the author's recent experience with her own child. 

• This is a list of new children's books in 2020 about diversity. There are several books on here each month and the author is updating as more come out throughout the year. 

• This Google Doc was created by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein has several anti-racism resources.

 
As we send our 8^th graders off this week, I am particularly struck by the world they are going to navigate as young adults.  Living in a pandemic, facing economic crisis, and watching the country’s unrest places them in a position of needing the skills of empathy, compassion, being willing to listen, and working for change. 
 
Let us keep each other, our children, our neighbors, communities, cities, state and country in our daily prayers, especially prayers for peace and hope.
 
Kathleen Conklin