The NYSED Central/Western Community Schools Technical Assistance Center, a part of Binghamton University Community Schools, is reaching out to our friends and colleagues impacted by the horrific shooting in Buffalo to let you know that you are not alone. We recognize that this senseless act of violence magnifies the danger we all face when society continues to share condolences without addressing the systemic perpetuation of oppressive practices steeped in discrimination and implicit bias. The stress and grief of this event resonates across our region and country as we mourn lost lives and the mounting unrest and anger. Although a message of support hardly seems like enough, we will begin with this letter and a commitment to actively promote and support activities and training that are built on practices designed to embed anti-racist language and practices into visible action steps that clearly display systemic change.

We commit to doing our part in making changes that continue to bring people together and build community. We also believe that we can play an important role in clarifying why this work is imperative for ALL of us regardless of our race, culture, religion, identity, and socio-economic status.

Building on the statement that a letter is not enough, we want to offer our support to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. In addition to the online resources found on the NYS Community Schools TAC website, we invite you to reach out if we can be a thought partner in bringing your community together for discussion, planning around strategies to promote healing while facilitating actions that address organizational and systemic processes that perpetuate in a system where violence is still a color and class action. Although we do not claim to have the answers, we have the passion to stand in solidarity as a partner. Please let us know how we can help.

In solidarity,

C/W TAC Team

Elizabeth Anderson
Tara Edmunds
Nicky Koschmann