Dear Perkiomen Community, 
 
These are challenging moments for a nation that was founded on principles of equality and freedoms. What is clear is that the United States continues to fall short in providing safety and civil rights equally for everyone, including George Floyd.
 
Injustice has occurred. George Floyd was killed; and we cannot forget that he was not the first. Systemic racism has killed before. As an educator I want to use this opportunity to remind us of the responsibility and power of education and dialogue. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, who was an advocate of the most vulnerable populations in the world, said, "Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family."
 
I can feel my own personal anger and pain. I cannot fully grasp what members of the Black community are feeling.  This means I may not find the right words to say, or that I will say too few or too many, but I know silence is not acceptable.  
 
Perkiomen School does not tolerate racism of any kind and stands firmly in support of our Black community members.  At Perkiomen, we have created a culture that offers students voice and choice – yet we know that we can't pick and choose when to ask the hard questions. Upon deep reflection I find myself asking the same question over and over in my head – what can I do about this? I know I don't have the answers, but I am determined to continue taking steps in the right direction and make fighting for equality a higher priority for myself and for Perkiomen.
 
We are offering a time for students, families, faculty, and staff to come together for dialogue.  Even virtually, we can create space to ask, listen, and share. Please join me and our Diversity Collaborative leaders Jessica Walton and Trevor Smith on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. EDT via Zoom. Details are below. This will be an opportunity to share resources and suggestions for next steps. If you are unable to join us Thursday please reach out to someone - a friend, teacher, or administrator to ask questions or discuss your feelings or reactions. Perkiomen is here to support you and learn from each other in the process. This is a time for us to take a step forward, to raise our hands and say "enough," to imperfectly but collectively try to make progress – together. 
 

Sincerely,

Mark A. Devey

Head of School

Topic: Diversity Collaborative Discussion 
Time: Jun 4, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
 
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