The Radius: An Analysis

At The Radius we can appreciate when things look bleak and not very encouraging. There are certain topics that cause a gridlock in communication, and are so egregious they seem daunting to even reconcile. Such topics include slavery, the state of education, and the worldwide crisis with refugees. In June a series of events gave us the opportunity to bring these undesirable topics to the forefront and to fulfill our mission to be solution-oriented, and to think creatively.

Ancestor Appreciation Day 6/17
Slavery has the distinction of being such a shameful chapter in our collective history that no one wants to examine, discuss or revisit. This "non-starter" quality has an insidious legacy in our country and detrimental impact on our culture.
There are not many opportunities to humanize or focus on the lives of individuals who are slaves. Slavery is also characterized as a southern phenomena and very removed from the hearts of minds of those of us who reside in the north. On the property of Albany's Schuyler family the remains of 14 enslaved Africans (a man, some women, children and infants) were found. The LOW Foundation in collaboration with Women with Voices, LLC facilitated a special and meaningful ceremony to dedicate a plaque erected on the graves of our Ancestors. The sacred graves were formally designated as an African Burial Ground as a part of Historic St. Agnes Cemetery's sacred ground. A resolution drawn up by the Honorable Assemblyman John McDonald and read at the Ceremony deeming June 19, 2017 as Ancestor Appreciation Day recognized by Governor Cuomo. The interdominational event featured singing, african drumming, speeches and the support of the community restoring dignity to the 14 souls known only to God.

School Community Engagement 6/19
Across the nation there is much discussion concerning racial divide, achievement gaps, school push-out, test scores, and school-choice as it relates to public or private education.
However, when encountering what appear to be obstacles we place an emphasis on being "solution-oriented" and open to dialogue. Aside from the bleak picture the research data provides, a positive is that it creates a sense of urgency for discussion. Something to consider whenever entering a discussion is tone. The tone of the discussion changes when we say "our children" in contrast with "my child." The tone of the discussion changes when we focus on how to improve, enhance, and enrich the educational programs being provided #universally. On June 19th I participated in a School Community Engagement Meeting. In this episode I discuss what we learned and some ideas we came up
with.

World Refugee Day 6/20
On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20th, we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees.
Over 65 million of the world’s population have been forcibly displaced—forced to flee their homes, communities, and the worlds they know. Nearly a third of these people are formally classified by the UNHCR as refugees. In recent years, around the world, refugees are a hotly contested discussion point. The spectrum of topics include borders, terrorism, healthcare, sanctuary, and identification cards but very rarely are the human rights and the humanity of the individuals involved. Most commemorative days reflect on a historical event or issue from the past, not something that is an active worldwide crisis and impacting our local communities. Although there is only one calendar day of reflection we understand this is a daily reality for a significant population around the
world.