B.L.A.C. will be featured in the Banner on Thursday, January 29!
The article is currently online:
http://www.baystatebanner.com/local13-2009-01-29
Represent!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
YES WE DID!
Our Glorious Expedition to Washington to Witness HISTORY
BLAC successfully went and returned to and from D.C. without too many bruises and with many memories!
Although we weren't exactly at the front of the crowd, nor the most well-rested, none of us will ever forget the clogged and excited streets of Washington, D.C. or the powerful words of Obama's speech.
Check out the Boston Globe, the Newton Tab, the Newtonite, WBCNews, the Banner, and even MORE for interviews with various club members about our experience.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
BLAC successfully went and returned to and from D.C. without too many bruises and with many memories!
Although we weren't exactly at the front of the crowd, nor the most well-rested, none of us will ever forget the clogged and excited streets of Washington, D.C. or the powerful words of Obama's speech.
Check out the Boston Globe, the Newton Tab, the Newtonite, WBCNews, the Banner, and even MORE for interviews with various club members about our experience.
Here are some pictures from the trip:
On Gorgeous George's beautiful bus.
Wilin' out at some point. Remember, we hadn't really slept in two days!
People would do anything for a good view. Anything.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
B.L.A.C. Presents Its Mission to the Fine People of Newton, Mass.
Preparation for the big speech!
Mr. Carpenter and our fabulous leaders.
And a formal one for all the fans.
Monday, January 5, 2009
BLAC's Interaction with the Principal
Not only does BLAC support students on a daily basis, it is also there when a specific need arises. In BLAC, we discuss issues pertaining to diverse students, and in these discussions deep personal feelings sometimes arise. Hence, BLAC has a unique perspective when it comes to the goings on of many of Newton North’s diverse groups of students. This close, personal perspective can serve as an invaluable tool in a situation where the needs of African American or other students are of special concern.
If something race-related arises, or if a disturbing race-related trend is observed to be festering in the body of Newton North, BLAC is in place to help advise the principal as to how to best deal with the issue. In 1991, we learned the hard way what happens when students are not heard. We’re dedicated to helping the principal, regardless of who he or she is, prevent this from happening again.
However, there are other issues concerning the achievement of African American students that BLAC can play a role in helping to fix. If students find that a discriminatory factor within the school is hindering the achievement of diverse students BLAC is in place to help advise the principal as he or she seeks to remedy the problem.
If something race-related arises, or if a disturbing race-related trend is observed to be festering in the body of Newton North, BLAC is in place to help advise the principal as to how to best deal with the issue. In 1991, we learned the hard way what happens when students are not heard. We’re dedicated to helping the principal, regardless of who he or she is, prevent this from happening again.
However, there are other issues concerning the achievement of African American students that BLAC can play a role in helping to fix. If students find that a discriminatory factor within the school is hindering the achievement of diverse students BLAC is in place to help advise the principal as he or she seeks to remedy the problem.
Events to Come and the BLAC Scholarship
In addition to the inauguration trip, BLAC plans to host a fundraising party, the BLAC fashion show, BLAC Culture Day, and a few guest speakers at Newton North. There are several other peripheral ideas that are still in the works, all of them contributing to the mission of BLAC.
We are also initiating a conversation about what it means to institute a culture of intellectualism in BLAC. It’s important to the members of BLAC that each student takes advantage of the special opportunity they have to grow as young thinkers while in high school.
Each year a student is awarded the BLAC Scholarship. The money for this scholarship comes directly from BLAC’s account. Because other expenses, including the trip to the inauguration, also come from this account, it’s crucial that BLAC continuously works to maintain the funds in the account.
We are also initiating a conversation about what it means to institute a culture of intellectualism in BLAC. It’s important to the members of BLAC that each student takes advantage of the special opportunity they have to grow as young thinkers while in high school.
Each year a student is awarded the BLAC Scholarship. The money for this scholarship comes directly from BLAC’s account. Because other expenses, including the trip to the inauguration, also come from this account, it’s crucial that BLAC continuously works to maintain the funds in the account.
Our Journey to Washington, D.C.
The trip to Washington D.C. represents the pinnacle of BLAC’s efforts this year. Its organization has been complicated, but the actual trip is fairly simple.
We leave from Boston at 7:00 a.m. on January 19th. We arrive in Baltimore at the Ramada Inn that afternoon and get settled in our hotel. We then eat. That evening we meet about how the next day is going to go, and how each team of students—led by a chaperone—is going to go about having a good, but safe time at the inauguration. We then go to bed and wake up very early the next morning, possibly at 4:00. The hotel is preparing breakfast for us, and after eating it, we proceed to the inauguration. We get there, secure a spot, take in the atmosphere and wait for it to begin. After the proceedings have finished, we watch the parade, and when that’s done, we get back on the bus and head back to Boston.
There are 32 people going, 24 of which are students. The cost of the bus rides, the breakfast and the hotel is $189 per person. Thus, the total cost of the trip, before food and other incidentals, is $6,048. Several people are paying their own way, and Adam Carpenter, BLAC’s advisor, wrote a PTSO grant that the principal, Jennifer Price, is using to help us defray some of the cost. In addition, students have been working tirelessly to raise money using bake sales and the like to help build up BLAC’s account so it can absorb as much of the cost as possible because many students don’t have the funds to attend the trip. Despite these efforts, we are still in need of money. The fundraising party and the fashion show will help us raise more money in the late Winter and Spring, but this still leaves us with a deficit. The generosity of donors will help ease this burden.
As regards the cost of the trip, several people are paying their own way, and Adam Carpenter, BLAC’s advisor, wrote a PTSO grant that the principal, Jennifer Price, is using to help us defray some of the cost. In addition, students have been working tirelessly to raise money using bake sales and the like to help build up BLAC’s account so it can absorb as much of the cost as possible because many students don’t have the funds to attend the trip. Despite these efforts, we are still in need of money. The BLAC party and the fashion show will help us raise more money in the late Winter and Spring, but this still leaves us with a deficit. The generosity of donors will help ease this burden.
The underlying goal for our fundraising is to leave more than enough money in the account to cover this year’s BLAC scholarship. That way, we can afford to use the account to pay for the trip to the inauguration.
We leave from Boston at 7:00 a.m. on January 19th. We arrive in Baltimore at the Ramada Inn that afternoon and get settled in our hotel. We then eat. That evening we meet about how the next day is going to go, and how each team of students—led by a chaperone—is going to go about having a good, but safe time at the inauguration. We then go to bed and wake up very early the next morning, possibly at 4:00. The hotel is preparing breakfast for us, and after eating it, we proceed to the inauguration. We get there, secure a spot, take in the atmosphere and wait for it to begin. After the proceedings have finished, we watch the parade, and when that’s done, we get back on the bus and head back to Boston.
There are 32 people going, 24 of which are students. The cost of the bus rides, the breakfast and the hotel is $189 per person. Thus, the total cost of the trip, before food and other incidentals, is $6,048. Several people are paying their own way, and Adam Carpenter, BLAC’s advisor, wrote a PTSO grant that the principal, Jennifer Price, is using to help us defray some of the cost. In addition, students have been working tirelessly to raise money using bake sales and the like to help build up BLAC’s account so it can absorb as much of the cost as possible because many students don’t have the funds to attend the trip. Despite these efforts, we are still in need of money. The fundraising party and the fashion show will help us raise more money in the late Winter and Spring, but this still leaves us with a deficit. The generosity of donors will help ease this burden.
As regards the cost of the trip, several people are paying their own way, and Adam Carpenter, BLAC’s advisor, wrote a PTSO grant that the principal, Jennifer Price, is using to help us defray some of the cost. In addition, students have been working tirelessly to raise money using bake sales and the like to help build up BLAC’s account so it can absorb as much of the cost as possible because many students don’t have the funds to attend the trip. Despite these efforts, we are still in need of money. The BLAC party and the fashion show will help us raise more money in the late Winter and Spring, but this still leaves us with a deficit. The generosity of donors will help ease this burden.
The underlying goal for our fundraising is to leave more than enough money in the account to cover this year’s BLAC scholarship. That way, we can afford to use the account to pay for the trip to the inauguration.
Leadership in BLAC
To be a leader of BLAC is an esteemed privilege that comes with an enormous amount of responsibility. Leaders carry the reputation of BLAC on their shoulders. The product of their planning and execution makes or breaks BLAC. In the past, half-hearted leaders have crippled the group. Ineffective leadership has dire results because this is not simply a club where people with similar tastes gather; it’s a place for the realization of goals of excellence.
When someone steps up to be a leader, he or she takes on the partial ownership of every member’s personal goals of excellence. This requires tight planning, punctuality and other aspects of dynamic organization.
In addition, leaders are examples. They strive to conduct themselves in the manner in which all BLAC members should conduct themselves. This is challenging because they are teenagers like everyone else with complex lives and decisions constantly floating around them. An effective leader is able to prioritize his or her life so it works in cooperation with his or her role as a leader of BLAC.
When someone steps up to be a leader, he or she takes on the partial ownership of every member’s personal goals of excellence. This requires tight planning, punctuality and other aspects of dynamic organization.
In addition, leaders are examples. They strive to conduct themselves in the manner in which all BLAC members should conduct themselves. This is challenging because they are teenagers like everyone else with complex lives and decisions constantly floating around them. An effective leader is able to prioritize his or her life so it works in cooperation with his or her role as a leader of BLAC.
BLAC: A Diverse Community
Members of BLAC have a place to meet, talk, laugh, scream and cry without the fear of being judged. It is open to everyone in the school. It is also a place to plan. In order for diverse students to advance, proper planning and organization is needed. BLAC designs and executes BLAC Culture day, and several other activities that serve to provide awareness and encourage the excellence of diverse students.
The trip to see President Obama is a perfect example of purposeful planning. The members of BLAC have the grand opportunity of being a part of history, as well as the nuts and bolts of what it takes to make such a dream a reality. Members get to see what happens when a group of young people with strong leadership put their minds to accomplishing something powerful. This sense of power will continue to pay dividends for years to come.
This opportunity is open to students of all races. Indeed, some of our more active members are not of African American descent. Having voices from various corners of the Newton North population serves to enrich everything BLAC does.
The trip to see President Obama is a perfect example of purposeful planning. The members of BLAC have the grand opportunity of being a part of history, as well as the nuts and bolts of what it takes to make such a dream a reality. Members get to see what happens when a group of young people with strong leadership put their minds to accomplishing something powerful. This sense of power will continue to pay dividends for years to come.
This opportunity is open to students of all races. Indeed, some of our more active members are not of African American descent. Having voices from various corners of the Newton North population serves to enrich everything BLAC does.
The Mission of BLAC
The Mission of BLAC
The Black Leadership Advisory Council’s (BLAC) mission is to advocate for and support diverse students at Newton North High School. Although we deal primarily with issues concerning African American students, we recognize the similarities between their struggle and that of other groups of students and look to support them as well.
The experience of an African American student in Newton is unique. African Americans are underrepresented in the community, the teaching faculty and the student population. Because of this, an African American student can feel alienated, outnumbered and indeed less significan than those with larger numbers and more prevalent representation. In order to foster an environment where all students can learn and grow, BLAC serves as a place of encouragement and friendship. It is also serves as a home base for the advancement of diverse students.
The Black Leadership Advisory Council’s (BLAC) mission is to advocate for and support diverse students at Newton North High School. Although we deal primarily with issues concerning African American students, we recognize the similarities between their struggle and that of other groups of students and look to support them as well.
The experience of an African American student in Newton is unique. African Americans are underrepresented in the community, the teaching faculty and the student population. Because of this, an African American student can feel alienated, outnumbered and indeed less significan than those with larger numbers and more prevalent representation. In order to foster an environment where all students can learn and grow, BLAC serves as a place of encouragement and friendship. It is also serves as a home base for the advancement of diverse students.
Welcome to the BLAC Blog!
How And Why BLAC Was Formed
In 1991 racial tensions at Newton North High School peaked in the form of violence. Main Street, the wide hallway that extends down the heart of the school erupted in a riotous brawl. White students fought black students and black students fought white students as feelings that had been simmering beneath the surface finally burst forth.
A decision had to be made: the voice of black students was either going to fester or be fostered. BLAC was formed in order to encourage the latter. English teacher Inez Dover formed the group and served as its first advisor. Her role went above and beyond that of a traditional club advisor; she was to help guide the leaders of BLAC and its members as they became the leadership of voices of ethnic diversity in the school. Under her tutelage, BLAC took off and has been active ever since.
For the past few years, English teacher Adam Carpenter has been the advisor, and this year he’s charged the leaders with the mission of making BLAC more event-focused. This mission is leading us to Washington D.C. to see the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
In 1991 racial tensions at Newton North High School peaked in the form of violence. Main Street, the wide hallway that extends down the heart of the school erupted in a riotous brawl. White students fought black students and black students fought white students as feelings that had been simmering beneath the surface finally burst forth.
A decision had to be made: the voice of black students was either going to fester or be fostered. BLAC was formed in order to encourage the latter. English teacher Inez Dover formed the group and served as its first advisor. Her role went above and beyond that of a traditional club advisor; she was to help guide the leaders of BLAC and its members as they became the leadership of voices of ethnic diversity in the school. Under her tutelage, BLAC took off and has been active ever since.
For the past few years, English teacher Adam Carpenter has been the advisor, and this year he’s charged the leaders with the mission of making BLAC more event-focused. This mission is leading us to Washington D.C. to see the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
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