Let Us Remain Actively Engaged in Pursuit of Racial Equity

An Op-Ed by Enroot Executive Director, Ben Clark, originally published in the Cambridge Chronicle:

I know many of you share my belief that right now the U.S. has an unprecedented opportunity to pursue long deferred reforms to address systemic racism. I also know that many of you are actively contributing to this movement on a daily basis. Thank you. We have all drawn inspiration this summer from the unprecedented support for racial justice reform across the country, manifested in protests, advocacy campaigns, policy changes, donations, anti-racist learning circles and widespread public engagement in discourse around racial justice.

The murder of Daniel Prude by police officers in Rochester, New York, in March and recent attempted murder of Jacob Blake by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, are tragic reminders of how dangerous everyday life can be for Black families, especially, and more broadly for Black, Indigenous and people of color in our country. The pain experienced by Daniel Prude’s family is unimaginable, after their plea to law enforcement to help their beloved family member in a time of crisis resulted in his humiliation and brutal suffocation. The irreparable damage to Jacob Blake’s paralyzed body and the trauma inflicted on his three young sons as they watched his shooting from the back seat, is incalculable. Violent events like these are also traumatizing for millions of BIPOC, including our family, friends, colleagues and members of our community who are reminded of the precarious nature of their own physical safety as they go about their daily lives.

Intimidation and violence perpetrated against those protesting for racial justice is designed to silence calls for reform and discourage broad based engagement. And it can clearly be effective. Even lower-stakes uncomfortable or confrontational conversations among family members, friends or colleagues can discourage us from fully standing up for what we believe and curtail our efforts to actively fight racism in our daily lives. I have experienced this myself and I’m sure you have too.

This period, marked by the devastating impact of COVID-19 (especially on Black, Latinx and immigrant families) routine incidents of violence perpetrated against Black and transgender people, often captured on video, and acts of intimidation designed to discourage us from fighting for reform, is exhausting. The sheer weight and intransigence of these issues can make us want to disengage. But this is a time that requires just the opposite of us. It requires that we each lean in and “lock in” our expanded learnings, actions and anti-racist commitments, to ensure their permanence and lay the foundation for deeper engagement in the years to come. It requires that we try doing things we’ve never done before, discovering through courageous trial and error where we can each have our greatest impact.

One of the many ways I believe we can have an impact each day is to utilize and insist on a narrative that honestly reflects our society and the events we are all watching unfold. Among the most powerful tools of those who seek to prevent reform is manipulation of the narrative, using words to sow confusion, doubt and misunderstanding. For example, it is common to read about “police involved shootings” or “police involved deaths.” It is not common to read about police committing murder. Derek Chauvin is rightfully being charged with murder in the case of George Floyd, not with a “police involved death.” When we passively consume and utilize words in a way that diminishes accountability for police who commit acts of violence against BIPOC, we unintentionally support a society which values BIPOC lives less than it values white lives.

The mainstream media adopts a lot of the language used by law enforcement such as “was resisting arrest,” which in addition to omitting information about what preceded the action, places the fault on the victim. This creates a narrative that perhaps the officers’ actions, however violent and regrettable, may have been unavoidable and therefore justified. We should not be comfortable with a narrative that makes it OK to kill people rather than administer justice according to our laws. Using words intentionally and insisting that our elected leaders and journalists do too, is an important way for us to fight back against attempts to manipulate the narrative to block reform.

Especially in this time of isolation and largely virtual relationships, it can be easy to lose sight of shared purpose. Take strength from the knowledge that you are a member of a community and a movement, that is committed to taking individual and collective action to address systemic racism in our country. Although you will each continue to find your own unique set of actions in pursuit of this shared goal, you are part of a powerful and growing force.

Together, we are fighting for dignity. We are fighting for racial equity. We are fighting for justice. Above all, we are fighting for our shared humanity. And together, we will prevail.

Summer 2020 Newsletter

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Dear Enroot Community, As we continue through this incredibly challenging period we remain grateful for all the positive things happening in our Enroot community and determined to celebrate all that our students are accomplishing. We hope you will find this newsletter uplifting and that it helps you continue to feel connected to the Enroot community during this isolating time. In the section “Discussing Racial Equity with our Volunteers and Alumni” you will find hyperlinks to several resources that may be helpful as you continue to join us in taking anti-racist action, as part of the larger movement for racial equity. I believe we have an unprecedented opportunity for change before us right now - but fully seizing on it will require sustained effort from each and every one of us. If we all remain fully committed to playing our part in the months and years ahead, we can become a society marked by more universal dignity, equal opportunity and shared prosperity.  Thank you for finding your unique role in this movement and for your ongoing support of Enroot students! Ben Clark Executive Director Celebrating Juneteenth at Enroot This year, Enroot joined many organizations in designating Juneteenth as one of the official holidays we observe each year. We closed our office on Friday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth and our team took the day to celebrate Black history, Black art, Black culture, Black beauty, Black joy, and Black lives. It was especially important for us right now in the context of the historic re-invigorated movement for racial justice that we took time to reflect even more on our nation's history of oppression that still continues. We encouraged our supporters, friends, and networks to do the same, and more importantly to lift up and celebrate our Black sisters and brothers. As a team we identified articles, books, podcasts, films, and events that were happening in our community that we learned from and participated in. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day, June 19th, came to be known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed people in Texas and is often referred to as “America’s Second Independence Day.” (Source: Smithsonian) Wrapping up the School Year Although Enroot could not deliver programming in-person this spring, we remain committed to providing a multi-faceted support system for students throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis. Our students were quick to adapt and did their best to remain engaged with school despite the many challenges presented by the transition to distance learning. We provided programming virtually during this challenging time using phone, email, text, social media, and video conferencing to meet students where they are, and on platforms that are most accessible to them. Programming like post-secondary preparedness workshops, Pictionary mentoring sessions, math learning circles, volunteer trivia night and mingle, leadership mentoring, and ‘lunch and learn’ sessions were all provided virtually. Junior workshops focused on college applications, two-year versus four-year college, certificate programs, resources available to support their application process, changes to college admissions and decision process due to COVID-19, and top three things students should be thinking about and doing right now in current circumstances.  Five of our College Success students came together to form our Facebook Launch Team for virtual engagement. These students launched our College Success Facebook group and have become ambassadors of the group for their peers. We've hosted two Facebook live events to engage the College Success cohort, with 50 students participating. We discussed updates about changing college policies, FAFSA deadlines, and suggestions for staying grounded and balanced during COVID-19. This has been a great success particularly in a moment when schools and colleges are seeing a decline in engagement of students with curriculum and program content.  Virtual End of Year Celebrations Traditionally, we wrap up the school year with our End of Year Celebrations that have historically marked the culmination of hard work, persistence, and joyous memories. This year we hosted our very first Virtual End of Year Celebrations. Our mentors, tutors, and students had a lot to say about how much they enjoyed working with each other, learning from each other, and being a part of the Enroot community, especially as we confront this crisis together. Here is what one amazing mentor had to say about working with Dennis from our Somerville Program: Our College Success Virtual End of Year Celebration was also a big success, with over 40 participants and two amazing speakers. One of our sophomores, Ana, delivered a beautiful speech about her transition from El Salvador to Somerville High School, to Bunker Hill Community College, and now onto Anna Maria College. Alumnus Igor DeCruz also spoke about graduating from CRLS in the early 2000's and his progression to become a Vice President at Silicon Valley Bank. He spoke directly to our current college students and gave important tips and advice as they continue to progress through their college years.   Ana said: “At first, it was scary. I am the first in my family to attend college, so I had no idea what to do or how to enroll. And being an immigrant didn’t help at all, but I found good people in my way like people from Enroot. I remember that I didn't have time to attend mentoring when I was in high school, because I was working or watching over my little sister. But, people from Enroot always found a way to make it work for me, and even though I didn't make it easy for them to keep me active in the program or for me to attend meetings. They were so flexible and made sure that I was getting the right help that I needed. Thanks to them I was able to enroll early in college and made an easier transition from high school to college. They both have been there for me, and not only for school. They helped to answer any question (from work, personal, or school) to help me emotionally, mentally, and in any way possible for them. Having someone to help me and just to know that I can count on them gave me such mental peace. Enroot, Enroot has been a blessing, and I have so much to thank them for… In the coming fall, I will be transferring to Anna Maria College to a Nursing Major, and YES I worked hard for this, but I want to acknowledge Georgia, my mentors, and Enroot in general for giving me the support that I needed and for always believing in me.” We are so extremely thrilled to hear this from Ana and grateful that we were able to support her through her high school years and transition to post-secondary education. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her!   We are excited to go into our third year of College Success programming and already hosted orientations the week of July 6th to welcome our incoming student cohort! LGBTQIA+ Highlight From Pride Month A flag created by Graphic designer Daniel Quasar to emphasize inclusion and progression. The flag includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBT communities of color, along with the colors pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride Flag. Following the historic Supreme Court ruling in June protecting gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination, the LGBTQIA+ community celebrated a long-sought victory during this year’s Pride Month. The LGBTQIA+ community has accomplished many strides from the first documented gay rights organization in 1924, to the first gay pride parade in 1970, to where we are now. As we celebrated Pride Month in the midst of an epidemic, it is not lost on us to remember the ongoing attempts to discriminate on the basis of gender identity and the ongoing violence against Black trans people. We’ve come a long way, but this shows us that the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights must continue. Discussing Racial Equity with Volunteers & Alumni Enroot convened two Racial Equity Listening Circles for Volunteers and Alumni in June in order to begin a dialogue about the racist violence and murder that continues to be perpetrated on Black, Indigenous and People of Color. We held this intentional space to connect with our volunteers and alumni and hear their thoughts on the movement for racial justice and equity during this pivotal time in our country's history. We utilized elements of our Cultural Consciousness Training and the Mapping and Defining our Role in a Social Change Ecosystem tool, created by Deepa Iyer, to help us in our breakout groups. We provided resources for conversation and personal education such as the New York Times’ 1619 Project, Anti-Racism Resources For White People, and an Anti-Racist Reading List. During one meeting a volunteer shared a resource, Anti-Racism Daily, led by Nicole Cardoza. Several of us have found this to be a really valuable resource to expand and sustain our daily anti-racism practice. We look forward to continuing more meaningful conversations like this one in the months to come. Virtual Chair Yoga Session with our Volunteer Leigh Netcoh We are grateful to our volunteer mentor Leigh Netcoh for providing a Virtual Chair Yoga session for our students and staff. This was a much needed self-care and well-being activity prompting us to be more mindful of taking care of ourselves as we all continue to work remotely.   Make a donation today Enroot is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering immigrant youth to achieve academic, career, and personal success through inspiring out-of-school experiences.  Mahlet Aklu July 15, 2020 Enroot in the News Enroot Receives Grant from MA COVID-19 Relief Fund & Cambridge Community Foundation Mahlet Aklu July 15, 2020 Enroot in the News Cambridge July 15, 2020 Enroot is thrilled to receive a generous grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund and Cambridge Community Foundation. This round of grants totaling $200,000 will be shared among 9 nonprofits who provide support for mental health and basic needs to vulnerable individuals and families. Ben Clark, executive director of Enroot said, “These grants signify an important commitment to supporting  Black, Indigenous and People of Color, including many immigrants, who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We are grateful to the Cambridge Community Foundation and Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund for responding to the urgent needs of members of our community.”  Enroot joins Agassiz Baldwin Community, Just-A-Start Corporation, Cambridge Community Center, East End House, Homeowner's Rehab, Inc. & CNAHS, Friends of the Medford Family Network, The Welcome Project, and West Medford Community Center as a recipient in this round of funding from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund and Cambridge Community Foundation. About the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund  The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities, and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and nonprofit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced.  For more information on the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, visit www.MACovid19ReliefFund.org About the Cambridge Community Foundation  The Cambridge Community Foundation is the local giving platform for Cambridge, supporting our city’s shared prosperity, social equity, and cultural richness, with roots that go a century deep. The Foundation is a convener and catalyst for transformative change in Cambridge, supporting equity and opportunity in the city through civic leadership, grantmaking, and collective giving in partnership with generous donors from the community. The Foundation identifies emerging and critical needs, convenes all sectors of the city, and partners with nonprofits to direct resources where they can make the greatest difference. cambridgecf.org Mahlet Aklu July 6, 2020 Letters To Our Community Make Your Voice Heard to Prevent Evictions of Enroot Families Mahlet Aklu July 6, 2020 Letters To Our Community *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Dear Enroot Community, I’m writing today to draw your attention to an urgent issue impacting Enroot families and many others like them across the country, and to request that you call on your local, state and national leaders to address it immediately.  Many of you are aware that millions of families across the United States may face eviction soon as state and federal moratoriums expire. Due to the widespread loss of jobs and wages, nearly 30% of Massachusetts residents have not paid at least one month’s rent or mortgage since March. Here in Massachusetts, 120,000 renters face eviction upon the expiration of the current eviction moratorium on August 18th, according to a study by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The overwhelming majority of these households are in communities of color, according to a new report by City Life/Vida Urbana and researchers from MIT. According to the authors, “The study suggests that this ‘eviction tsunami’ will affect Black and Latino communities the most, precisely those most affected by COVID-19. It is possible that informal evictions are particularly common in low-income immigrant communities, especially those where many residents are undocumented.” Many Enroot students and families faced housing insecurity even before the COVID-19 crisis. Over the last 10 years rents have risen significantly and outpaced the cost of living; many households now spend more than half of their income on housing. The extreme financial strains caused by COVID-19 have made it impossible for some Enroot families, and families like them, to pay rent. During the eviction moratoriums, several months’ worth of rental payments have been accruing. The unprecedented housing crisis that will unfold when moratoriums expire is compounded by the ongoing public health crisis. And if we do not take urgent action to ensure these families continue to have safe housing, it will no doubt exacerbate it. The report cited earlier goes on to state that “In Boston, immigrant communities from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean may be especially at risk of evictions without legal process. In one survey of renters in Boston’s Chinatown, 4 of 10 respondents said that they did not have a formal lease and nearly 8 out of 10 said they did not know where to access information about their rights as tenants. Of those in the survey who faced an eviction, nearly 6 out of 10 (59 percent) reported that the property owner or manager served the notice of eviction verbally, which does not comply with state law and leaves no record of displacement. Although court records are the best available data on evictions, they show only a fraction of the true extent of displacement and evictions.” Fortunately, some lawmakers and philanthropic leaders have jumped into action. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is one of many prominent Massachusetts officials calling for Governor Charlie Baker to extend the current eviction moratorium beyond the August 18th expiration date. Massachusetts State Representative Mike Connolly is preparing legislation that would extend the eviction moratorium for an additional 12 months while providing mortgage deferment and financing for small landlords who lose rental income. Yesterday Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced The Protecting Renters From Evictions and Fees Act, which would extend eviction protections for nonpayment of rent for one year starting March 27, 2020. It would also expand the current federal eviction moratorium to include most renters. In a statement to Vox, Warren said “Renters who have lost their job or had their income reduced shouldn’t have to fear losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic. Housing is a human right and an absolute necessity to keep families safe during this crisis, and Congress must step in now to help keep people in their homes.” Additionally, several relief funds in Massachusetts are providing financial support to help those unable to make rent payments. These steps are encouraging, but we ALL need to use our voice to ensure our city, state and federal leaders are taking immediate action to address this crisis. Here are some steps we are urging all members of the Enroot community to take right away. Call Governor Baker, or your Governor if you live in another state, and ask them to extend your state’s eviction moratorium. Contact your state representatives and urge them to author or sign onto housing protection legislation like that put forward by MA State Representative Mike Connolly. Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to sign on to eviction protection legislation like that introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren. Contact your city’s elected officials and urge them to take additional steps to ensure none of your local neighbors are evicted from their homes. Support philanthropic efforts to provide financial assistance to families facing severe financial hardship. Mobilize your personal and professional networks through social media and email to help raise awareness and encourage more people to take action. The right to adequate housing is one of the most basic and fundamental human rights. Immigrants, and people of color more broadly, have been celebrated as the heroes of this pandemic, working on the front lines as essential workers in our hospitals and senior homes, and ensuring we have food on our shelves, while many of us shelter in the comfort and safety of our homes. It’s unthinkable that we would let these very same individuals lose their homes when they need them most. Please use your voice to demand your representatives apply every policy tool possible to address the pending eviction crisis. Thank you for taking action on this issue and for your steadfast support of Enroot students. With gratitude, Mahlet Aklu July 2, 2020 Letters To Our Community Re-envisioning July 4th as a Celebration of Our Future, Not Our Past Mahlet Aklu July 2, 2020 Letters To Our Community An Op-Ed by Enroot Executive Director, Ben Clark, originally published in the Cambridge Chronicle: This year on July 4th rather than celebrating our past, I will be looking ahead and celebrating our future. As a white man, I really struggle with what it means to celebrate a day marking a victory which applied exclusively to white men. In many ways July 4, 1776, was a day that actually further institutionalized inequality for what is today over 70% of the U.S. population. The utter hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence makes it hard to enthusiastically celebrate its announcement. I hope reflecting on our first revolution will inspire many of us to apply a similar ferocity to our generation’s revolution, the racial justice revolution. This revolution gives us the chance to finally apply the ideals declared in 1776 to ALL people in our country. That would be a victory worth celebrating. The statues and flags coming down across the country signal a long-overdue honest reckoning with our history. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to create permanent change as we dismantle systemic racism, anti-blackness and white supremacy. To truly seize on it, no symbol or tradition can be considered off limits from reexamination. Thomas Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence, enslaved over 600 Black human beings throughout his life. This July 4th we must ask ourselves, on which days do we mark the independence of the other 70% of our population, and why don’t we celebrate those with the same vigor? Juneteenth is often referred to as “America’s Second Independence Day.” June 19, 1865, of course did not include an accounting for all the harm done to Black people in this country over generations of enslavement. Most of it remains unaddressed today, and the oppression of Black people remains enshrined in our legal system, even though it changes form each generation. But it did mark a fundamental change in our country and it is fitting that each year we celebrate Juneteenth just before we celebrate July 4th, so that they can be considered in concert. July 4th is also an incredibly important holiday for immigrants. Becoming a part of this country remains a dream to millions around the world and no holiday captures this more symbolically. As executive director of Enroot, I think a lot about how the lived experience of immigrants differs from their imagined experience prior to arrival. I consider the perspective of Black immigrants from Haiti, Senegal, Ethiopia, or Brazil, who recognize almost immediately that they are afforded less respect and less opportunity than white people. I consider the perspective of Central American immigrants, who see children, women and men pried apart and locked in cages for months at our border. I’m devastated that many wonder, “Is this really the country I set my sights on years ago?” During a recent conversation about racism and police brutality against Black people in the U.S., an Enroot student originally from Haiti said to me, “Before I came here I used to have a different idea of police. The idea was that they were good and would keep me safe. Now I feel like they are dangerous for me and I don’t feel safe when they are around.” His words symbolize an experience of disorientation and heartbreak that many immigrants, especially those who identify as Black, feel upon realizing that people who look like them don’t hold equal standing here. And that their physical security is less assured than it would have been back at home. And that the systemic racism surrounding them means their family’s prospects are not as promising as they seemed. In Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, he said to his white audience, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?...What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” I’m ashamed that Douglass’ words have so much resonance today, since Black people and people of color still stand on such unequal footing in this country founded on equality. This July 4th, let our reflections on our first revolution inspire us all to join the racial justice revolution today. Let us apply the same courage and ferocity to today’s revolution, and let us ensure that this time no one is excluded. Ben Clark is executive director of Enroot, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that supports immigrant students to achieve academic, career and personal success.  Newer Posts Older Posts Back to Top 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Unit 129, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States6178765214info@enrooteducation.org contact us info@enrooteducation.org (617) 876-5214 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Unit 129 | Cambridge, MA 02139 newsletter © enroot education 2018 Ben Clark Executive Director

Enroot Receives Grant from MA COVID-19 Relief Fund & Cambridge Community Foundation

Cambridge July 15, 2020

Enroot is thrilled to receive a generous grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund and Cambridge Community Foundation. This round of grants totaling $200,000 will be shared among 9 nonprofits who provide support for mental health and basic needs to vulnerable individuals and families.

Ben Clark, executive director of Enroot said, “These grants signify an important commitment to supporting  Black, Indigenous and People of Color, including many immigrants, who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We are grateful to the Cambridge Community Foundation and Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund for responding to the urgent needs of members of our community.” 

Enroot joins Agassiz Baldwin Community, Just-A-Start Corporation, Cambridge Community Center, East End House, Homeowner's Rehab, Inc. & CNAHS, Friends of the Medford Family Network, The Welcome Project, and West Medford Community Center as a recipient in this round of funding from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund and Cambridge Community Foundation.

About the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund 

The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities, and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and nonprofit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. 

For more information on the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, visit www.MACovid19ReliefFund.org

About the Cambridge Community Foundation 

The Cambridge Community Foundation is the local giving platform for Cambridge, supporting our city’s shared prosperity, social equity, and cultural richness, with roots that go a century deep. The Foundation is a convener and catalyst for transformative change in Cambridge, supporting equity and opportunity in the city through civic leadership, grantmaking, and collective giving in partnership with generous donors from the community. The Foundation identifies emerging and critical needs, convenes all sectors of the city, and partners with nonprofits to direct resources where they can make the greatest difference. cambridgecf.org

Make Your Voice Heard to Prevent Evictions of Enroot Families

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Dear Enroot Community, I’m writing today to draw your attention to an urgent issue impacting Enroot families and many others like them across the country, and to request that you call on your local, state and national leaders to address it immediately.  Many of you are aware that millions of families across the United States may face eviction soon as state and federal moratoriums expire. Due to the widespread loss of jobs and wages, nearly 30% of Massachusetts residents have not paid at least one month’s rent or mortgage since March. Here in Massachusetts, 120,000 renters face eviction upon the expiration of the current eviction moratorium on August 18th, according to a study by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The overwhelming majority of these households are in communities of color, according to a new report by City Life/Vida Urbana and researchers from MIT. According to the authors, “The study suggests that this ‘eviction tsunami’ will affect Black and Latino communities the most, precisely those most affected by COVID-19. It is possible that informal evictions are particularly common in low-income immigrant communities, especially those where many residents are undocumented.” Many Enroot students and families faced housing insecurity even before the COVID-19 crisis. Over the last 10 years rents have risen significantly and outpaced the cost of living; many households now spend more than half of their income on housing. The extreme financial strains caused by COVID-19 have made it impossible for some Enroot families, and families like them, to pay rent. During the eviction moratoriums, several months’ worth of rental payments have been accruing. The unprecedented housing crisis that will unfold when moratoriums expire is compounded by the ongoing public health crisis. And if we do not take urgent action to ensure these families continue to have safe housing, it will no doubt exacerbate it. The report cited earlier goes on to state that “In Boston, immigrant communities from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean may be especially at risk of evictions without legal process. In one survey of renters in Boston’s Chinatown, 4 of 10 respondents said that they did not have a formal lease and nearly 8 out of 10 said they did not know where to access information about their rights as tenants. Of those in the survey who faced an eviction, nearly 6 out of 10 (59 percent) reported that the property owner or manager served the notice of eviction verbally, which does not comply with state law and leaves no record of displacement. Although court records are the best available data on evictions, they show only a fraction of the true extent of displacement and evictions.” Fortunately, some lawmakers and philanthropic leaders have jumped into action. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is one of many prominent Massachusetts officials calling for Governor Charlie Baker to extend the current eviction moratorium beyond the August 18th expiration date. Massachusetts State Representative Mike Connolly is preparing legislation that would extend the eviction moratorium for an additional 12 months while providing mortgage deferment and financing for small landlords who lose rental income. Yesterday Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced The Protecting Renters From Evictions and Fees Act, which would extend eviction protections for nonpayment of rent for one year starting March 27, 2020. It would also expand the current federal eviction moratorium to include most renters. In a statement to Vox, Warren said “Renters who have lost their job or had their income reduced shouldn’t have to fear losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic. Housing is a human right and an absolute necessity to keep families safe during this crisis, and Congress must step in now to help keep people in their homes.” Additionally, several relief funds in Massachusetts are providing financial support to help those unable to make rent payments. These steps are encouraging, but we ALL need to use our voice to ensure our city, state and federal leaders are taking immediate action to address this crisis. Here are some steps we are urging all members of the Enroot community to take right away. Call Governor Baker, or your Governor if you live in another state, and ask them to extend your state’s eviction moratorium. Contact your state representatives and urge them to author or sign onto housing protection legislation like that put forward by MA State Representative Mike Connolly. Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to sign on to eviction protection legislation like that introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren. Contact your city’s elected officials and urge them to take additional steps to ensure none of your local neighbors are evicted from their homes. Support philanthropic efforts to provide financial assistance to families facing severe financial hardship. Mobilize your personal and professional networks through social media and email to help raise awareness and encourage more people to take action. The right to adequate housing is one of the most basic and fundamental human rights. Immigrants, and people of color more broadly, have been celebrated as the heroes of this pandemic, working on the front lines as essential workers in our hospitals and senior homes, and ensuring we have food on our shelves, while many of us shelter in the comfort and safety of our homes. It’s unthinkable that we would let these very same individuals lose their homes when they need them most. Please use your voice to demand your representatives apply every policy tool possible to address the pending eviction crisis. Thank you for taking action on this issue and for your steadfast support of Enroot students. With gratitude, Mahlet Aklu July 2, 2020 Letters To Our Community Re-envisioning July 4th as a Celebration of Our Future, Not Our Past Mahlet Aklu July 2, 2020 Letters To Our Community An Op-Ed by Enroot Executive Director, Ben Clark, originally published in the Cambridge Chronicle: This year on July 4th rather than celebrating our past, I will be looking ahead and celebrating our future. As a white man, I really struggle with what it means to celebrate a day marking a victory which applied exclusively to white men. In many ways July 4, 1776, was a day that actually further institutionalized inequality for what is today over 70% of the U.S. population. The utter hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence makes it hard to enthusiastically celebrate its announcement. I hope reflecting on our first revolution will inspire many of us to apply a similar ferocity to our generation’s revolution, the racial justice revolution. This revolution gives us the chance to finally apply the ideals declared in 1776 to ALL people in our country. That would be a victory worth celebrating. The statues and flags coming down across the country signal a long-overdue honest reckoning with our history. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to create permanent change as we dismantle systemic racism, anti-blackness and white supremacy. To truly seize on it, no symbol or tradition can be considered off limits from reexamination. Thomas Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence, enslaved over 600 Black human beings throughout his life. This July 4th we must ask ourselves, on which days do we mark the independence of the other 70% of our population, and why don’t we celebrate those with the same vigor? Juneteenth is often referred to as “America’s Second Independence Day.” June 19, 1865, of course did not include an accounting for all the harm done to Black people in this country over generations of enslavement. Most of it remains unaddressed today, and the oppression of Black people remains enshrined in our legal system, even though it changes form each generation. But it did mark a fundamental change in our country and it is fitting that each year we celebrate Juneteenth just before we celebrate July 4th, so that they can be considered in concert. July 4th is also an incredibly important holiday for immigrants. Becoming a part of this country remains a dream to millions around the world and no holiday captures this more symbolically. As executive director of Enroot, I think a lot about how the lived experience of immigrants differs from their imagined experience prior to arrival. I consider the perspective of Black immigrants from Haiti, Senegal, Ethiopia, or Brazil, who recognize almost immediately that they are afforded less respect and less opportunity than white people. I consider the perspective of Central American immigrants, who see children, women and men pried apart and locked in cages for months at our border. I’m devastated that many wonder, “Is this really the country I set my sights on years ago?” During a recent conversation about racism and police brutality against Black people in the U.S., an Enroot student originally from Haiti said to me, “Before I came here I used to have a different idea of police. The idea was that they were good and would keep me safe. Now I feel like they are dangerous for me and I don’t feel safe when they are around.” His words symbolize an experience of disorientation and heartbreak that many immigrants, especially those who identify as Black, feel upon realizing that people who look like them don’t hold equal standing here. And that their physical security is less assured than it would have been back at home. And that the systemic racism surrounding them means their family’s prospects are not as promising as they seemed. In Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, he said to his white audience, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?...What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” I’m ashamed that Douglass’ words have so much resonance today, since Black people and people of color still stand on such unequal footing in this country founded on equality. This July 4th, let our reflections on our first revolution inspire us all to join the racial justice revolution today. Let us apply the same courage and ferocity to today’s revolution, and let us ensure that this time no one is excluded. Ben Clark is executive director of Enroot, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that supports immigrant students to achieve academic, career and personal success.  Newer Posts Older Posts Back to Top 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Unit 129, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States6178765214info@enrooteducation.org contact us info@enrooteducation.org (617) 876-5214 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Unit 129 | Cambridge, MA 02139 newsletter © enroot education 2018 Ben Clark Executive Director

Re-envisioning July 4th as a Celebration of Our Future, Not Our Past

An Op-Ed by Enroot Executive Director, Ben Clark, originally published in the Cambridge Chronicle:

This year on July 4th rather than celebrating our past, I will be looking ahead and celebrating our future.

As a white man, I really struggle with what it means to celebrate a day marking a victory which applied exclusively to white men. In many ways July 4, 1776, was a day that actually further institutionalized inequality for what is today over 70% of the U.S. population. The utter hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence makes it hard to enthusiastically celebrate its announcement. I hope reflecting on our first revolution will inspire many of us to apply a similar ferocity to our generation’s revolution, the racial justice revolution. This revolution gives us the chance to finally apply the ideals declared in 1776 to ALL people in our country. That would be a victory worth celebrating.

The statues and flags coming down across the country signal a long-overdue honest reckoning with our history. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to create permanent change as we dismantle systemic racism, anti-blackness and white supremacy. To truly seize on it, no symbol or tradition can be considered off limits from reexamination. Thomas Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence, enslaved over 600 Black human beings throughout his life. This July 4th we must ask ourselves, on which days do we mark the independence of the other 70% of our population, and why don’t we celebrate those with the same vigor?

Juneteenth is often referred to as “America’s Second Independence Day.” June 19, 1865, of course did not include an accounting for all the harm done to Black people in this country over generations of enslavement. Most of it remains unaddressed today, and the oppression of Black people remains enshrined in our legal system, even though it changes form each generation. But it did mark a fundamental change in our country and it is fitting that each year we celebrate Juneteenth just before we celebrate July 4th, so that they can be considered in concert.

July 4th is also an incredibly important holiday for immigrants. Becoming a part of this country remains a dream to millions around the world and no holiday captures this more symbolically. As executive director of Enroot, I think a lot about how the lived experience of immigrants differs from their imagined experience prior to arrival. I consider the perspective of Black immigrants from Haiti, Senegal, Ethiopia, or Brazil, who recognize almost immediately that they are afforded less respect and less opportunity than white people. I consider the perspective of Central American immigrants, who see children, women and men pried apart and locked in cages for months at our border. I’m devastated that many wonder, “Is this really the country I set my sights on years ago?”

During a recent conversation about racism and police brutality against Black people in the U.S., an Enroot student originally from Haiti said to me, “Before I came here I used to have a different idea of police. The idea was that they were good and would keep me safe. Now I feel like they are dangerous for me and I don’t feel safe when they are around.” His words symbolize an experience of disorientation and heartbreak that many immigrants, especially those who identify as Black, feel upon realizing that people who look like them don’t hold equal standing here. And that their physical security is less assured than it would have been back at home. And that the systemic racism surrounding them means their family’s prospects are not as promising as they seemed.

In Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, he said to his white audience, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?...What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

I’m ashamed that Douglass’ words have so much resonance today, since Black people and people of color still stand on such unequal footing in this country founded on equality.

This July 4th, let our reflections on our first revolution inspire us all to join the racial justice revolution today. Let us apply the same courage and ferocity to today’s revolution, and let us ensure that this time no one is excluded.

Ben Clark is executive director of Enroot, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that supports immigrant students to achieve academic, career and personal success.