X-Block – Atrium: Activism Fair

During X-block, the atrium was lined with tables, advertising activism opportunities and organizations that give students the chance to make a change in terms of racial issues.

One of these organizations was “Racial Reconciliation and Healing,” a project that offers students high-level training toward addressing and ending racism. The group works by giving students the opportunity to explore their own racial identity and experiences with racism, while analyzing how their own stories affect others.

Director of Community Health Programs at Jamaica Plain Health Center Abigail Ortiz began the movement with partner clinical social worker Dennie Butler-MacKay in an attempt to improve community health and racial equality.

“We are trying to train young people in public health, health equity and racial injustice so that they understand the impact that racism, which is a system of injustice based on race, has on people’s health outcomes, in addition to their education and housing,” Ortiz said.

The fair also included booths from the Sojourn to the Past group at the high school, the Amnesty International club at the high school and other groups that address race and racism in our community.