What is the true heartbeat of communities depicted through skewed lenses? Do we really listen to the beautiful voices of brilliant children often muted because of the hue of their skin? At a recent Freedom Forum in Wyandanch, we were given a mandate to include the children in the conversation.
In the quiet that comes when we listen very deeply, “The Elephant in the Room” is the real issue that exists, that is often ignored and denied. Without dealing with the Elephant, sub-issues surface and can plague communities. Gun violence is one of the sub-issues.
Herstory was given an opportunity by the Human Services and Youth Services Departments of Suffolk County to be the story gathering arm of an extensive gun violence prevention project. We are honored to partner with Wyandanch Union Free School District to begin tackling the Elephant, one issue at time. Our collaborative goal is to unveil fear-based inequities, lies, violence, lack, and ignorance, so our children are given the room and opportunity to blossom into their fullest potential.
Special thanks to the English and Social Studies teachers, Ms. Michele Lloyd, Ms. Deven Kane, Ms. Renee Williamson, and Mr. Juan Nieto, who welcomed Herstory into their classrooms, Mr. Paul Sibblies, a true Principal Pioneer, who welcomed Herstory into the high school, and Dr. Gina Talbert, Ms. Shamika Simpson, Ms. Latesha Walker, the administration team and Board of Education, who graciously accepted Herstory’s invitation to allow us into the Wyandanch School District. We are also grateful to Ms. Jill Lewis and facilitating her art club students on how to engage their narrative through art alongside the skills and expertise of artist Gwynne Duncan. Special kudos to Mr. Bruce Penn for helping to weave the tapestry together through video. Herstory facilitators Milady Gonzalez, Helen Dorado Alessi, and Amber Davis, thank you for your consistent commitment to the Herstory vision. Thank you, Renee Joshua-Porter for the spirit and wisdom and heart you have brought to the making of our movie. Thank you, Erika Duncan, Herstory’s founder and director, for your dedication to this project.
The stories will bring healing and change and will most certainly continue.
This website is made possible by seed money from New York State Office of Child and Family Services through Suffolk County Youth Bureau.