CCNA TOWN HALL – REDEFINING THE NEW NORM: AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD

By Jacqueline E. Burrell

Lying on the ground with three policemen on his back, George Floyd’s last words were: “I can’t breathe.”  The policeman kneeling on his neck seemed unperturbed by Floyd’s pleas, as the knee pressure slowly and painfully contributed to his death.   Seeing his cousin die this way was “overwhelming.”  George’s cousin, Tavares Floyd says he’s experienced “ the full range of emotions, from sorrow to anger; but now to an even deeper commitment to bring about change.”

The Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA) recently held a Town Hall meeting on Redefining the New Norm: An Opportunity to Lead, bringing together numerous community voices from near and far to proffer ideas for thought and consideration.

Right now, families and communities are dealing with wave after wave of issues: an economic downturn, evictions, the reopening of schools, unemployment, the call for social justice, and, oh yes, a global pandemic.

Delivered from the CCNA Virtual Classroom, as part of its Community Voices series, CCNA hopes to serve as a catalyst, to spark collaborative and innovative ideas on best ways to navigate this “new normal.”

The Town Hall offered an appreciation that racism exists in many forms on differing levels and that strong and passionate leadership is key to redefining this new time in our lives.

Leading the 90-minute session was Professor Hank Van Putten, an Anti-Racist Educator from Valencia College’s Peace and Justice Institute in Orlando, Florida.  Panel members included writer, organizer and activist Gal Adam Spinrad, who has over 24 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and  Dr. Keith Savage, Senior Servant at First Baptist Church in Manassas, Virginia, and Co-chair of VOICE – Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement. Noted civil rights attorney and CCNA board member Tavares Floyd, Esq., also served as a guest panelist. Floyd is cousin to George Floyd, whose murder is sparking social justice calls around the world.

Various participants included Heather Peeler of ACT Alexandria, Kate A. Garvey, Director of the Department of Community and Human Services. Allen Lomax of Alexandria’s Health Department, Father Donald Fest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Felicia Toliver Johnson, educator and CCNA’s Reach and Rise for Excellence (RARE) Program Manager, Robert Prince, former head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and former board chair of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Herve Aitken, Esq., CCNA Board Chairman, and Alexandria City Councilman John Chapman who welcomed all to the session.

“Alexandria leans on its nonprofit partners, which includes CCNA,” noted Chapman.

For those disappointed that in 2020 racism remains, Professor Van Putten encourages everyone to “start here and now.”   Racism, says the former middle school principal, is still a discussion to be had.  It’s a subject that people tend to tip toe around.  “If you get uncomfortable when conversing about race, ask yourself why,” he says.  “Embrace the discomfort,” he urges, “because that’s when the inner work begins.”

Van Putten defined systemic racism in three forms: personal (think Ku Klux Klan); cultural (think mostly skinny, blonde, blue-eyed models on TV and magazine covers) and institutional. The personal is self-explanatory.  Cultural is when what we see everywhere tells us how people should look and dress.  He gave the example of the coach who cut off his wrestler’s dreadlocks, because the coach didn’t think they were appropriate. Institutional is when advantages are given to some but not others.

Whether its corporations or school boards and anything in between, the thing to note, says Van Putten, is who’s at the table, and, more importantly, who is not.

Gal Adam Spinrad, a lay leader in racial equity work at Temple Beth El Hebrew Congregation, where her husband David, is the senior Rabbi, noted her main focus right now is education. As a mother of two – her daughter is a high school junior and her son is in elementary school – she’s engaged with very different challenges. Spinrad specifically sought out a diverse school for her son, who is black.

“There is such enormous potential in our coming together in this BIG moment to address issues of inequity that we are now all seeing as a community. Only by coming together can we collaborate in community to imagine and realize long-term positive solutions that will benefit ALL of our community,’ said Spinrad, who thanked CCNA for holding such a forum.

Evictions loom large, noted Dr. Keith Savage, whose organization, VOICE is strongly lobbying the Governor and local leaders to halt potentially millions of people from losing their homes. Virginia’s Supreme Court declined to extend the moratorium on evictions.

CCNA board member Tavares Floyd spoke eloquently about the African American community’s need for support.  “Black Americans are tired of making the case for our citizenship, for our humanity, and just for our survival again and again and again. The question is how can we build a more just society. Keep having these dialogues.  It will be uncomfortable.”

Despite it all, he remains “hopeful for the future.”

At closing, a few Town Hall participants offered their thoughts.

“It was enlightening to hear from diverse figures such as Gal Spinrad and Professor Hank Van Putten.  It seems that the same issues that are affecting citizens of Alexandria during the time of COVID are just as prevalent here in Houston,” said entrepreneur and artist Kevin Paige, who contributes a “How to Draw” series to CCNA’s Virtual Classroom.

Allen Lomax, Chairman of Alexandria’s Public Health Advisory Steering Committee, liked Spinrad’s idea of creating a specific “learning spot” – not the kitchen or dining room table – in her home for her children, reinforcing the idea of school at home. “It’s not something I’ve thought about.  It really puts a lot of children at a disadvantage because they may not have that spot in their homes.  How do we address that?”

CCNA will continue these sessions to help our students and families deal with the challenges of the New Norm, stated Gwendolyn Day-Fuller, CCNA Immediate Past Board Chair.

“These sessions are a great platform to share information with our parents,” stated Donna Walker James, Executive Director Computer Core and CCNA Board Member.

“It was very encouraging to see so many community leaders on the line tackling issues and learning from each other.  I love to see that and am excited to continue being a part of this coalition,” said U.S. Air Force Major Marquis Skinner, who lives in nearby Stafford VA.

“As a recent graduate of Virginia Tech, returning home to Alexandria, it makes me happy to see the community come together to make a change as we redefine our new normal,” said Kyra Parker, 2016 TC Williams graduate.

Ending the session, Professor Van Putten, shared his thoughts.