Community leaders participated in a panel conversation called “Race: More Than A Conversation,” hosted by C.H. Booth Library and Newtown Public Schools on February 7.

C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord opened the event by saying, “Both the Board of Ed and the library’s goals with this dialogue are to learn more from the panelists and hopefully from you as attendees about Newtown’s needs and your thoughts for the future.”

The event was streamed and members of the public could submit questions.

Panelists included Newtown Public Schools Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator Wesley A. Johnson II; First Selectman Dan Rosenthal; Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski; Newtown Bee Editor John Voket; C.H. Booth Library DEI Special Committee Chair Dana Flynn; Newtown Savings Bank President Ken Weinstein; and Newtown Congregational Church Minister of Youth and Mission Kristen M.E. Provost Switzer.

Panelists responded to questions from moderators. The event was facilitated by Former Commissioner of Education Dr George A. Coleman and Newtown Public Schools Project Challenge Teacher of the Gifted Dr Sherry Earle, PhD.

The same question — What is one action the Newtown community can take right now to improve DEI — was asked of the panelists.

Rosenthal was the first panelist to speak. Saying the Newtown community has given his family much over the years, he said conversations “like these” are one thing the community can do.

“Allowing people to come together to share their views, I think this is a start,” said Rosenthal.

The first selectman also said the town runs on volunteers, and volunteering is a great way to get together for a shared purpose, adding his support for people to come forward to serve on town boards and commissions.

When it was her turn to speak, Zukowski said the most important thing from the community “is open and honest communication with the Board of Education. It may seem that things are not moving fast enough, but we should still have respectful and enlightened communication.”

Later Zukowski added, “One action the board can take is focusing on developing and implementing a culturally responsive education environment.”

She shared Connecticut State Department of Education guidelines to briefly define that as nurturing in students a lifelong respect for themselves and others regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, social class, ability, religion, or sexual orientation; providing safe and effective learning environments to discuss cultural identity, such as race, religion, and national origin at all grade levels; and collaborating with particular outreach to culturally diverse families, in the development of curriculum, instructional methods, and expectations for student learning.

Newtown Public Schools DEI efforts highlighted by Zukowski included recently hiring Johnson as DEI coordinator and undertaking a curriculum audit.

Questions About Education

A number of audience questions were focused on education, with Zukowski and Johnson responding to them.

When asked about the current search for a superintendent, Zukowski said the school board was choosing a search committee and it will speak with stakeholders, “including the community of color,” to create a candidate profile, which will be made public.

Another question asked what the protocol is when there is an act of racism in schools. Zukowski said the best response is for a student to go to a trusted adult. The school district also uses an anonymous alert app.

Responding to a question from the audience asking how DEI differs from critical race theory (CRT), Johnson said he is not sure it has been proven that CRT is being taught to K-12 students. He also said DEI is about quantitative measures of fairness in education, outcomes, and inclusivity so members of the community feel respected and that they have a voice in their environment.

Speaking for C.H. Booth Library’s Board of Trustees DEI Subcommittee, Flynn said the one action community members can take to support DEI efforts is to be participants in discussions like that evening’s event. She also highlighted recent efforts and programs the library has done to support DEI.

Sharing a story of an ecosystem that thrived until a toxin — racism — was released, Provost Switzer said incorporating more stories about people of color and indigenous people is one thing the community can do to support DEI initiatives.

Weinstein reflected on how Newtown Savings Bank accepted the challenge of hiring more people from underrepresented communities and is actively seeking divergent points of view. One effort includes changing how the bank seeks out summer hires. The bank emphasized hires who know someone who works at the bank less, and had a more diverse group of employees after that campaign.

“Most people want to be inclusive. Most people want to live in a just society,” Weinstein said.

Voket said the most important thing the community can do is try to be better listeners.

“Listening is so critically important, listening without judgment is even more important, if it is even possible,” he said.

He also encouraged community members to get to know their neighbors.

Voket highlighted efforts the longstanding local newspaper has made to cover stories and host conversations. In the coming weeks, he said The Bee will be forming informal ways for community members to convene around DEI issues, and if those are successful, productive, and sustainable, reporting and editorial coverage will be developed.

Near the close of the event, Johnson and Zukowski fielded more education-related questions. Johnson said he had a warm and cordial reception to the community since being hired as the district’s DEI coordinator; Zukowski spoke about the district’s emphasis on social and emotional well-being for students; and Johnson said he feels the community should intentionally be open, be okay with vulnerability, and measure change and impacts quantitatively when it comes to DEI efforts.

“Hopefully, this is the first of what we consider a series of aspirational and action-oriented conversations,” Johnson said.

A video of the event is available online at youtube.com/watch?v=AKxK93Mv2S0.

Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.