- By Candice Lombardi

Dear friends and supporters,

After the recent weeks of momentous events, I am pleased to share with you that our advocacy efforts are slowly moving into the next phase – focusing on real change in school district’s policy and behavior, student empowerment, cultural learning, and multiracial dialogue.

Today we will meet with the Vietnamese family whose house was shot three times this week, in an incident that was reported to the police but not yet covered in the news. Our colleague Michelle Nguyen attended the Human Relations Commission hearing yesterday, while branch manager Nancy Nguyen attended several meetings last week. Both, along with other community leaders, met last week with an independent investigator - a former judge – appointed by the school district.

While we continue to focus on the serious problem at South Philadelphia High, positive developments were communicated at the HRC meeting.  We tried to share as much as possible about our work and the challenges we face in interviews with the media and we appreciate all the coverage that we received.  But as you know, news reporters pick and choose what they want. Our students have been victimized and fearful for their safety, the school is still an intimidating and unsafe environment, but these kids are strong, independent, patient and full of hope. Sometimes you don’t get to see that reading the articles.

About Philadelphia: We are a diverse and cynical city – a city of proud immigrants of every stripe. People here appear to be proud of our Asian students for speaking up!!! Even when reading these articles that quote well-crafted responses from school district PR professionals, I think the public believes the students and community leaders 1,000 times more than school officials who say “no students have complained they aren’t safe”.

I don’t think local people, after reading this article, believe the school’s promotion, intentionally or accidentally, of the stereotype that Asian students are being silent and passive even when they are threatened. We applaud any opportunity to work with the school district for the sake of our kids. We don’t want to discredit its recent actions, but there is a strongly shared sentiment that most of its efforts have been for cover-up purposes. Having said that, we do need to promote an empowering and positive message among our kids and the community, and we are confident that we are moving in that direction.

This has been an ongoing, serious problem and brave students sounded the alarm. We want to work together with students, parents, community members, and the school to find solutions.

As a Philadelphian, let me tell you…

Out there, the community is in an uproar - shootings and continued beatings can’t be ignored. This is what’s happening on a daily basis. Every article and comment I have seen online, every report on TV supports this.

·        Philadelphia Inquirer: State panel to probe S. Philly high violence (Dec. 29)

·        NBC10: State Commission to Probe Attacks at Southern High (Dec. 29)

·        NPR’s (National Public Radio) “Tell Me More”: Racial Tensions Grow Violent at Philadelphia High School (Dec. 16)

·        Press of Atlantic City: Former Atlantic City school official faces criticism in Philadelphia (Dec. 16)

·        Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Guest blog: Schooling leaders (Dec. 18)

We need South Philadelphia High to acknowledge our requests during the ongoing crisis, when we contact it for assistance. The school’s partnership would be a huge bonus, but for now it’s still dragging its feet all the way.

Meanwhile, our branch’s leading advocate staff Michelle and Nancy, who both speak daily with community leaders and partners to coordinate plans, are working in concert with groups such as the Philadelphia Black Clergy (a very influential faith-based community group); Latino, African-American, and Asian organizations; student leadership groups; and others to promote healthy dialogue and policy change to improve our public school system.

As we continue this struggle, thank you for your thoughts and continued support. At this point, now that gun violence is involved, your prayers could be useful as well!

Until the next updates, stay well…

Candice & BPSOS-Philly Team