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APRIL 2025 / ISSUE 54

Upcoming Events

THU MAY 1 6:00-7:00 PM

Partakers Info Session

ONLINE

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MAY 14 - JUN 14

Hunger Doesn't Take A Summer Vacation

FOOD COLLECTION

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THU JUN 5 6:30-8:30 PM

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS:

Witnessing Humanity - John Wilson Exhibit

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FRI JUN 6 7:15-9:00 PM

Celebrating RJI & Our Tzedek Champions

IN PERSON ONLY

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JUNE 6, 2025

Celebrating RJI and our Tzedek Champions

Celebrate the conclusion of the RJI's nine-year effort of understanding the impact of racism on our personal development as well as the US social, economic and judicial systems, and then working together to address these racial inequities. We pause to take note of all we have achieved, to recognize the commitment and engagement of our TBE community, and to honor three exceptional volunteers with the presentation of the RJI Tzedek Champion Awards:

 

Sheri Kassirer — A dedicated founder and co-chair of the Racial Justice Initiative, Sheri’s intelligent and compassionate leadership is enthusiastically celebrated and recognized. Her nine-year service as RJI co-chair ends but her commitment (thankfully and graciously) continues as she co-leads the RJI Advocacy Committee and GBIO Liaison.

 

Bud Schram — Like the Energizer Bunny, Bud is perpetually engaged in “good trouble.” His leadership of the Winter Walk for the Homeless has catapulted TBE into one of the highest fundraising teams while nurturing a dedicated congregational community. As a member of the RJI Executive Committee Bud serves as a GBIO Liaison who is fearless in advocating for all things racial justice!

 

Renee Spencer — Renee is widely recognized for her staunch advocacy for fair and affordable housing—one of the key priority areas for the Racial Justice Initiative since its founding in 2016. Through her engagement with RJI in GBIO and Building a Better Wellesley, she has helped us become more effective activists, to appreciate the voices of those with lived experience, and joined forces in successful legislative campaigns. 


RSVP for a scrumptious celebration dinner and program!

MAY 1, 2025 6:00-7:00 PM ONLINE

Partakers Info Session: College Behind Bars Mentors

The TBE-Partakers College Behind Bars Mentor Program offers TBE members the unique opportunity to change lives by mentoring incarcerated individuals working on their college degrees while in prison. Since 2017, dozens of TBE members have developed transformative, helping relationships with incarcerated mentees as they navigate the academic and personal challenges of pursuing higher education in the prison setting.


TBE and Partakers are currently seeking mentors to match with the latest (4th) cohort of twenty new students enrolled in the Emerson Prison Initiative, which will be starting in September, 2025! Please join us on Thursday, May 1, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM to hear about Partaker's powerful mentoring program in supporting new Bachelor's Degree students enrolled in the Emerson Prison Initiative (EPI), based at MCI Norfolk.


Attending the session does not obligate you and may inspire you!


Please RSVP to attend and CLICK HERE for the meeting details and Zoom link.

JUNE 5 at the MFA

Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson

The Racial Justice Initiative is sponsoring a docent-led tour of the MFA Exhibit: Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson. Born in Roxbury (1922-2015), Wilson is one of Boston's most esteemed artists whose works spanned 60 years, and continues today to resonate with the persistent realities of disenfranchisement, racial prejudice and social injustice.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

COLLECTION • MAY 14-JUNE 14

Hunger Doesn't Take A Summer Vacation

Did you know that the Racial Justice Initiative provides 80 TBE Table-prepared meals to students at the William Monroe Trotter School each month during the school year? These nutritious meals, along with the School's free breakfast and lunch, provide the major source of many children's diet. As summer approaches and school-year meal programs pause, we have an opportunity to help bridge the gap. Check out the opportunities below or in this flyer. No child should go hungry. 


How to help:

  1. Order items from our Amazon Wish List, to be delivered to TBE.
  2. Contribute to the RJI Fund. (Make sure to select “Racial Justice Initiative Fund)
  3. Purchase preferred items and bring to TBE Atrium:
  • Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs Microwaveable Bowls
  • General Mills/Kellogg’s Cereal
  • Single Serve Pouches
  • Nature Valley Granola Bars
  • Nutri-Grain Breakfast Bars
  • Quaker Instant Oatmeal Express Cups
  • Velveeta Shells & Cheese Microwaveable Cups
  • Welch’s Fruit Snacks


CLICK HERE for information on how you can make a difference and contribute to the Trotter Food Drive Collection.

Temple Beth Elohim | tbewellesley.org/RJI
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