Progressive Women of Pelham endorses Powers for school board seat
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Progressive Women of Pelham.
May 11, 2021, Pelham, New York. Progressive Women of Pelham (PWP) has voted to endorse Janice Powers as Trustee for the Pelham Board of Education.
“Primary for us is the imperative of responding to the voices of students who have told us, through surveys, reports, and interviews, at rallies and vigils, and on social media as captured by the Pelham Laundry exhibit, that there is an urgent need for progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools” says Executive Director Paula Wood.
“Our young people have spoken, and we are listening,” says Executive Board member Solange Bitol-Hansen. “There has been a concerning persistence of incidents of racial slurs and otherwise harmful or unwelcoming treatment that is injurious not only to individual students but also to the student body as a whole. This breakdown in civility creates an environment that is not conducive to learning and growth.”
“Representation matters,” says Executive Board Member Atasha Greene. “Janice Powers is the leader our school community needs for this moment. She is a skilled advocate, and her professional experience as an Assistant Attorney General will bring needed expertise to the Board, which must navigate the complex regulations that are unique to public schools.”
“As a community leader,” says Greene, “Janice founded Bridges of Pelham to bring parents in the BIPOC community together as a cohesive group to share ideas and better advocate for their children. Bridges has given parents a voice, and worked with District leaders to recognize the impact that racial slurs have had and the need to be proactive in a school environment where these incidents can take place.”
“Janice is the candidate who most aligns with our organization’s core principles,” says Alexy Scholl of PWP’s Advisory Council, “which include a dedication to civil rights and social justice, and particularly a commitment to address inequity that results from systemic discrimination.”
There are five candidates running for two available seats, with the election to take place on Tuesday, May 18, from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. in the Pelham Middle School Gym. Says PWP Advisory Council member Janna Zagari, “in a crowded field, it can be difficult to choose among candidates. Our consideration was to center the needs of the students, and this is reflected in our endorsement of Janice Powers.”
“A tireless advocate both in her profession and in her community volunteerism and leadership, Janice is our first choice for the Pelham School Board of Trustees,” says Policy Director Deborah Lowery Knapp. “Civic participation demands a second choice be made as well. We will each cast our votes for the second seat between the remaining two most progressive candidates and urge every voter to make a considered second choice as well. In this very consequential race, which will reflect on our community and directly affect the young people that we are raising, as a village, for years to come, we must make hard choices, while still appreciating the level of engagement that allows our democratic process to be vibrant and all of the promise that it holds.”
Kathryn Connors Soderberg • May 18, 2021 at 7:05 am
Thank you, Deborah, for your prompt response and that additional information. I appreciate it.
Deborah Lowery Knapp • May 17, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Hi Kathryn and thank you for the question. PWP has an endorsement process that typically includes information gathering and sharing among members, a lengthy internal candidate questionnaire that we ask candidates to respond to in writing, and an opportunity to speak to our members in person at our meetings.
For the organization to issue an endorsement, voting members participate in a formal vote via digital voting application that ensures confidentiality. Over the years, candidates have asked for our endorsement and at other times we have indicated our own interest in potentially endorsing so have initiated that process ourselves. Either way, the process is the same. As you may have seen on our website, the organization has a Mission and Statement of Principles, so we cannot consider endorsing candidates who espouse ideologies contrary to those principles.
Kathryn Connors Soderberg • May 16, 2021 at 8:36 pm
Congratulations to Ms. Powers on this endorsement. Is there any publicly available information on what the process is to be considered for endorsement by the Progressive Women of Pelham? Does one need to apply for such an endorsement or does the PWP consider all candidates of a pending election? If a candidate must apply, how many applied for endorsement in this particular race? I checked the PWP website and found very helpful information on there but none related to the endorsement process, but perhaps that is not public.