Quinisha Anderson

ROC

I've been observing and at times participating in the slew of conversations surrounding the Spencerport Board of Education considering the Urban Suburban Program. Looking back on my week I realize I've wasted so much time defending success. Isn't that odd. Why are we defending success?

Instead we should be pulling the covers back on the true foundation of Spencerport residents resistance to success. Truthfully if they haven't been able to come to grips with what success looks like I'd rather not waste any more of my time talking to those folks.

I'd like to talk to the children that may have the unfortunate task of being this community's experiment with modern day living.

--

Dear Future Urban Suburban Students,

If for some reason the Spencerport Board of Education decides to bring Urban Suburban to their district, I'm sorry. Not for the district. While it's clear they don't deserve you or Urban Suburban, it's very obvious that they desperately need you. I'm sorry that such amazing students will be their experiment. I'm sorry that you will be walking into a district that unabashedly made it clear they find no value in your existence and that they do not want you in school with their children. I'm sorry that you will have the task of learning in an environment so charged, for no real reason other than the misplaced fear of a few very vocal residents.

I'm sorry you won't walk into a classroom and be able to just learn like your peers in the RCSD or your Urban Suburban peers in top tier schools . I'm sorry that you will be tasked with tackling an issue every suburban community should be ashamed is still a thing, segregation. I'm sorry you will be the topic of discussion at board of education meetings for the foreseeable future. I'm sorry that your every move will be monitored and dissected, all because an undeserving community can't see that they are the issue, not you.

I'm sorry that you are going to have to not only wake up hours before your peers, and after having traveled miles be pegged as an outsider undeserving of the seat your parents tax dollars paid for. I'm sorry that you have to know things like, your parents tax dollars follow you. Rest assured this is not a fact most children your age are armed with. I'm sorry they will believe they are the great suburban hope giving you a chance and a handout. When instead you are the ones giving them a chance, a chance to live in a modern society where diversity is celebrated. You don't deserve to go to a district that doesn't want or value you.

I wish for you that Spencerport votes against bringing the Urban Suburban program into their schools. I wish for you that a far more progressive and open minded district steps up and opens their doors to the experience of diversity. I wish that whatever school you attend you will have the same sense of pride I have for Penfield Schools. I hope that you attend a school deserving of the level of commitment you and your family bring to education, Spencerport is saying they are not that district. I hope for you that your school plays Spencerport and your superhuman athletes defeat them - no one will notice though, this is the most attention Spencerport has ever received. I hope you get placed in Penfield, we love Urban Suburban here. Or maybe our neighbors in Fairport or maybe the #1 district in all of Monroe County - you probably don't know that Pittsford has the largest concentration of Urban Suburban students. Right now there are seven districts that will welcome you with open arms because they understand the value of their children being educated alongside all sorts of wonderful people. Soon there will be more. I mean, who would be ashamed of diversity? Other than Spencerport. I can't imagine too many more districts will want to sound so aged and dated on the heels of this public spectacle. Not in the face of so many facts - facts available on the Spencerport website.

You may not know that 49 years ago when the Urban Suburban program started in West Irondequoit many of the residents there sounded as shameful and fearful as the folks in Spencerport. The difference is that was forty nine years ago - you aren't walking into a pilot program, we have thousands upon thousands of lives that have been positively impacted because of this program. Every student that was educated alongside me or any student from the city is as much a product of the Urban Suburban program as I am - you know why? Because the purpose of this program is to help foster an environment that looks similar to our global society. We did that at Penfield. They are doing that in Wheatland-Chili, Brockport and in Brighton.

I hope that you understand that you will be successful in any school you attend because you are smart, important and Rochester is greater because you are here. If you somehow end up at Spencerport I need you to know that you have advocates and a support system, even if they are not found within the walls you are being educated in. You are coming into a rich heritage, a group of folks who continue to work tirelessly to change the tide of fear. You are not alone, your Urban Suburban big sisters and big brothers are in this world leading very successful lives because we overcame what we didn't think future students would have the unfortunate task of facing.

On the other side of this you will have lifelong friends. Because of you those friends will not be as fearful as their parents. They will be more prepared to contribute to the global society, because of you. I know that's not the story that's being told, but as someone who's walked in the shoes you may soon wear - trust me, I know. Also, I'm here. Holla if you need me.

Sincerely,

2001 Penfield High School Graduate