People​ ​for​ ​Race​ ​and​ ​Ethnicity​ ​Studies​ ​Today​ ​(PREST) 
​By Briyana Mondesir 10/17
     When I was young, I was filled with shame and guilt concerning my race and identity. I grew up in a neighborhood and community that was filled with white people. In my school, the majority of my peers were white. In history class, we were taught a colorless history. The only place I saw any mention of people like me was in the short unit about slavery, where pictures of my people, bent in half, picking cotton, were peppered across the white pages.
     Thus, I came to see my history as something that was abominable and pitiful. For a country that is supposed to be diverse, this is not mirrored in curricula across America. Our education system actively ignores the history of racism in America and its implications for people of color. In addition, the stories that people of color have are disregarded. Consequently, many students of color do not see themselves represented in their schools.
     People for Race and Ethnicity Studies Today (PREST) is an organization that was founded by Hillary Bridges and Z Bell. In May of 2016, Hillary launched a pilot program for Telling Our Story (TOS) in New Haven, CT. TOS creates spaces for young Black people to share untold American stories of both continued oppression and tremendous achievement. By grounding young Black people in their histories, TOS empowers participants to address the effects of racism and to think critically about the change they want to make in the world.
     Z joined the Telling Our Story team in February of 2017 as its first Lead Facilitator. After one semester of TOS, Z and Hillary felt strongly that learning about race and ethnicity is integral to their vision of an American education that is based in truth and justice. This is how the PREST Movement began.
     This movement is seeking to change and reorganize the way our education system operates. It also aims to give people of color the knowledge and pride of their history and ancestors that is missing in the American education system. Additionally, PREST is fighting to create more schools that actively dismantle racism and that celebrate the unique beauty and resilience in each of our stories.
     We believe in the power of young leaders who take action and envision a country that is grounded in empathy and a movement towards true change and justice.
     More information about the PREST Movement and how you can get involved can be found at our website: https://www.theprestmovement.org 

The Shubert’s “Beautiful Kindness Project”
Interview with Kelly Wuzzardo By MarQuel Woods
    I was fortunate to get an interview with Ms. Kelly Wuzzardo, the Director of Education & Outreach Initiatives at the Shubert Theatre in downtown New Haven. We discussed the Shubert’s Kindness Project, which invites high school students to design a kindness project for their school and/or community. Ms. Wuzzardo said that this project is important because “Making our small community better and kinder will help our world as a whole.”
     Submitted designs are due by Friday, October 27th. The groups with the best projects will receive tickets to a performance of “Beautiful: A Carol King Musical” at the Shubert that runs from March 6-11, 2018, or a soundtrack of the show and will have aid in enacting their projects. The winners of the contest will be announced on World Kindness Day (Monday, November 13, 2017). The winners’ project will be enacted during Random Act of Kindness Week (February 11-17, 2018).
     You can help the Shubert expand its “Beautiful Kindness” Project is by voting for them at KIND Causes so that they can potentially win a $10,000 grant. Just click below to vote. (Voting closes on September 30.) https://www.kindsnacks.com/foundation/causes/cause/shubert-theatre-beautiful-kindness-project/
     Even if your project is not chosen, you can still work to bring your designs to fruition, as the Shubert offers more opportunities for all ages to spread kindness. For example, The Shubert is hosting three rock-painting events where participants can create Kindness Rocks. The paint and rocks will be provided and these events are for all ages.
     The first event will take place on Sunday, November 5, 2017 during the Shubert’s Free Family Fun Day event from 11 am-3 pm. The second event takes place on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm and participants will receive a free Shubert tour at 11 am. The last event will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2017 from 10:30 am-2:30 pm and participants will be able to go on a free Shubert tour at 11 am.
     Another plus for high school students trying to scrounge together enough community service credits to graduate is that there are plenty of opportunities to gain community service hours.
     The company behind all of this is called “KIND Healthy Snacks & Granola Bars.” It's a company, as the name suggests, that sells healthy snacks and granola bars, but they are so much more than that. The company was founded in 2004 and since the beginning has had a mission they call the “KIND Movement,” to make the world a better place through kindness. They believe we need to speak up, rise to the occasion, and take action to make this world a better place.