Community Corner

Photos: Framingham Art Project Celebrates Black History Month

Students and families kicked off their February vacation with a community art project that celebrated Black History.

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Samantha Mercado, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

FRAMINGHAM, MA- Some students and families in Framingham decided to kick off their February vacation by spending some extra time in school. People from the community gathered in the Fuller Middle School cafeteria for a community art project Friday night.

The event was a joint effort between the Fuller School, Framingham High School Black Student Union, Framingham Families for Racial Equity in Education, MetroWest Educators for Social Justice, Framingham Pelham Community Center and Discovering Hidden Gems. Gloria Pascual and Tracey Bryant, both School Committee members were leaders of the event.

Participants were given squares of paper to color, pieces of a mural filled with different influential figures in black history. Bryant said a community art project was chosen to celebrate black history because "it allows participants to incorporate themselves into the project," she said.

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Framingham High School's Black Student Union President, Mira Donaldson, joined the event making an announcement alongside Pascual. Donaldson read two proposals for joint resolutions that will be brought to the next Racial Equity Subcommittee meeting. The first detailed making Framingham Public Schools a safe and welcoming place to all students, maintaining a multicultural school community. The second affirms that Framingham Public Schools are committed to protecting all students from bullying, harassment and other harm or hate.

A cafeteria bench full of community members coloring their pieces of the mural.
Students and community members join together for the art project.
Each square had photos of influential black leaders for students to color.
Superintendent Robert Tremblay grabbed a mural piece with his daughter and joined the project.
Gloria Pascual, Vice Chair of the School Committee, was the driving force behind the event.
Marguerie Lackard, a Walsh Middle School teacher, hugs a student working on his piece of the project.
Jeiz Marie Pomales cuts magazine photos to add to her personal poster.
Families joined the event to kick off the February break.
Mira Donaldson announces the proposed resolutions that will be brought to the Racial Equity Subcommittee.
"We intend to unify Framingham through education and inspiration," Tracey Bryant said.

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Photo Credit: Samantha Mercado/ Patch Staff

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