View our most recent newsletter!Diverse HollistonJun 151 min readwww.diverseholliston.orgJune 2026 "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." — Marsha P. JohnsonOn June 28, 1969, Marcia P. Johnson led the riot at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. For this, she is widely known as one of the mothers of the modern Pride month. As a black trans woman speaking about how liberation will not exist for anyone until it exists for all, we could not think of a better spokesperson for what is needed in June 2026. The Stonewall Riots of 1969 have turned into annual Pride celebrations across the globe throughout the month of June. This is also the month of Juneteenth, the national holiday which honors the liberation of the last enslaved African Americans of American chattel slavery on June 19, 1865. Presently, in June 2026, the United States of America has been systematically removing the rights of LGBTQ+ people who reside here, as well as using the same language that has been used to justify American slavery on our immigrant neighbors. White supremacy has always relied on tools of dehumanization, othering, fear, and division. Our national leadership is teaching us to fear and to hate our neighbors. Our transgender neighbors. Our immigrant neighbors. Our non-Christian neighbors. We urge you to sit for a moment with that heaviness. It is OK to feel the heartbreak. We all feel it. We feel it and we are overwhelmed by it and we just keep on moving on with our lives, because capitalism requires us to be distracted and exhausted. Sit with the heartbreak and listen to what you are feeling called to do in this moment. We are all trying to survive, and some of us are in more danger than others. If there is one way that you can show up for your most vulnerable community members, consider that. Just one. We promise, you will feel less isolated, less powerless, and more connected to yourself and others. In Holliston and in nearby communities, there are a variety of ways this month to get involved with volunteer work or attend a celebration that will help you stay connected to your neighbors and your community. We must see one another in real space, in real time, to laugh, to sing, to dance, to celebrate. To lift up, to show up, to share resources. We must recognize that our real enemies are not each other, but the systems which thrive upon our divisions and mistrust. The world needs us to heal our relationships and see one another as humans, every one of us. We must do this in order to survive this moment, so we can move to the next one and begin to build something better. In solidarity, The Diverse Holliston Strategic Planning TeamView Past Newsletters2026 Newsletterswww.diverseholliston.orgMay 2026"From police reforms to gerrymandering decisions, many levers of real and lasting progress are found at the state and local levels." — President Barack Obama, January 6, 2021 Holliston holds its next Town Meeting on Monday, May 11 — one of the most direct forms of democracy available to us. Every registered voter has a seat, a voice, and a vote on decisions that shape this community: property tax relief for seniors and veterans, a $2.5 million high school feasibility study, how Community Preservation funds get spent, and whether the investments this town makes work for all of us or only some of us. Then, on Tuesday, May 19, we head to the polls for the only contested race on the ballot: two School Committee seats that will help steer Holliston's schools through one of their biggest transitions in years — a new superintendent, a potential high school building project, and another teacher contract negotiation on the horizon. And as our latest blog post reminds us, how we show up and the culture we build in local elections is the culture we hand down — so watch for candidates who share what they stand for, listen to other views, and lead with integrity. To help you show up prepared, we've put together an Equity Guide to the May 2026 Town Meeting that walks through the warrant article by article with an equity and inclusion lens, including a reckoning with unfinished business from past warrants. We also sat down with all three School Committee candidates on our Coffee & Community podcast, where we asked about budget priorities, equity and inclusion, and how they make decisions when things get hard. All three accepted the invitation, and all three conversations are worth your time. In solidarity, The Diverse Holliston Planning Committeewww.diverseholliston.orgTonight is Town Meeting!Holliston Town Meeting Monday, May 11 | 7:00 PM Holliston High School Auditorium, 370 Hollis Streetwww.diverseholliston.orgApril 2026"The world is three days: As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with all that was in it. As for tomorrow, you may never see it. As for today, it is yours, so work in it." — Hasan al-Basri (642–728 CE) Dear Hollistonians, April is National Arab American Heritage Month. This year, it arrives in the middle of a constitutional crisis — a president acting without check, a government that has turned on its own immigrants, and a war that didn't have to happen. This past Saturday, neighbors gathered at Holliston Town Hall as part of one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history. The message was simple: this is not how things are supposed to work. For Arab Americans, the stakes are particularly acute. The same administration that answers to no one has waged war in the Middle East and made clear that Arab and Muslim communities here are not safe from suspicion, surveillance, or removal. That is a hard thing to face in an ordinary town, in an otherwise ordinary April, as the flowers start to bloom and the snow turns gray and melts. None of us can fix yesterday. We're in today. There is work to do now, here, in Holliston, with these neighbors. Below are some ways to go about it. In solidarity, The Diverse Holliston Strategic Planning Teamwww.diverseholliston.orgHolliston is hiring a Director of Technology and LearningShare your thoughts on the candidateswww.diverseholliston.orgMarch 2026"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” — Audre Lorde As we look ahead to the work before us, Lorde’s words remind us that justice is interconnected—and that equality requires courage, persistence, and collective action*. From protecting civil rights to strengthening our local communities, each of us has a role to play. Here in Holliston, we’ve seen what that collective action can look like. We are deeply grateful to the Holliston School Committee for working with us to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion were meaningfully reflected in the hiring process for our new Superintendent. We appreciated their willingness to listen, to engage thoughtfully with an equity lens, and to incorporate community input. We are truly delighted with the outcome and optimistic about the leadership ahead for our schools and our town. It’s never too late to step forward—be sure to scroll to the end of this email for opportunities to take action at the national, state, and local levels. In solidarity, The Diverse Holliston Strategic Planning Team *Lorde’s assertion that “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” is explored in Chapter 3 of Excuse Me While I Skip a Beat by Diverse Holliston Strategic Planning member Robert Principe (“The Goal Must Be Disruption: The Status Quo is Killing Us, Literally,” pp. 137–140). Check it out!!www.diverseholliston.orgLGBTQ+ Mythbusters: Real Talk About LGBTQ+ Identities January 7, 12:30-2:00pm at "The Center" 150 Goulding St., HollistonLGBTQ....Do you ever wonder what all these letters mean? Does it seem like these letters and all the terms are always changing and it's impossible to keep up? Join us for a safe space to learn everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Dr. Barbara Fritts, licensed clinical psychologist and specialist in LGBTQ+ issues, will guide us through a presentation of current terminology, clear up misunderstandings about the difference between gender vs. sex vs. sexual orientation, and explore the truth behind the myths about this community. A group of LGBTQ+ panelists will present their personal stories and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. You will leave this presentation empowered with knowledge to bring back to your relationships and loved ones. You don't want to miss this one!www.diverseholliston.orgJanuary 2026“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.2025 Newsletterswww.diverseholliston.orgDecember 2025Dear neighbors, Holliston is in the process of selecting its next Superintendent — a decision that will shape our schools for years to come. In 2023, the district commissioned an independent Equity Audit that documented persistent inequities affecting students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, and non-White students. The district committed to using this work to guide leadership decisions. Yet equity has not been clearly prioritized in the Superintendent search. The Equity Audit was not used to guide the process, communities most impacted by inequities were not intentionally engaged, and there has been limited transparency about the Superintendent Screening team. There is still time to strengthen the process. We are asking the School Committee to add one member to the Superintendent Screening Team whose sole focus is to evaluate candidates through an equity lens. This is the only remaining opportunity to formally include that perspective. You can read more about the concerns and background in this blog post. Please sign the petition to show that Holliston residents value equity, transparency, and informed leadership: Sign the petition Thank you for adding your voice, Diverse Hollistonwww.diverseholliston.orgWe need your help tonight!Diverse Holliston community, On Monday we asked the School Committee to add an agenda item to tonight's meeting to discuss how equity and inclusion are being applied in the Superintendent search. They responded to us today but did not add the topic to the agenda — which means public comment is the only opportunity tonight to ensure these concerns are heard clearly and on the public record. Here's what we're asking you to do: 1️⃣ Attend tonight’s School Committee meeting > Show up in person at the High School if you can. A visible community presence matters. If you can't, Zoom is also available. 2️⃣ Speak up during public comment > Even a 30–60 second comment makes a difference — especially when many voices reinforce the same message. 3️⃣ Use our talking points (available here) > We’ve made this easy. Use them as written, adapt them, or speak in your own words. 4️⃣ Sign the petition (if you haven’t already) > There is still time to add your name before we submit the hard copy tonight. If this matters to you, tonight is one of the few remaining moments to ensure it's addressed. Thank you for showing up, supporting one another, and helping ensure our community’s values are reflected in district leadership decisions. With appreciation, Diverse Holliston Strategic Planning Teamwww.diverseholliston.orgNovember 2025Dear Neighbors, We are concerned that the Town of Holliston is not effectively prioritizing the needs of our underrepresented community members in its search for a new School Superintendent. If you agree that this is a deeply important concern, please make your voice heard. You can do this at one of two upcoming meetings:araneoides.eocampaign1.comDiverse Holliston Newsletter: October 10, 2025“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” - Jane Goodallaraneoides.eocampaign1.comDiverse Holliston Newsletter: September 22, 2025"Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world"info080147.wixsite.comJune HappeningsURGENT: Share your thoughts by 4pm TODAY! Read the resumes (Dr. Place, Dr. Cataldo), watch the interviews, and provide your feedback on the candidates for the next HPS Director for Student Services.araneoides.eocampaign1.comDiverse Holliston Newsletter: April 28, 2025Local action matters more than ever—learn what's happening this month and get involved.March Happenings February Happeningsus10.campaign-archive.comMid-February Updates – Coming Together for Inclusion & Justicemailchi.mpMid-February Updates – Coming Together for Inclusion & Justicemailchi.mpThe fierce urgency of nowmailchi.mpEvents reminders: banned book club and community circle2024 Newslettersmailchi.mpLooking ahead into 2025...mailchi.mpDecember 2024 Newsletterus10.campaign-archive.comReflecting on the Election & Shaping the Future of Diverse Hollistonus10.campaign-archive.comRemembering a dear friend and change makerus10.campaign-archive.comFall Town Meeting: help your neighbors participate in local governmentmailchi.mpDiverse Holliston October Newslettermailchi.mpHousing in Holliston: Past, Present, and Futuremailchi.mpRemember to Vote This Tuesday September 10mailchi.mpCurious about Thursday's Special Town Meeting to fund Holliston's schools?us10.campaign-archive.comTown meeting Is TONIGHT!mailchi.mpVoter resources now available!mailchi.mpAttend tomorrow's School Committee meeting to show support for Muslim studentsmailchi.mpApril 2024 Calendar of Eventsmailchi.mpToday is Transgender Day of Visibilitymailchi.mpDiverse Holliston March Newslettermailchi.mpFlag policy updatemailchi.mp🏳️🌈 Is the new flag policy better than the first?mailchi.mpHolliston Flag Policy: Continuing the Discussionus10.campaign-archive.comDiverse Holliston February Newslettermailchi.mpURGENT: Help Holliston adopt an inclusive Flag Flying Policymailchi.mpDiverse Holliston January Newsletter2023 Newslettersmailchi.mpRead the monthly Diverse Holliston newsletter!Check out what DH is up to and find areas where you can get involved by reading our new monthly newsletter to all DH members.
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