It is currently rumored that the Adult Learning Center, the Brockton Community & Family Center (where SABURA, and other key BPS partners are housed), Plouffe Middle School, and other PILLARS of the community may be moved, or even worse, closed. This petition stands in solidarity with that of the Adult Learning Center.  The ALC and other programs implicated each represents major, foundational centers of our majority immigrant and BIPOC city! Just as the pillars that are used to build a house, or the very foundation of a house are essential to the structure, so too are these centers and organizations. 

Whatever benefits the most marginal in society will greatly benefit the whole; whatever hurts the most marginal/ vulnerable will also greatly hurt the whole. This is the situation within the high school currently and it is a pattern that replays across society, in our nation and globally due to systemic biases that hurt the most vulnerable. A decision to remove and transplant pillars of our city would destabilize our immigrant majority—parents of BPS youth and citizens of our community—and therefore significantly exacerbate the current crisis. These pillars help support our local workforce, our school partners (parents), and contribute to growth of the capacity of Brockton residents who become English-speaking, empowered, prepared citizens through these centers and the programs housed therein. They even serve as safe spaces and places which respond to the trauma suffered by community members whereas Brockton has NO official trauma response team. The Plouffe serves new arrival students as well as providing high quality and honors classes and sports and after-school enrichment to its students, many of the most marginal. How can the School Committee and BPS Admin possibly even consider closing the doors on, or moving, these facilities which represent so much opportunity to people with so little—and to a population which already has so much hurt and trauma (particularly right now)?  This would certainly not be operating through a trauma-informed, culturally, and linguistically relevant, equitable lens (priorities suggested in your recent survey). Quite the contrary, it would be putting money (reacting to the deficit) over people and community. The community is already lacking other key and basic “pillars.” For instance, Brockton Hospital remains closed and has negatively impacted community access to timely healthcare.  

Members of the community, particularly leaders of the very centers and organizations to be most impacted, should be consulted BEFORE moving forward with any decision that would further jeopardize our community. Consulting with community residents would demonstrate a real commitment to the ideals that Brockton claims to represent.