Wednesday, June 24, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
LETTERS
Continued from page 15
death within a system of entrenched practices
of police brutality, racialization, and discrim-
ination. While we appreciate the energy of
recent protests, we urge Sisters residents to
take further action against racist systems and
reflect on the existing issues of race within
our own community.
After we both went to college, we became
aware of the lack of action taken in the Sisters
community to protect, respect, and affirm
black and brown lives. In college, we expe-
rienced solidarity and empathy for our hopes
and dreams.
Retrospectively, we realized that more
attention was paid to the degradation of our
natural surroundings, rather than the sys-
temic struggles of people of color across the
country. Unfortunately, we each experienced
incidents of direct or indirect racism while
attending the Sisters schools. We were often
the only people of color in a classroom, which
alienated us. None of our teachers were peo-
ple of color, and while they did their best to
enlighten and educate on matters of historical
racism and the American experience, there
was rarely any discussion articulating lives
and stories of people of color. If we were to
call out racist systems or racism, in or outside
the classroom, we were labeled too political
or too angry.
We highlight these experiences not to
disparage the hard work of our teachers, but
to plead for systematic change to education
and community solidarity. Racism is real
and alive in Sisters. What has been <good
enough= in the past cannot suffice any longer.
The Sisters community must acknowledge
its lack of diversity and commit to both indi-
vidual and structural changes that dismantle
white supremacy. These anti-racist actions
should not be taken solely to achieve diver-
sity, but also to benefit the well-being of com-
munity members, regardless of their race, eth-
nicity, class or gender.
You may think that events like the murders
of George Floyd or Trayvon Martin could not
happen in Sisters or even Central Oregon. But
why would you want to wait and see before
making a change? The momentum of the cur-
rent protests and rallies must be carried forth
into the future, grounded in finding equity,
justice, and compassion for all, but particu-
larly our community members of color.
Keegan Greaney & Zidane Galant-LaPorte
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s
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Letter to the Editor,
The end of the year is typically a time to
celebrate, and there are reasons to celebrate;
however, that is not why I write to you today.
It is impossible to view the civil unrest
that is happening throughout our nation
and not reflect on our responsibility to do
better.
For some of our students and families, see-
ing violent footage and unchecked racism is a
source of ongoing trauma. This is made worse
as it comes after months of anxiety and stress
brought on by a global pandemic that has
disproportionately affected our underserved
families.
Sisters School District is committed to
supporting students and families as we navi-
gate the persistent aggression against our
friends, family and neighbors in underserved
populations.
Diversity and our differences make us
stronger. Our schools are committed to open-
ing doors to those who have been historically
underserved. While our values are clear, we
know we have work to do. It pains me to
know that we have not supported all of our
students 4 that we have students that feel as
though they are not accepted in our schools.
Whether they have different color skin, speak
a different language, or identify with a differ-
ent gender, these are all our children. We are
committed to doing better.
It is through this lens that the Sisters
School District will continue to focus on our
Strategic Plan core values:
1. Investing in relationships that support
every student9s growth and sense of belonging
2. Create extraordinary learning experi-
ences that make learning real
3. Empower and support students and staff
to become the best versions of themselves
4. Prepare students to be courageous indi-
viduals, effective communicators, critical
thinkers and problem solvers for life.
Please take the time to take care of your-
selves and those that you love. I am thankful
that as parents/guardians, teachers, support
staff and community we are committed to our
learning partnership and supporting all of our
students.
Curt Scholl
Superintendent
Sisters School District
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s
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To the Editor:
I am a full-time resident of Sisters. In
addition, I am over 65, have asthma, and am
raising my granddaughters 4 the youngest
8 years old. I stay at home as much as pos-
sible but I have to go out for groceries and
See LETTERS on page 16
15
Oregon High Desert
Classics canceled
The Oregon High Desert
Classics, Central Oregon9s
premier hunter-jumper show
and J Bar J Youth Services9
largest fundraiser of the year,
is canceled. The organization
had been working on plans for
months, in coordination with
US Equestrian Federation,
Deschutes County, and the
State of Oregon, to keep staff
and participants safe. They
were able to address numer-
ous safety concerns and had
the space to allow for social
distancing on the 40-acre
J Bar J Boys Ranch.
The hope was to hold the
competition in July with-
out spectators, allowing
only staff and riders on the
grounds. The guidance laid
out in the state9s Phase 2
COVID-19 opening restric-
tions however, allow only
250 people at an event,
regardless of the space avail-
able. This has made plans
unworkable, and has pushed
J Bar J Youth Services into
the difficult decision to can-
cel this year9s events.
This is the second of three
annual events J Bar J Youth
services will have canceled,
and by far the largest. Bowl
for Kids9 Sake was also
canceled in May. The pro-
gram is a primary fundraiser
for J Bar J9s Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Central Oregon.
The organization is look-
ing for help from sponsors
and the community to bridge
those losses.
The Oregon High Desert
Classics provides funding
not only to the nonprofit
organization and their many
programs in the region, but
brought an estimated $3 mil-
lion in revenue to Central
Oregon9s tourism industry
annually.
With over 600 horses and
thousands of participants
including trainers, riders,
and staff coming from all
over the western U.S. and
Canada, The Oregon High
Desert Classics is one of the
largest events in Bend each
summer. The Classics were
scheduled for July 15 3 19
and 22 3 26 this year. J Bar J
Youth Services plans to hold
the event again in 2021.
J Bar J Youth Services
operates many programs help-
ing youth facing challenges
on their path to self-suffi-
ciency. Learn more at www.
jbarj.org or www.oregon
highdesertclassics.org.