Anti-Racism

Heroes, holidays, monuments, and flags: reframing our history is not erasing it.

Blog / By / / , , , / 16 minutes of reading

The more I learn about this country’s history, the more I learn about its celebrated heroes and holidays, the more I learn about hidden heroes whose stories haven’t been widely told and about historical events that haven’t been widely celebrated, the more I feel robbed. With each passing year, I have been quietly grappling with my growing frustration over the chasm between the aspirational ideals of the United States of America and its reality. How can we rid our future of this systemic racism if we can’t stop romanticizing and glorifying and glossing over the past? How can we confront the realities of our present systems if we can’t be honest about how they came to be? There are many interpretations of history, but certain narratives dominate. And these dominant narratives perpetuate racist systems.

Heroes, holidays, monuments, and flags: reframing our history is not erasing it. Read More »

Selected slide from Manisha Bewtra's Race and Housing in Arlington Presentation, showing land use patterns and segregation

Town of Arlington, MA Community Conversations: panel discussion on Racism and Housing, July 2, 2020

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , , , , / 1 minute of reading

Starting in June 2020, the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts hosted a series of community conversations on racism and reforms. The series was co-sponsored by the Arlington Human Rights Commission. On July 7, 2020, the town hosted this conversation on the intersection of race and housing and how government policies have created inequities. Residents were encouraged

Town of Arlington, MA Community Conversations: panel discussion on Racism and Housing, July 2, 2020 Read More »

From Melrose to Baltimore with Love: Community Service & Pride of Place Make America Great

Blog, Politics / By / / , , , , , , , , / 4 minutes of reading

This post was written as a response to the ugly Tweets and comments from the 45th President of the United States regarding “The Squad” as well as Baltimore in July 2019. I posted this on July 29, 2019 on the Manisha for Melrose website as well as in local media and my social media pages.

From Melrose to Baltimore with Love: Community Service & Pride of Place Make America Great Read More »

Slide from Structural segregation and Melrose's Built Environment presentation, showing present day zoning next to 1938 HOLC (redlining) map

Melrose’s built environment and growth patterns before and since redlining​, presented on February 7, 2018 and January 21, 2019

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , , , , , / 1 minute of reading

On two different occasions, in I gave a presentation on structural segregation and the built environment in Melrose, Massachusetts, first for MORE: Melrose, Organizes for Real Equality in February 2018, and later, as part of an Act for Racial Justice Panel on Martin Luther King Day in January 2019. During both of these presentations, I challenged the audience to first develop a mental map/picture of Melrose and surrounding communities, and think about patterns they’ve observed, stereotypes they’ve heard about different neighborhoods, and to share their personal experiences. Then, I shared historic and present day maps to show how patterns of racial and economic segregation, visible on maps of land use policies, have persisted for over a century.

Melrose’s built environment and growth patterns before and since redlining​, presented on February 7, 2018 and January 21, 2019 Read More »

Starting Race Talk Workshop 2018

“From Awake to Woke: Starting Race Talk,” MACDC Convention workshop, October 20, 2018

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , / 1 minute of reading

On October 20, 2018, I co-facilitated a workshop with Gabrielle Sims, Marilyn Sanchez, and Shirronda Almeida called “From Awake to Woke: Starting Race Talk” at the MACDC Convention in Boston as part of my role on the Mel King Institute for Community Building’s Alliance for Racial Equity Steering Committee. The room was packed and we got a lot of requests from participants to bring this workshop to their organizations.

“From Awake to Woke: Starting Race Talk,” MACDC Convention workshop, October 20, 2018 Read More »

Flyer for Valuing Our Workforce Event

Valuing Our Workforce: How Nonprofits Can Support Millennials of Color in the Sector panel, #FUNinBOS festival, September 20, 2018

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , / 1 minute of reading

Although I just barely qualify as a millennial, I was invited to speak on this awesome panel sponsored by TSNE Missionworks for the Fierce Urgency of Now #FUNinBOS festival in September 2018. More about the event here.

Valuing Our Workforce: How Nonprofits Can Support Millennials of Color in the Sector panel, #FUNinBOS festival, September 20, 2018 Read More »

Manisha quoted with phrase "Fear is something new I feel" in the Melrose Free Press

Melrose Stands Up: One Community, One Nation Open to All Community Vigil, June 29, 2018

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , , / 4 minutes of reading

On June 29, 2018, community members in Melrose, Massachusetts came together for a vigil, responding to news about families being separated and detained at the US border. I was among the speakers at this event, which was covered in the Melrose Free Press. Attendees signed a pledge to stand with immigrants. Here’s a transcript of

Melrose Stands Up: One Community, One Nation Open to All Community Vigil, June 29, 2018 Read More »

Stand Against Racism: Women of Color Leading Change in Community Development panel

Stand Against Racism: Women of Color Leading Change in Community Development panel, April 26, 2017

Speeches and Presentations / By / / , , / 1 minute of reading

The Alliance for Racial Equity’s annual Stand against Racism event, in partnership with the YWCA, was a panel with Angie Liou, Executive Director, Asian CDC, Lydia Edwards, Deputy Director for Housing Stability, City of Boston, Aida Franquiz, Community Investment Officer, Boston Private Bank, and me, as the Analytical Services Manager at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The panel was moderated by Shirronda Almeida-Chandler. We talked about our experiences and perspectives as women of color leaders in the community development field.

Stand Against Racism: Women of Color Leading Change in Community Development panel, April 26, 2017 Read More »

Scroll to Top