Source: African Heritage Reparation Assembly

The African Heritage Reparation Assembly (ARHA) will present their first report to the town council at the council’s meeting on Monday, November 8.  The full report can be read here.

The ARHA consists of Jamileh Jemison (Co-Chair) Michele Miller (Co-Chair) Heather Lord, Yvonne Mendez, Alexis Reed, Irv Rhodes, and Amilcar Shabazz.  Liaisons from the Town Council are Pat DeAngilis (District 2) and Alisa Brewer (at large).

Assembly Charge

The ARHA’s mission is to study and develop reparation proposals for people of African heritage in Amherst to further the goals of the resolution “Affirming the Town of Amherst’s Commitment to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity for Black Residents” adopted by the council on December 7, 2020.  The full committee charge can be found here.  The link to join the council meeting is here. The link to submit a comment to the Town Council is here. 

The committee first met on September 22, 2021 and has since addressed the following issues.

Funding for reparations

• Identified a need to establish a sustainable funding source to support all future reparations efforts
• Explored funding streams available through the Town of Amherst including:
  • Community Preservation Act (CPA)
  • Cannabis Tax Revenue
  • Free Cash

Community engagement and education

• Met with the co-producer of A Reckoning in Boston and made arrangements to screen the film as a community event in the second week of December. This film explores the history and lived experiences of racism within communities of color facing systemic oppression in the Boston area. The committee felt this was a good resource for building awareness and understanding of the importance of reparations. Amherst Media will be a partner for the local screening.
• Voted that the town website offer the community more access to AHRA information beyond minutes and packets, including access to resources about reparations, the ability to participate in surveys including through Engage Amherst.
• Discussed multiple efforts to reach and engage with the community outside of public meetings and the website.
• Voted to document the process of this committee via film or other media. AHRA has applied for a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant to fund this work.

Legal questions

• Scoped the legislative actions required to allow a multi-faceted approach to reparations.
• Began a discussion with Representative Mindy Domb about possible legislation to support municipal reparations.
• Exploring a Community Preservation Act structure for planning and. funding reparations activities.

Foundational work

• Discussed supporting Black Assembly of Amherst Massachusetts’ (BAAM) effort to establish a communication strategy with the African heritage community.
• Planning a Black census.
  

Visioning reparations for people of African heritage

• As a future commitment to reparations we are identifying the needs and possible structures to support ongoing reparations work, after the AHRA term ends.

Next steps

• Develop a full strategy for a reparations program for the town of Amherst.
• Decide on a funding target.
• Participate in the upcoming financial indicators meeting and budget forum.
• Develop a full strategy to fulfill the funding target.
• Discuss and vote on specific amount of funds to request from ARPA.
• Deliberate on making a request to earmark cannabis tax revenue to fund reparations activities.
• Discuss the recommendation of the CSWG to have a community-wide healing process.

Immediate request to the town council

• The certified free cash amount from FY 2021 of $206,000 is slated to be discussed and voted on by the Council on November 8, and deposited in the Stabilization Fund by December 31, if approved.