By Kempton Freeman, Cultural Adviser, Appleton Area School Disctrict

Thank you to the Community Foundation for this opportunity and for their continued support of the Appleton Area School District. My name is Kempton Freeman, Cultural Adviser and Black Student Advisor (BSU). I am part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department and work alongside Dr. Pa Lee Moua and other key staff members.

We will never forget 2020 as we learned so much about ourselves, our students, our schools, and our community. We must continue to focus our efforts and energy on what is important, and for me it’s the students.

The Black Student Union (BSU) is a club created and led by high school students to culturally celebrate and enhance their identities, history and culture. Since 2019, BSU has called February the Black History Month Celebration.

On February 1, 2021, BSU, along with the DEI department, kicked off the first-ever Black History Month virtual celebration. The opening ceremony set the tone and expectation for this year’s celebration which includes the voices and representation of our Black students, staff, administration, and community leaders. We are a community. Together, we will overcome any obstacles and challenges.

Webinars are scheduled every week for the month of February. These opportunities are FREE and open to the public, all you have to do is register. Additional information, registration and links are provided on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage.

The Appleton Area School District would not be successful without the support and partnerships of our students, staff, administration, families, and community organizations.

View this powerful video of testimonials from AASD students and community leaders sharing their favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These are the voices of our future.