By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

The Race and Equity Committee is a combined group of seniors from both of Milford’s high schools who meet once a week to discuss problems surrounding race in schools and how to address them.

February is Black History Month, and the Race and Equity committee will continue to spread awareness of the impact African Americans have had on history.

The committee was formed during the spring of 2020 while the country was going through unrest over racial issues.

Law’s Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said the group was formed with the goal of making change.

“The group made it clear that they wanted to make a positive change at Law as well as in the Milford community,” Ragaini said. “They are adamant that the work they started should continue throughout their senior year and the years beyond.”

Law senior Angel Santiago is a student leader and co-founder of the committee. He has helped plan events throughout the year to bring more awareness to the schools and leads the activities at Law, including a Multicultural Day in November that was live streamed on Eagle Eye News.

“We were able to give a presentation to the teachers at Law about race at Jonathan Law,” Santiago said. “We also ran a Multicultural Day that featured many cultures that are represented at Law.”

Senior Sanskar Shah is a member of the committee who focuses on recruiting students and teachers to help the cause. For Black History Month, Shah said, the committee has planned Advisory activities and daily segments on Eagle Eye News.

“We have daily facts about rich African American history and their culture,” Shah said. “We are also advocating for some time in class to be devoted to black history, and optimistically, I have heard teachers who have done this.”

The Race and Equity Committee is entirely student-run. Faculty and staff offer support in the process but let the students come up with their own ideas to improve schools’ racial climate.

“I am here to support them anyway I can,” Ragaini said. “The administration at Law – Mr. Thompson, Mr. Marko, and Mr. Hoggatt – make sure that the committee has all the resources they need to succeed in their mission.”

Shah discussed how the Race and Equity Committee’s main goal is to create an environment where people of all cultures can feel at home. 

““It’s an organization for optimal inclusion, but at the same time, we are constantly wary of not trying to solve problems when they weren’t existing in the first place,” Shah said.

Despite the challenges in planning activities due to COVID-19 this year, the committee is doing everything they can to make sure there is a lasting impact at Jonathan Law.

“Considering the numerous restrictions arising from COVID, we are pushing the small things,” Shah said. “Cliche or not, I’m gonna say it: It really is the small things that matter.”