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About Marty Swaim CR’s Founder
Marty Swaim, founder of Challenging Racism, is a retired APS public school social studies teacher, lifetime NEA member with a BA in Government from Oberlin, an MA in American History from Howard University, a former elected member of the DC School Board from Ward #6, and 41-year Arlington resident. She is a two-time President of the Arlington Education Association, Arlington, VA, National Writing Project consultant and a trained Results Based Facilitator, former founder, owner, manager of Good Food, ARL VA, active at Rock Spring UCC, Arlington, with four children who have attended APS. Author: Challenging Racism: Learning How workbook for participants and handbook for facilitators, 2016, Chapter 7, Gaining on the Gap, Robert Smith, et al, 2011, Teacher Time, co-authored with husband and economist Stephen Swaim, 1999. Born in Scottsdale, PA, she identifies as White and of German descent. Nowadays, Marty is retired once again, this time as Executive Director of Challenging Racism. Her legacy as Founder, educator, and ally will remain at the core of our shared work and vision. |
Dear Alumni, Friends, Supporters and other advocates in the struggle to end racism now,
I am delighted to welcome Alicia Jones McLeod as our new Executive Director. Under this grand circumstance of installing a new experienced ED, I am pleased to be leaving as the pro bono ED. I and the Board have been working to make this day a reality for at least two years. As Challenging Racism grows we need new blood and we also need new expertise. Alicia J. and I have been working together since May 1 and I am having a good time working with her. I am sure that you will also enjoy working with Alicia and helping to grow Challenging Racism.
I can leave the job of ED, but I cannot leave being an anti-racist, no more than you can. As participants say in the conversations, “Once you truly see racism, you can never un-see racism”. “You see it wherever it is.” I will continue to do anything I can for Challenging Racism and for Ms. McLeod. The same is true for you in support of the work. Just ask. I hope to find other specific ways to advance the cause.
I look forward to the continued growth of this groundbreaking organization that we have been privileged to develop together, first as a single 11 session Learning How conversation each year, then as a registration website and more conversations, then as a corporation with a Board, then as a 501(c)3, and now with a small paid staff. Challenging Racism has a demonstrated record of moving individuals to action to challenge racism. We are innovators in the work of anti-racist training because we ask a small group of participants to make a commitment of time, of self-reflection, of telling and listening to stories, of risk-taking and then doing the work to learn the skills of difficult conversations. Our conversations are a commitment.
All who know us well enough to read this letter are stewards of a wonderful group of facilitators and volunteers, a solid curriculum on the cusp of being revised and updated this June, a good reputation by word of mouth in this community, and now a good new ED. I am so sorry that the COVID-19 makes this a hard year for securing contracts, but we will persist.
I admire and commend your devotion to the cause of ending racism in ourselves, our families and our communities, and to supporting Challenging Racism and other anti-racist organizations in that task. Thank you all so very much. I hold you all in my heart. Racism is a system of advantage and beliefs in White superiority. It was created. Therefore, racism can be dismantled.
Yours in the cause of anti-racism,
Marty Swaim
Co-founder and now former Executive Director
Challenging Racism, May 19, 2020
I am delighted to welcome Alicia Jones McLeod as our new Executive Director. Under this grand circumstance of installing a new experienced ED, I am pleased to be leaving as the pro bono ED. I and the Board have been working to make this day a reality for at least two years. As Challenging Racism grows we need new blood and we also need new expertise. Alicia J. and I have been working together since May 1 and I am having a good time working with her. I am sure that you will also enjoy working with Alicia and helping to grow Challenging Racism.
I can leave the job of ED, but I cannot leave being an anti-racist, no more than you can. As participants say in the conversations, “Once you truly see racism, you can never un-see racism”. “You see it wherever it is.” I will continue to do anything I can for Challenging Racism and for Ms. McLeod. The same is true for you in support of the work. Just ask. I hope to find other specific ways to advance the cause.
I look forward to the continued growth of this groundbreaking organization that we have been privileged to develop together, first as a single 11 session Learning How conversation each year, then as a registration website and more conversations, then as a corporation with a Board, then as a 501(c)3, and now with a small paid staff. Challenging Racism has a demonstrated record of moving individuals to action to challenge racism. We are innovators in the work of anti-racist training because we ask a small group of participants to make a commitment of time, of self-reflection, of telling and listening to stories, of risk-taking and then doing the work to learn the skills of difficult conversations. Our conversations are a commitment.
All who know us well enough to read this letter are stewards of a wonderful group of facilitators and volunteers, a solid curriculum on the cusp of being revised and updated this June, a good reputation by word of mouth in this community, and now a good new ED. I am so sorry that the COVID-19 makes this a hard year for securing contracts, but we will persist.
I admire and commend your devotion to the cause of ending racism in ourselves, our families and our communities, and to supporting Challenging Racism and other anti-racist organizations in that task. Thank you all so very much. I hold you all in my heart. Racism is a system of advantage and beliefs in White superiority. It was created. Therefore, racism can be dismantled.
Yours in the cause of anti-racism,
Marty Swaim
Co-founder and now former Executive Director
Challenging Racism, May 19, 2020