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11-15-2026 12:12am
Westwood Community Invited to ‘Combat Hate Speech’ Public Forum
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Thanks to Westwood Public Schools for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
The Westwood Community Coalition to Combat Hate Speech was formed last year as a result of several incidents involving hate speech in the school system. Facilitated by Westwood Public Schools (WPS) Director of Equity, Integration and Community Partnerships Lateefah Franck, the group is holding a public forum on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pine Hill Elementary School.
“The Coalition will present the work that’s happened over the summer and so far this fall,” said Franck. “It will give the community important information about what’s happening and how the school district, in partnership with the town, is combating and continuing to address incidents that happened last winter, as well as proactive measures that are now in place.”
The Coalition is made up of about 80 people, including Westwood families, community members, WPS staff, and students from Westwood High School and Thurston Middle School. Franck says the group has been working on a framework called “Westwood Speaks Up,” which asks members of the community to be an “upstander” if they see or hear something they feel constitutes bias or hate.
“The Westwood Community is making a concerted effort to be a leader amongst towns in proactively combating acts of hate in this area,” said Franck.
WPS Superintendent Timothy Piwowar is also a member of the Coalition. “We are proud of the work that has been done to date, and grateful for the number of people of all ages who step up to combat hate in Westwood,” said Piwowar.
Members of the Westwood community who are interested in joining the coalition can learn more at the upcoming forum.
