NAFC:
Voice of Change
First Words of 2026
A new year doesn’t automatically bring change—people do. Allies do!
As we enter 2026, we’re grounding ourselves in a truth that’s easy to forget: progress requires participation.
The conditions we are living in is a result of choices. What we challenged, what we ignored and what we allowed to happen.
This is a year for action, accountability, and sustained commitment—not just good intentions!
We want Newtown to be inclusive, diverse and equitable for all its citizens and we will continue to do the work that makes this possible.
Happy New Years to our Allies and we hope to see everyone on the front lines this year!
MLK (Lesser Known) Quotes
Martin Luther King Jr, for good reason, is often quoted. His amazing quotes talk about love, and rights through peaceful protest.
But was MLK evolving from a civil rights reformer to a fierce critic of systematic racism?
At the end of his life, he was advocating for fundamental societal change, challenging the core structures of American power and economy, making him a much more revolutionary figure than we talk about today.
- “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” (Letter from Birmingham City Jail, 1963)
- “We must be concerned not merely about who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers.” (Eulogy for the Martyred Children, 1963)
- “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” (The Purpose of Education, 1947)
“A riot is the language of the unheard.” (Interview with Mike Wallace, 1966)
“Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Without persistent effort, time itself becomes an ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of irrational emotionalism and social destruction.” (Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story)
Settle in with a good book this winter from the Little Free Library! The LFL is located at Treadwell Park.
Head on down and borrow a book or two or three from our stash for all ages!
How Martin Luther King Jr Changed the World Forever
The HISTORY Channel Presents
Learn about the political and social context behind Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I
Have A Dream" speech, the rhetorical devices that helped its concepts resonate, and
its effect on the broader Civil Rights Movement.
Listen here
Selma
This film, directed by Ava DuVernay, tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s fight
to secure equal voting rights. It follows his and other activists' three-month journey to
organizing the historic Selma to Montgomery march in 1965 to raise awareness of the
discrimination Black voters faced. Available on various streaming platforms. Watch the Trailer
Letters from an American
Just as they have always been, [heroes] are all around us, choosing to do the right
thing, no matter what.
Read this blog by Heather Cox Richardson recognizing MLK Day here
Highlighting Local Multicultural Art, Music, Theater and Events
MLK Events in Connecticut:
As we step into 2026, we are reminded that doing this work has never been easy and it was never meant to be.
We learned more hard truths this past year in Newtown and in the nation at large.
Racism doesn’t disappear just because our town looks progressive or claims to be "nicer."
We’ve seen what happens when people speak up. We’ve watched how quickly discomfort turns into rage and resistance, how truth-telling is labeled “divisive,” and how silence and apathy is rewarded more than courage.
It's important to push on, speak the truth and have no fear doing it.
Hope is not passive. It is not optimism without action. Hope is a practice. It is showing up when it would be easier to stay silent. Hope, is not a feeling—it’s a decision. It’s choosing to stay engaged when it would be easier to step back. It’s continuing to build, organize, educate, and challenge systems that were never designed to change themselves.
In 2026, doing the work means accepting that progress will not always be applauded. It means understanding that opposition is not failure—it’s evidence that something is shifting. And it means recognizing that real change is collective. None of us carries this alone.
We move forward not because it’s comfortable, but because it’s necessary. We move forward because the cost of doing nothing has always been higher.
Still here. Still committed. Still doing the work.
Our Work Continues....
We are committed to the integrity of our work, and we will continue moving forward in 2026, with purpose and clarity despite any roadblocks that come our way.
Sometimes, time is hard to give. If you'd like to support NAFC and the work that we do with a monetary gift instead, click here
*please note: donations are not tax deductible
What's Coming Up:
- January 19th: Martin Luther King Jr Day