2. START casting a new show with multiple leads. By doing this the talented students cast in this current show can still shine while also including an equally talented diverse group of actors.

3. STOP hiring adults who have heard complaints from theater professionals, concerned parents of color, and social justice activists time and time again, and have not listened or changed their actions.

4. START better hiring practices. (see "b" below)

FIRST STEP! : Remove Robert Winans as Director of the Boynton Middle School and High School Musical. We have tried to talk to Mr. Winans. He has not listened nor has he said publicly he wants to learn from his mistakes and do things differently. Mr. Brown and Dr Brown... Times Up. (AMENDED)

SECOND STEP! : Hire Joey Steinhagen as Director of the next musical. Joey has a concrete plan and has said he is confident he can mount an inclusive and wonderful show. Joey is the hero we need now to unit our community. Please let him! (AMENDED)

5. STOP the racist and openly stated policy of “color blind” casting in the ICSD.
Because of institutionalized racism this results in white children being cast in roles written as white parts and also white children being cast in roles that were specifically intended for people of color. Make no mistake, the world is not colorblind. Casting cannot be colorblind. Enough is Enough.

6. START a policy of “inclusive casting” by working to recruit young people of color, particularly those who are not currently involved in any activities in the performance arts within the school system but who have experience singing in other venues, such as church choirs.

7. STOP being satisfied with a system where only some students have access to voice lessons, dance lessons, acting lessons, etc. This favors the privileged few whose parents have the resource of both time and money.

8. START creating opportunities for all students to train to be performance artists. The local theater community and Ithaca College are untapped resources. Many have offered to help and have been ignored. Contact them. Ithaca College students have a service requirement. Ask them to give free voice lessons after school. Find volunteers for free dance lessons. Bring in experts in audition technique, such as staff of The Actor’s Workshop, who worked with us on Godfrey Simmons Musical 13 to prepare us to audition. So many community theatre organizations have said publicly they want to help, and yet they have not been asked to help. Why?

9. STOP ignoring and denying that you have created a white centered program run by white adults for the benefit of white children. White children should also be educated about interrupting these practices of White supremacy. Hollow lip service about equality is shameful and the eyes of our concerned community are now focused on you.

10. START following the four core values of IHS you tell us to follow, every day, but don’t follow yourselves.

a. Compassion- “The concern for the suffering or misfortune of others.” We don’t see any concern or you wouldn't be doing this. Please, show us compassion.

b. Integrity - “ The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” Stop your immoral scare tactics and let our voices be heard without targeting activist leaders, particularly activists of color. (AMENDED)

c. Ownership - “The act, state, or right of possessing something.” We hope you have the courage to own up to this mistake. The blame for entire situation is yours to possess, yours to own. Not ours.

d. Tenacity - “The quality or fact of being very determined. Persistence.” If you want to change this, it won’t be easy. But nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. And we hope you think all students, not just a privileged few, are worth fighting and presisting for.

In the words of MLK Jr, “Later almost always means never.”

No more waiting.

If you don’t act now, you send a message to our community that students of color are less valuable.

You say you see our value. It’s time to show us. Please act, and act now, on our behalf.