MARION — “Start where you live” is the motto of local anti-racism grassroots organization Tri-Town Against Racism.

So in an effort to start change, two of the group’s six co-founders, Tangi Thomas of Marion and Alison Noyce of Rochester, went before the Marion Board of Selectmen on Sept. 8 to introduce the organization, meet Selectmen and outline what the group wants to accomplish. 

Tri-Town Against Racism was started in Spring 2020 after a racist post from an Old Rochester High School student surfaced on social media. 

“The community outrage showed us that the time is now,” Thomas said. 

The group is working with the district, with Tabor Academy and with Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School to help them all be anti-racist. 

In schools, Noyce said that a lot of students are ignorant, not angry. 

Thomas said that her daughter was asked by a friend if she could get the pass to say the n-word because it was her birthday.

Noyce, who has two black sons, said his oldest was on the baseball team and was asked if his mom were going to make his favorite meal of fried chicken and watermelon for his birthday. She said all his teammates and coaches laughed, while his son was “crushed” by it. 

“We want these kids to learn, we don’t want to throw them away,” Noyce said, adding that she wants the district to stop putting out fires and start making real changes. 

Tri-Town Against Racism is also collecting books from diverse authors about diverse subjects to give to school and community members in Wareham as well.

The group is not an official Black Lives Matter-sanctioned group, but rather a grassroots organization started by Tri-Town residents who are dedicated to making Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester actively anti-racist communities. 

Selectman John Waterman asked how the group will measure success.

Noyce responded that the goals the group has, such as diversifying school staff and curriculums, are things that can be measured.

“We want to work with you to make the community a better place,” Noyce said.