FAIR Northern Michigan: Seeking Better Ways Forward
Chapter Spotlight
For Sally Nagy, the process of beginning a FAIR chapter in Northern Michigan has been deeply personal. She was first attracted to FAIR after learning about some Board of Advisors’ work to expand school choice and counter the regressive way race is being taught in schools. Once she learned that renowned Daryl Davis was part of FAIR, she knew “it would change the world.”
In her early days as a chapter leader, she was disturbed by a dispute between her village council and the township government over the ownership of a small library. The council wanted to maintain the historic building, whereas the township wanted to renovate and expand it. Sally says that the township tried to settle this dispute by sending agents from a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consulting firm to the village council, where they offered “training” to the “narrow minded, entitled, and privileged” townspeople.
“I would like to get involved in this dispute and help in some way to quell this animosity and help with civil discourse,” Sally says. “I believe and hope that FAIR might be the way.” Sally has reached out to her local government to express concerns about the DEI training that had been proposed, and she has suggested they use FAIR’s pro-human DEI alternative, FAIR Diversity, instead. She hopes that as the Northern Michigan chapter grows, they will be able to help heal the divisions in her local government and community by promoting FAIR’s pro-human values of compassion, civil discussion, and respect for our common humanity.
Sally has also spoken with her local school district about adopting the FAIRstory curriculum—a pro-human approach to K-12 education that is honest about the failures and shortcomings of our America, but also recognizes the progress America has made in living up to our ideals. With her oldest son in kindergarten, Sally is particularly attuned to the importance of how her local school decides to approach discussions around race and racism. She has already met with her local school board to voice her concerns about the “thought reform moving its way through the education system,” and she has suggested FAIRstory and FAIR Diversity inclusive alternatives.
“The greatest achievement of FAIR is giving people the courage to step out of their comfort zone,” Sally says. “Before joining FAIR, I never thought I’d have the courage, knowledge, or skills to do something like this.”
Sally has also used FAIR’s pro-human principles to enact change in her own neighborhood. Inspired by her “hero and inspiration,” Daryl Davis, Sally asked one of her neighbors to take down a Confederate flag that he hung in front of his house. She says that she “asked him if he’d consider taking it down because it probably made some people feel unwelcome or threatened.” They had a respectful exchange about American history and the use of the Confederate flag, in which Sally took the time to really listen to her neighbor’s perspective, and she expressed her openness to continuing the discussion in the future. After this conversation, the neighbor removed the Confederate flag from outside his home. Sally credits Daryl’s—and FAIR’s—message of “standing up for your values and respecting other people’s values” for giving her the blueprint for engaging with her neighbor in an effective and respectful way.
When asked about her feelings on the progress the Northern Michigan chapter has made, Sally emphasized the importance of taking small steps. Along with many other FAIR chapter leaders, she understands that in many cases introducing pro-human values is “not a race, but a marathon.” Starting the Northern Michigan chapter made her see how small actions—such as teaching her kids with the FAIRstory curriculum, or using Daryl Davis’ inspiring work to connect with others across seemingly intractable divides—have made an important difference in her life and the lives of others. She sees each action as “sending this rippling effect of positive vibrations throughout our country and the world, one chapter at a time.”
Sally plans to continue working in her community to establish FAIRstory and FAIR Diversity as options for educators, parents, and businesses. She plans to host a booth at the local farmer’s market to engage in more conversations about FAIR’s pro-human mission. “I strongly believe we’re making a difference at FAIR,” she says. “And for every person who disagrees, there’s also a person inspired by your courage, so that’s just one of the reasons I keep trying.”
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism or its employees.
In keeping with our mission to promote a common culture of fairness, understanding, and humanity, we are committed to including a diversity of voices and encouraging compassionate and good-faith discourse.
We are actively seeking other perspectives on this topic and others. If you’d like to join the conversation, please send drafts to submissions@fairforall.org.
Join the FAIR Community
Become a FAIR volunteer or join a FAIR chapter.
Join a Welcome to FAIR Zoom information session to learn more about our mission, or watch a previously recorded session.
Take the Pro-Human Pledge to help promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.
Join the FAIR Community to connect and share information with other members.
Share your reviews and incident reports on our FAIR Transparency website.
Read Substack newsletters by members of FAIR’s Board of Advisors
Common Sense – Bari Weiss
The Truth Fairy – Abigail Shrier
Skeptic – Michael Shermer
Habits of a Free Mind – Pamela Paresky
Journal of Free Black Thought – Erec Smith et al.
INQUIRE – Zaid Jilani
Beyond Woke – Peter Boghossian
The Glenn Show – Glenn Loury
It Bears Mentioning – John McWhorter
The Weekly Dish – Andrew Sullivan
Notes of an Omni-American – Thomas Chatterton-Williams
Culture War Musings - Lisa Bildy
The Wisdom of Crowds Newsletter - Shadi Hamid
Let's Get BOARD! - Jonathan Kay
Broadview - Lisa Selin Davis
 | A guest post by
|
Thanks to Sally for her willingness to fight the bureaucracy! The Academic-Social Justice Complex weaponizes bureaucracy, red tape, 'education' and the tedium of Academia to wage war against the American people. This article by Brooke Hemingway illustrates that tactic when the Township sent in military (I mean DEI) trainers to 'educate' the other side. Talk about arrogance! Since these guys are spending tax-payer money, the are accountable to agencies like school boards - who we elect! I hope to see FAIR candidates running for board positions to put a leash on these guys and bring about equality and end racial conflict. We need to be ready to provide sensible alternatives as these zealots becomes more and more extreme. Note: extremism is an occupational hazard for Academia - because pushing boundaries is how one makes one's mark. I fear that Kendi 2.0 will stir up a race war and - just like Trump - s/he will sit back and smirk at all the violence.
Being born and raised as a Michigander. I understand how hard it is to get people to become part of anything. Lots of distrust for the government and a desire to be left the hell alone. Folks in Michigan are naturally distrusting.
However, liberalism is like mold. Unless you expose it to view and remove it, all it does is spread. In the end you have something that use to be valuable now covered with mold that offends the senses and is useless. That’s liberalism and the desire to teach you why you are the problem and not the useless mold carrying messengers.
Good luck, proud you are stepping forward and wish you all of the success you strive for. Would also say, maybe Fair needs to start endorsing school and civic leaders who have the Fair mentality.