The Select Board was recently presented with a proposal seeking to allow the Bromfield House to temporarily be used to house Afghan refugees pending any disposition of the property. Arm in Arm fully supports this initiative. Not only would such action embody and model the meaning of service, but it also would deliver on a commitment undertaken to honor diversity and inclusion in a statement adopted by the Select Board in 2020.
Furthermore, providing Afghan families a home in the Bromfield House honors the intent of the will of Margaret Bromfield Blanchard by fulfilling its requirement to be used for education. The educational components satisfied by this use are innumerable. Afghan children would attend our schools; Afghan adults would be taught English as a second language (ESL); cultural exchanges and perspectives would be shared in both directions; one of the rooms in the house could be used as an ESL language center for Afghans and others who make Harvard their home, to name a few. Certainly, it aids children in our community to “develop the confidence and ability to understand diverse perspectives, collaborate, and contribute to their local, national and global communities” as stated in the Harvard Public Schools mission statement.
Having a family reside in the Bromfield House addresses the concern for the upkeep of the house as also expressed in the will. Instead of falling into disrepair while unoccupied, the Bromfield House would be used and maintained. The town would save thousands of dollars on insurance costs and necessary repairs, and upkeep would be paid for by the Harvard Neighborhood Support Team, which has raised money to resettle Afghan families. We may never have another opportunity to pay back a group of people who helped our military in our overseas actions for the last 20 years. They have sacrificed everything; surely we can make this contribution toward the efforts to help ensure their success in the USA. Please join us in welcoming these families.
Suraiya Suliman and Sharon Cronin
on behalf of the Arm in Arm Steering Committee
