To our Stoneleigh Community and Neighbors,
Halloween in this neighborhood is a cherished annual tradition, bringing children and families from Stoneleigh and nearby communities together for a fun and festive evening in a welcoming atmosphere.
This year the SCA learned of an regrettable incident when a guest of a Stoneleigh resident brought chocolate bars with packaging that contained a politically charged message in a “micro-aggression size” and distributed them to trick-or-treaters.
The SCA Board of Governors discussed this at a recent meeting. We reviewed our “About Us” statement and are writing to reaffirm our commitment to this statement. To be clear, the Stoneleigh Community Association does not condone this or any action that targets or excludes members of any group. Although the SCA is not involved with neighbors’ Halloween plans, we can assure everyone that this behavior is not tolerated at SCA-sponsored events and operations. While the SCA’s mission is apolitical, and certainly none of us want to police residents’ opinions, we encourage everyone to be considerate of how neighbors might take offense at political messages delivered to children (and please don’t!). Keep Halloween, and every other day in this community, fun for everyone!
Our neighborhood is home to people of many backgrounds and beliefs, and we are committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all.
While we may not always see eye to eye, we share something far more important: our commitment to one another as neighbors. In this community, it’s not necessary for us all to agree on every issue, but it is essential that we continue to listen, respect each other, and work together for the betterment of our neighborhood and larger community.
In this commitment to one another, we also ask that you consider that we all make mistakes from time to time and that these mistakes can be moments in which we learn and grow. To that end, the neighbor whose guest distributed the candy bars asked that we share a letter on their behalf. Please find it below.
Thank you for your time and for your commitment to promote an environment where everyone feels safe and welcome in our community’s physical and online spaces.
Thank you for helping us ensure that Stoneleigh remains a positive place for all.
Sincerely,
Ashira Barbosa
President, Stoneleigh Community Association
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A Letter to the Community
To the Stoneleigh Community and Neighboring Areas,
I want to extend my sincere apologies for the offensive message found on candy distributed from my home on Halloween evening. I recognize the discomfort, hurt, and concern this has caused and deeply regret that it happened. The candy in question was brought by a visitor to my home that evening, and I did not fully consider the impact it might have before sharing it. Please know there was no intent to harm, offend, or make anyone feel unsafe.
As a member of this community, I value inclusion, respect, and the positive spirit we all strive to foster. If I could go back and prevent this unfortunate mistake, I certainly would. Moving forward, I am committed to being more mindful to ensure my actions align with the welcoming and supportive values of our community. I am truly sorry for any pain caused and thank you for your understanding as we move forward together.
With sincere apologies,
A Community Member