Making connections is what Angela Pitter does, professionally as CEO of the LiveWire Collaborative and as a community activist. She is the founder and CEO of a digital marketing consulting firm, a former six-year member of the Newton School Committee, and a member of the board of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce. “Technology makes connecting easier and gives people a place,” she says.
Angela Pitter grew up in the Bronx and went to the Bronx High School of Science, an exam school that, as the name suggests, emphasizes math and science. Many of its graduates become engineers, physicians, and scientists. And, as she reflected, the school included “every kind of diversity.” In fact, it was not until she arrived at Boston University to study Computer Engineering that she encountered racism. After college, she went to work for a technology company, married, moved to Newton, and joined the Myrtle Baptist Church.
Angela Pitter’s local activism began when her oldest son went to kindergarten: He was an out-of-district student at the Cabot School, which had a Black principal at the time. Angela felt she would serve as a good role model. So she joined the PTO, was on its “Tech Committee,” and formed a Tech Team whose mission was to provide laptops, iPads, and software for the students and teachers. “I told them what they needed, and they raised the money (over $100,000),” she said. In addition to her technical advice, Angela was appointed to the NPS Superintendent Search Committee, which recommended David Fleischman. When approached to run for School Committee from Ward 3, she thought, “What the hell. I decided to try it out.” She won and served for six years.
Angela realized that there were differences among the schools across Newton, and she was determined that there be equity. “I never thought about the North side versus the South side until I became a School Committee member,” she said. She pushed to have technology become a line item in the budget and advocated for funding every instance when additional one-time funds became available. Working with eight other people around a table, each with their own perspective, was a challenge. But, as the parent of twins, she understood the importance of schools giving students what they need, and she believes that the Newton school system does that.
LiveWire Collaborative, which offers digital marketing and consulting, is the result of her School Committee run. “Somewhere along the line, I realized I had to reach many people, so I began with social media. Later, I started working with small businesses and non-profits and hung out my shingle.” LiveWire Collaborative’s services include analyzing client needs, designing a digital marketing strategy, and training staff on the nuances of each social media platform — particularly important during the pandemic because many small businesses were not set up to deal with e-commerce. Moreover, during Covid, non-profits went from in-person meetings to Zoom, and as she says, Zoom levels the playing field, giving “everyone a seat at the table.”
Angela was invited to join the Charles River Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving on its board for five years. Among her roles, Angela served on the Ambassador Team, Women in Networking Committee, and Marketing Committee. In addition, as a digital marketing consultant to the Chamber, she guided its social media rebranding.
Of TikTok, Angela says, “social media is an equalizer.” TikTok allows people to reach people. But on the other hand, it allows bullying, which represents a real problem for teenagers. As to the impact and reach of social media, Angela commented that “Trump knew the power of Twitter. He knew how it worked, and it amplified him.”
Angela says the power of social media is the difference between “making something happen rather than watching something happen and wondering what’s happening.”
On March 28, Angela was one of 250 people to address a special meeting of the Newton School Committee to address a petition an Academic Principals Advisory Committee. The petition was signed by some Newton residents thought by some others to oppose the systems Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curriculum. In her remarks, Angela explained her journey to become a School Committee member and her experience with the Newton Public Schools. Here is her testimony:
Good evening. I’m Angela Pitter-Wright, a parent of 3 Newton graduates and a former School Committee Member representing Ward 3.
When I think about Newton’s approach to education, I like to say that Newton Public School gives each student exactly what they need. I have 3 boys including a set twins who are nearly 4 years apart.
The oldest was called the N-word in elementary school, and in HS, his Science teacher told us that black students don’t do well in Science. Mind you, I graduated from Bronx HS of Science. Not only did he take advantage of DLS, but he also took a few AP courses and joined both the Gymnastics and the Swim team.
Fast Forward 4 years to the twins. My twins have opposite personalities. One is a social butterfly, the other one is more reserved and known for studying on Friday evenings.
Prior to covid, they both joined the debate, track, and swim teams. They were also part of the Calculus Project, DLS and the Tenacity Challenge. Their Tenacity team won 1st place in 2020.
However, during covid my social butterfly, became very frail, depressed, had multiple hospital stays, eventually leading to 4-week stint at Mclean hospital.
Teachers like Michelle Leong, texted and called my son to ensure that he was completing his work and able to graduate. NPS gave him what he needed.
His twin, on the other hand, during Covid, doubled down on his studies. Even in his senior year, instead of chilling, took five AP classes. He applied to multiple Ivy League schools and succeeded in being accepted to Princeton, Columbia, Harvard and Yale where he now attends.
At graduation, he was honored with the Meserve award and is the first Black student to win this award since inception in 1923.
NPS gave my twins what they needed and sometimes that’s not academic but a simple text message.
All 3 of my sons are poster children for all NPS represents – Excellence, Innovation, Respect and Responsibility. We don’t need another Parent Advisory Group, NPS gives each student what they need!
I want to close with these words from Marian Wright Edelman: “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”