Latest news with #WestfieldStateUniversity
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WMass community summits seek to counter Trump attack on diversity, equity, inclusion
Her Springfield church is being rebuilt after arson and the man who set it on fire, in a racist tirade, is in custody accused of committing a hate crime. But for Rev. Terrlyn Curry Avery, the story isn't over. 'As a pastor whose church was burned down, if we don't look at the rhetoric that caused such racism and hatred we won't get anywhere,' said Curry Avery, pastor of MLK Community Presbyterian Church and interim executive director of the Healing Racism Institute. On June 24, the institute will hold a two-hour community dialogue at the University of Massachusetts Henry M. Thomas III campus in Springfield. The agenda: discuss how to fight and heal from racism, especially in the current political environment. The event is open to the public. Avery is hoping to attract as many people as possible and asks anyone who plans to attend to register at This is the second summit on racism held in Western Massachusetts this month, close to the Juneteenth holiday. The 'Equity in the 413' summit on June 12 at Westfield State University was organized by a dozen partners including the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. The forums come as the administration of President Donald Trump is pushing back on civil rights and efforts to expand diversity, equity and inclusion and on progress made following the Black Lives Matter movement that started in 2020. 'It is not our intent to ask about the five months,' Curry Avery said, referring to Trump's time in office since January. 'It is to ask the community, 'What do you see as the most urgent needs that need to be addressed?'' 'The next step is taking a look at the data and asking what the community needs and how we can restructure and expand our programming to provide it,' she said. Curry Avery believes more and more people are aware of racism's impacts on education, health care, housing and employment. Poverty is especially prevalent when talking about systematic racism. While she doesn't want the conversation to turn into a 'gripe session,' she said it will be important to discuss what is happening in the current climate and how to protect gains the Black Lives Matter and civil rights movements have made to move diversity, equity and inclusion forward. The Trump administration is trying to erase the history of people of color, Curry Avery said. Policy changes and budget cuts are impacting people across the country including those in the LGBTQ+ community, the elderly, women and the poor – everyone but wealthy white men, the minister said. All agencies and people have to be concerned about federal grant cuts because they are wide-ranging. They will hollow out support and eliminate research. 'That is part of the challenge of continuing the work,' Curry Avery said. Donors will have to step in and pick up from where the government is dropping support. 'Money does talk,' she said. 'It is absolutely a real challenge and being proactive rather than reactive is going to make a difference.' At the Equity in the 413 Summit, 40 workshops allowed people to share best practices to create workplaces and other environments that are equitable and inclusive, said Briana Wales-Thaxton, vice president of people and culture for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, one of the organizers. Both Wales-Thaxton and Curry Avery said it is important for people to know why work to reverse racism and promote equity is vital. 'It can be really hard to define your 'why' and how does this help my business and community,' Wales-Thaxton said. She said participants showed interest in continuing work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, despite the federal backlash. In the workshops, people tried to learn from each other and find the best ways to make their businesses equitable and inclusive, Wales-Thaxton said. 'I think people are not discouraged, but certainly disheartened by the pushback,' she said. 'Advancing racial equity and culture is really important to people of Western Mass.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Portion of Elm Street in Westfield closing for Fast 5K Road Race Saturday
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A portion of Elm Street in downtown Westfield will be closed for the Fast 5K Road Race on Saturday. The Westfield Police Department says Elm Street will be closed from Franklin to Court Street between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beginning on Friday afternoon, this area of Elm Street will be posted with no parking signs in preparation for the event. Vehicles are not permitted in the event space by 7 a.m. on Saturday. City of Springfield will celebrate its 389th birthday with the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast on Saturday The race will kick off at Westfield State University on Western Ave and end on Elm Street. Access to Granville Road from Western Ave will be inaccessible during this time. Drivers are asked to seek an alternative route and plan accordingly. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit accuses Westfield State University of discriminatory scholarships
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A new lawsuit is accusing Westfield State University of discrimination. A federal civil rights complaint was filed by the Equal Protection Project. The complaint says that a number of scholarships at the school that quote 'celebrate diverse experiences' are discriminatory. Westfield State University offers a variety of scholarships to help minority students wanting to achieve their dream of getting a college education. They could be coming from local public schools or a community college. But the Equal Protection Project says that amounts to discrimination. Hampden DA responds to new trial granted in 1984 homicide case 'When we looked, there were six scholarships that are their face, that are discriminatory,' said William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project. 'Right in the description: '4. On the basis of race or ethnicity,' which violates title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and '2. On the basis of sex,' which violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.' The lawsuit states that six scholarships through their 'Westfield State Foundation' listed on their website violate both Title VI and Title IX. The filing includes scholarships that directly go towards helping Latinos, African Americans, and women. The foundation argues that the scholarships are unfair to students who don't fit into those categories. Also, since Westfield State is a public university, the foundation states that these scholarships also violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 'If you only take third-year students, it should be open to all third-year students,' Jacobson said. 'If you only take first-year students, it should be open to all first-year students. Our goal is not to end the scholarships. We want the students to get the money, but we think every student should have an equal shot.' Jacobson said they did not reach out to the institution, since the applications for these scholarships closed on March 23. Instead, they filed a complaint with the Department of Education in hopes of a formal investigation. 22News reached out to Westfield State University but did not hear back yet. Jacobson also said that over 30 schools with similar cases have chosen not to fight this complaint. They're now asking the office for civil rights to investigate. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hampden County Sheriff's Office staff trains year-round with dive team
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Despite the winter season, members of the Western Massachusetts Regional Dive Team, including staff from the Hampden County Sheriff's Office, continue to train to ensure they are prepared for water-related emergencies. Rep. Carlos González named Division Leader in Massachusetts House This month, the team conducted training sessions at the Westfield State University pool, refining essential dive techniques. With assistance from Myra Ahern of Westfield State University, the team practiced fundamental skills such as donning and doffing gear and mask clearing. They also tackled more advanced scenarios, including handling entanglements and performing self-rescue maneuvers. Off-season training is a crucial component of the dive team's readiness, allowing them to maintain their expertise and stay prepared for emergency situations throughout the year. The Western Massachusetts Regional Dive Team plays a vital role in search and rescue operations, often responding to incidents involving bodies of water across the region. By continuing their training year-round, the team reinforces its commitment to keeping communities safe, ensuring that its members are always ready to respond when needed. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Senators push for answers on State Police recruit's death
BOSTON (WWLP) – Five months after the death of a Massachusetts State Police recruit, a group of state senators are requesting a status update on the investigation into his death. Enrique Delgado-Garcia, a Westfield State University graduate, was 25 years old when he died following a boxing training exercise at the State Police Academy. His injuries included a neck fracture, a damaged skull, and missing teeth. Worcester Senators Michael Moore, Robyn Kennedy, and Peter Durant penned a letter to the attorney general asking for updates on the investigation into what happened. They say an estimate of how long the investigation will take, and any preliminary findings would provide comfort to the family. 'Trooper Delgado Garcia's family has patiently waited for answers to some of the hardest questions they will ever have to ask,' said the senators in their letter. Western Massachusetts Senator John Velis is not one of the letter signers, but he has a unique perspective on the importance of investigating training incidents as a military member. 'I think it's incumbent on all of us, for the individual who lost their lives, as well as their family members, as well as whatever institution you are talking about, to make it better, to find out what happened,' said Velis. He says finding closure for the family and ensuring similar incidents do not occur again is an essential part of honoring the fallen. The attorney general's office says they are not able to comment on ongoing investigations. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
