Given our divisive socio-political environment, the impact of the pandemic, the progress achieved by the Black Lives Matter movement, and in honor of Dr. King’s common refrain, we want to focus our program on the theme of ‘Uniting the Beloved Community’. We seek to explore the connections between Dr. King’s legacy and unite the community around the concrete steps we can and need to take to sustain our fight for civil rights and eradicate the three intersectional evils of systemic racism, poverty, and war.

The event is free and open to all! To join the tour and the convocation, just click on the link above on MLK Day.

Download our full program here (subject to small changes): 

10:00AM – 11:00AM
African American Heritage Tour with the David Ruggles Center
Join Steve Strimer for a guided virtual tour of significant historical sites across Florence which focuses on local African American and abolitionist history.

11:00AM – 12:00PM
Lunch

12:00PM – 1:00PM
Convocation
Join us in conversation with keynote speaker Tanisha Arena, Executive Director of Arise for Social Justice, and special guest, State Senator Adam Gomez, featuring music by I-SHEA and Kevin Sharpe.

1:00PM-4:00PM
Community Workshops

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Workshops 1:00PM – 2:00PM

Nuclear Weapons – Banned in 50 Countries Starting This Friday!
Find out how you can be part of the global movement to eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us! Actions taking place locally and across the globe on Friday, Jan 22nd to mark the entry into force of the Nuclear Ban Treaty. And there’s lots you can still do after that…
NuclearBan.US
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An incomplete timeline of racist housing policies and current work of SNOL
Historical racist housing policies starting with the stealing of land through the genocide of indigenous people and what SNOL is doing now.
Springfield No One Leaves
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Can the powerful movements to dismantle white supremacy and protect our ecosystem help us build the world we know is possible?
Grounding ourselves in our connection to the earth and our common humanity, we will explore the critical state of the climate catastrophe, the urgency of addressing white supremacy and how each fuels the other. Together we will begin a conversation about building a unified, life affirming movement for justice and health in all realms of life. We welcome the feelings these topics bring up in us and will provide caring space for openness and healing.
Climate Action Now and Springfield Climate Justice Coalition
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Assault on Capitol Hill has roots that can be also traced to US Policy in Latin America
Looking at the connections between the white supremacist terror attack on the Capitol Hill on January
6 and the history of US policy in Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Bolivia.
Latin America Solidarity Coalition of Western Mass
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Workshops 2:00PM-3:00PM

Giving a helping hand to those who fight for and with us in social justice! 5 strategies you can use immediately!
This workshop will explore the ways in which individuals and community members can be assisted to encourage and fight for justice. Freedom and equality by implementing 5 key strategies immediately!
Be a Blessing to Others
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The Intersection of the Black Identity and the Creative Economy
The agricultural and industrial revolution which defined our global economy for the last few centuries have been drastically effected by automation. Over the last few decades, we’ve successfully moved from a primarily physical labor based economy to an information and services based economy. These changes have allowed for some communities to amass wealth rapidly, while others have been given limited accessibility to the same opportunities. We have now come to an additional shift in our society as artificial intelligence software is decreasing the human labor capacity needed for our information and services economy to function. So, what’s next? What is the next theme of our global economy? Creativity. Content creation and the renaissance of microbusinesses has the potential to overthrow every limitation that has been placed on the Black and Brown community thus far. The creative economy is not new however, it has always been riddled with disparities and is notorious for its exclusivity. The mainstream arts and culture industries have been profiting off of our ideas, behavior and culture predating this country’s existence. We will shine a light on the rich history of the Black influence on the creative economy, and strategize a path forward leveraging creativity, content creation, and enterprise. This is not a conversation, this is a call to action.
Black and Brown Wall Street
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Unions 101: Know your Rights
The civil rights movement was fundamental in bringing the need for economic justice. Join us for a workshop to understand your rights as a worker to organize and create a just workplace. We will be sharing what your workplace rights are and organizing strategy that you can use at your workplace and community. Together, let’s learn how we can work towards a better world.
Western Mass Area Labor Federation & Pioneer Valley Workers Center
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Commitment Deepening: Conversation for European Americans about the Insurrection and Changing White Male Supremacy Culture
How do we take what has happened — on the same day Georgia victories in the morning and fomenting white rage in the afternoon — and make it part of deepening our anti-racist commitment? We’ll make a conversational space for truth-listening, taking turns, listening deeply for learning. Quotes from BIPOC leaders including Thandeka will be included. We will join to pause, and share.
Traprock Center for Peace & Justice
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Workshops 3:00PM – 4:00PM

Raytheon: The Massachusetts Connection to Militarism and Ending the War in Yemen

The Raytheon Antiwar campaign has been working for over 2 years to raise awareness about the connection between Massachusetts and foreign wars, especially the brutal war in Yemen. We are currently organizing with over 230 organizations in 14 countries for an International Day of Action on January 25th to demand an immediate end to the war in Yemen and a cessation of weapons sales to the Saudi led coalition. Participants in the workshop will be encouraged to get involved in this effort, one that has a real chance to end this brutal conflict quickly. Raytheon, based right here in Massachusetts, has been a major supplier of offensive weapons used by Saudi Arabia and their allies to devastate Yemen. The 2nd largest weapons manufacturer in the world, Raytheon has massive political power. Donald Trump’s former Defense Secretary Mark Esper was Raytheon’s top corporate lobbyist before joining the administration and Joe Biden’s pick for the position, Lloyd Austin, sits on their Board of Directors. They have used this political influence to subvert efforts by activists and the US Congress to end these arms sales and US participation in the war. This workshop will present opportunities to challenge the Military Industrial Complex right here in our own backyard.
Raytheon Anti-War Campaign and Massachusetts Peace Action
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Visioning an Anti-Racist School District
REAL Northampton () brings together Northampton Public School teachers, staff, students, and caregivers who are committed to developing an anti-racist school district. Please join us
in this interactive workshop to talk about the power of story and visioning in this process and to reflect on your own experiences with race and racism in school. We welcome ages middle school and up, and participants do not have to be affiliated with NPS.
Racial Equity and Learning in Northampton Public Schools
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Understanding LGBTQIA+ terminology
This workshop examines the meaning, function, and history of the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc., explains the differences among gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression, and offers participants greater understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community and its quest for social justice.
Indivisible Pittsfield
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Only the weapon of love: Kingian non-violence through a 21st century lens
This workshop will use the words of Dr. King to examine the Black Lives Matter movement of this past
summer and the riot at the Capitol this month.
The Resistance Center Interns
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