Virtual Tiered Focus Monitoring Parent Orientation

Our live information session has concluded. Please feel free to watch the recorded presentation below.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the folks below.


Resources

Click here to watch the pre-recorded TFM Parent Orientation video
Click here for Public School Monitoring Parent Resources

Contact information for Michelle Hennessy-Kowalchek
Michelle.Hennessy-Kowalchek@mass.gov
Contact information for PRS Contact Jennifer Simpson
Jennifer.Simpson@mass.gov • 781-338-3727


Lift Every Voice Lecture Series 2022


Focus Springfield is proud to once again be partnering with the Spring of Hope Church in presenting the Lift Every Voice Lecture Series. This year has a phenomenal lineup of speakers planned, with our popular remote attendance option returning. This year’s program has concluded. Please feel free to watch the recordings below, and look out for next year’s lecture series!

The Lift Every Voice Lecture Series was established in 2011 in honor of African American History Month. The lecture series gives the Greater Springfield community direct contact with the important ideas of our times and with people who have contributed much to modern thought. The series endeavors to elevate Black voices to break down racial inequality. A lecture is normally held each Tuesday in February along with music, spoken word, dance and an awards presentation honoring individuals that have made significant contributions to the community in various fields of endeavor.


Please consider donating to support the future of this community event. Donations can be sent through the following platforms. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Click Here for Cash App
Click here for PayPal
Click here for Givelify


February 22, 2022 – Aida Rodriguez

Aida Rodriguez is a new Afro-Latina, taking the world of entertainment by storm with her wit, strong performances, and charismatic personality. Aida recently filmed a comedy special for Netflix as part of a new standup series “She Ready.” She made history as the first Latina to appear in two specials air in one month on both HBO and Showtime. She was handpicked by director Taylor Hackford for his film “The Comedian” starring Robert De Niro. In 2017, Coca Cola Global Women’s LINC Conference sponsored Rodriguez’s speech that modeled a TED Talk. Rodriguez has also appeared on Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar, The Nightly Show, five-time host of the PBS Imagen Awards, NBC Last Comic Standing’s finals, TRUtv’s Laff Tracks, Fox Laughs, Nickelodeon Mom’s Night Out and Parental Discretion. This summer, Aida will be releasing her first Netflix special, as part of Tiffany Haddish’s They Ready series. She is also a regular contributor for The Young Turks.


March 8, 2022 – Obery Hendricks

Obery M. Hendricks Jr. is a best-selling author, an activist, a religious scholar, a former theological seminary president, and an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His books include The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted and The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic. He currently teaches religion and African American studies at Yale University and is also a Visiting Professor of Bible and Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.


April 19, 2022 – Etan Thomas

Etan Thomas is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also a published poet, freelance writer, author, activist, and motivational speaker, as well as a co-host of Centers of Attention, a sports talk show on ESPN Radio.


Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Baystate Health
Health New England
The Irene E. & George A. David Foundation


Questions? Concerns? Comments? Feel free to contact us at admin@springofhopechurch.org.


ARPA Information Session

Click here to register for the October 6 session. Click here to watch the recorded September 22 session on-demand.



via Zoom registration page:

Springfield City Councilors Tracye Whitfield and Justin Hurst are hosting two virtual information sessions to inform city residents about the over $127 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that the City of Springfield was recently awarded. The purpose of these webinars is twofold; one, it is an opportunity for residents to learn about what ARPA money can be spent on, and two, it will provide a platform for residents to convey to their local elected officials what they see as the most pressing needs, in Springfield, to spend the funding on.

In addition to City Councilors Whitfield and Hurst, members of the City of Springfield’s Finance Division, led by CAFO TJ Plante, and Thomas Moore – the new Director of Recovery and Business Continuity will be available to answer questions as well as listen to and record feedback from residents on behalf of the administration.

The webinars are scheduled to take place on September 22nd and October 6th from 6:00-7:15pm. We encourage residents who would like to participate in the webinar to sign up below. All individuals participating in the webinar will be limited to 2 minutes to make a comment or ask a question.