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Now GuideApril 2025 WLC 2025 Message
From the EditorsRebecca Coolongrcoolong@humanserviceforum.orgJanine Fondonjfondon@unityfirst.comShare your content and advertorials with us --nowguide2024@gmail.comMay issue Deadline: April 22, 2025Thank you Welcome to the NOW Guide, a digital publication that unites people acrosscommunities in Western Massachusetts and New England. We invite you to share itwith others and even advertise in the publication. We want to share more insights andupdates that readers may enjoy. We created the Now Guide to connect with and growvirtual communities across Western Massachusetts and beyond. To date, it is reachingmore communities and people than we ever imagined.With the NOW Guide, we encourage you to make new and renew old connections,especially as you explore the events, stories, and activities listed here. The potential fornew connections is vast, and we hope that you will read it, support it, and contributeto it as a digital community. Thank you for reading, supporting, and sharing the NOW Guide. We must shareinformation widely to benefit all. It's our responsibility to introduce it to others andinvite readers to stay connected. The Human Service Forum and UnityFirst are soexcited about the new connections being made and the information being shared anddiscussed.Let's continue reading with interest, contacting the organizations featured, andparticipating in activities that interest us. We also invite you to submit information thatwill be helpful to all and even become a supporter through sponsorship or advertising.
Amplify - Bay Path University’s Women’s LeadershipConference offers wisdom and inspirationBay Path University's Women'sLeadership Conference 2025, with thetheme "Amplify," was offered to a roomof 1600 mainly women focused onprofessional development, careerawareness, and leadership. Each speakerfocused on what everyone needed themost—inspiration, motivation, andpaths to progress. Erin King, who has been hired byGoogle, Disney, The Academy Awards,and other companies seeking to unlockpeak performance and transformativeleadership, brought her energy to thestage. She said, "Energy is your mostprecious currency" and that "the worldwill bet on your energy, not yourexpertise. Energy comes from how youspeak to yourself and see yourself.WLC luncheon speaker Amelia RoseEarhart asked, "If you were given the nameAmelia Earhart, would you learn to fly?She faced this question and chose to notonly learn how to fly a plane but also toretrace the steps of the legendary pilot andher namesake. She advised the WLCaudience not to fear the turbulence in life. In 2014, she spent many sleepless,sometimes frightful nights in a single-engine aircraft over a 28,000 nautical mileroute spanning oceans, continents, andturbulent flight paths. With many lessonslearned from her journey, she says, "Totruly succeed and also grow along the way,we need to learn to love life's turbulence—by staying agile amidst the storms thatinevitably pop up along each other’s paths."Hoda Kotb, former host of NBC’s Todayshow shared her many failures before hereventual success. She emphasized that'staying the course' was essential todeveloping who you were meant to be anddiscovering what you wanted to do.This article shares a glimpse of the WLC 2025through the eyes of well-wishers I know from thecommunity, Bay Path campus, and area youngprofessionals who stopped to talk, take pictures,and offer greetings of hope and inspiration.Thank you to all. Janine Fondon Shown above are Hoda Kotb (left) and BayPath President Sandra J. Doran (right).Shown above WLC Emcee Nikai FondonBannister (left) and WLC keynote speakerErin King (right). Shown below is WLCkeynote speaker Amelia Rose Earhart.
The story WLC 2025 also carried thehopes and dreams of manygenerations, from the students of BayPath University who attended to theyoung professionals, graduatestudents, upcoming graduates andothers who listened with intent. Nikai Fondon, the WLC 2025 emcee,vice chair of Girls Inc. of the Valley’sBoard, and an entrepreneur of herown, said, “I was honored to be partof this program and to inspire mypeers to amplify their talents, skills,expertise, and energy in a world thatneeds them. I just want to thank BayPath University/Cambridge CollegePresident Sandra Doran and the BayPath team, including Karen Woods,Melissa Welch, and MelissaWeinberger. I was so excited to meetHoda and hear her wise words.Above all, I want the younggeneration of professionals andstudents to be engaged in the worldthey hope to create – one voice at atime.”WLC Event Co-chairs Karen Woodsand Melissa Welch note in theirwelcome to the WLC: “This year,we’re here to Amplify! We invite youto magnify the brilliance of yourvoices, strengths, and potential.”
To register, go to: https://www.humanserviceforum.org/Human Service Forum launches Supervisory Skills Certificate Series: Spring 2025HSF’s most popular workshop series is returning for Spring. If you are planning on promoting, or have just promotedsomeone to a supervisory position help them hit the ground running with this eight-week course. With HSF’s strong teamof seasoned presenters covering a wide range of knowledge from different points of view, the series covers theory, softskills, and hard facts. Conversation topics range from harassment law and insurance liability to finding common purposein a team and how to show faith in those who work for you, and much much more.Register an individual who is eligible for a certificate, or a space for your agency to send someone different to each sessiondepending on who the topic will benefit most. This series is presented hybrid, both virtually over Zoom and in person atour offices in Easthampton, MA. Series runs 8 consecutive weeks starting May 7. All of the sessions are held 9am-12:30pm. To register, go to: https://www.humanserviceforum.org/Leadership Communication May 7, 2025This session looks at the building blocks ofcommunicating clear messages to others. In a coreaspect of leadership that is often taken for granted,those who excel at communicating often excel insupervision. Learn to avoid noise and interference,and how to properly process feedback to fine tuneyour messages for clearer understanding.Presented by Jeff Tingley,Human Service ForumEmployment Law May 14, 2025Avoid missteps that can lead to expensive and time-consuming litigation. Learn from practicing attorneys onthe wording of the law, along with how that wording isactually applied. Covering a wide range of subjects toclear up misconceptions and acknowledging pitfalls, thissession is packed with useful information that everyorganization needs.Presented by Skoler-AbbottSeries Dates and Topics:
To register, go to: https://www.humanserviceforum.org/Cyber Security Wed May 21, 2025With the threat of cyber attacks continuing to rise,with an increased focus on social engineering, noone can afford to hide their heads in the sand andpretend that everything is okay. With a focus onpractical, simple, daily steps that one can take, thissession seeks to minimize risk to you, yourorganization, and your clients.Presented by Chris Wisneski; WhittleseyTeam Building and Conflict Resolution May 28, 2025Through discussions that will include team activities andindividual reflection, forge a shared understanding ofteam-building and the essential skills for conflictresolution and negotiation that facilitate the developmentof strong, cohesive, effective teams. Make your teamstronger than the sum of their parts, drive unity, and beable to address conflict when it does happen.Presented by Dr. Lucie Lewis and Janine FondonLiability and Benefit- June 5, 2025Gain a better understanding of Insurance, and how itaffects you, your team and your organizations.Understand what coverage you have, and might need, ina variety of situations from daily operations to specialfundraising events. Learn the various forms of benefitsavailable to understand what you have and be able tohelp explain to your team what their options are.Presented by Ben Garvey and Val Francis; HubInternationalCulturally Responsive Supervision- June 11, 2025Join us as we take a deep look at the many aspects that make upour identities and how they impact our leadership, ourorganizations and the people we serve. Improve our skills inhaving conversations about our differences in a way thatencourages learning and growth while building intersectionalresilience. We will strengthen our ability to have importantdialogues, navigate predictable tensions and avoid pitfalls that leadto disconnection. This session helps supervisors cultivate trusting,creative and connected diverse working relationships.Presented by Regi Wingo and JAC Patriss; Growing a New HeartLead with Influence June 18, 2025Whether they mean to or not, each person exerts influenceover others. With this session learn 10 steps a person couldtake to add intentionality to that and influence people likea leader. Create a sphere of impact that leaves a lastingpositing impression on those you work closely with,leading to them influencing others positively as well.Presented by Will Weche; Willful Change LLCRetention: Rewards and Accountability June 25, 2025People don’t leave jobs; they leave bad supervisors.This session puts a focus on how a supervisor canstrengthen and grow those who report to them,creating an environment where employees want tostay. Covering how to multiple the strengths ofyour team, how to discipline in a way thatproductive, and how to praise, we will learn how tocreate a work environment centered on retention.Presented by Diana Brooks; Diana BrooksAssociates
The Human Service Forum recently hosted itsbreakfast event, “The Future of Fundraising.”Key participants included: Panel Speakers:Megan Burke- Community Foundation of Western Mass Ward Caswell- The Beveridge Family FoundationMegan Moynihan- United Way Pioneer ValleyKiley O’Meara- The Irene E. & George A. DavisFoundationVanessa Pabón-Hernandez- Women’s FundMargaret Tantillo- O’Dell Women’s Center
As a Fundraising and Developmentprofessional, I’ve learned that the mostmeaningful donor relationships aren’ttransactional. They thrive on shared vision,partnership, authentic relationship, andalignment with a donor’s "why." Donorswant to belong as a part of the solutioncommunities need. They want to see theirvalues reflected in your organization’smission and above all they need to feel thattheir generosity is driving real, lastingchange.Take a moment to reflect on yourorganization’s practices: Are you merelyaccepting donations or are you invitingdonors to become co-creators in yourcommunity impact?When we treat donors as partners(storytellers, advocates, and champions) wemove beyond the transactional nature offundraising to build something bigger. Wecreate a movement. This approach deepensengagement while fostering a deeper senseof ownership and connection.Donors want to seethemselvesin the story.Too often, we fall into the trap ofseeing fundraising as a simpletransaction. Donors then becomedisengaged because they feel morelike ATMs rather than the valuedpartners they truly are. People givebecause they want to make adifference and it's our job to showthem how their support leads toreal lasting impact.By strengthening the connectionbetween the donor and the impactof their generosity, we can moveaway from simply focusing on the"ask." When donors feel they aretrue partners their emotionalinvestment and connectionnaturally deepens. This helps themfeel that they are contributing tosomething greater, which they are.by Alafia “Terrie” Thompson, PMP
Our organization’s stories should reflect the donor’simpact on the communities they care about andactively invite them to be part of the journey.Donors want to see themselves in the story. Are we recognizing them as essential players in themission? When we build that connection with themare we clarify how their support is a catalyst forchange?The most successful Fundraising and Developmentprofessionals understand that donors want morethan just a thank-you email or letter. Nonprofit storytelling increases nonprofit transparency.Nearly 60% of respondents said they believe nonprofits that effectively usestorytelling are more transparent about their work and impact. Givers want toknow where their dollars are going and what their dollars are doing. Donors are more likely to give if they receivepersonalized stories.Nearly 80% of respondentssaid they are likely or verylikely to support a nonprofitthat shares stories aboutissues they care about. https://wp.storyraise.com/2024-benchmark-report-on-storytelling-and-fundraising/They want to see, hear, and feel the change they aremaking possible. Donors want personalized updates on theimpact of their contributions, involvement opportunitiesthat go beyond giving, and a sense of community withinthe organization.This level of engagement creates a powerful sense ofbelonging. The most successful nonprofits make theirdonors feel like insiders, giving them a real voice in themission.At the end of the day, the strength of a nonprofit isn'tmeasured solely by the funds it raises, but by the depth ofconnection it fosters with its supporters. When donors feeldeeply aligned with a cause their commitment extendsbeyond financial gifts and they become lifelong advocates.For more information, send email to:3thompsons29@gmail.com
Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts RacialEquity Summit is back for 2025 in more prominentand impactful ways. The Summit, scheduled forThursday, June 12, 2025, from 8 AM to 7 PM atWestfield State University (WSU), aims to embracegrowth, collaboration, and action. As the inaugural event did in 2023, truth-seekers,builders, and dreamers from across the region will beinvited to take actionable steps toward fostering racialequity in their workplaces and communities. Taking the stage as keynote speaker will be SerildaSummers-McGee, founder and CEO of WorkplaceChange. Summers-McGee will be joined by over 30facilitators from the Valley, including Nia Johnson andEmily Torres-Cullinane from the MassachusettsAttorney General’s Office, Davey Shilasko and JanaePeters from Think Again Training and Consulting,and Vice Provost Andre Lynch from InstitutionalEquity and Belonging, to name a few. Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape a futurewhere equity isn’t a dream—it’s a reality we buildtogether. For more information, go to: communityfoundation.org/E413Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts Racial Equity SummitShown left: Equity in the 413 keynotespeaker - Serilda Summers-McGee,founder and CEO of Workplace ChangeSave the date:Thursday, June 12
Can we talk?Learn how to move past thebarriers in mental healthcounseling to find productiveconversations for all.Shavon Meyers, LMHC, NCC, M.S is the host of Unity Radio 97.9 FM (Worcester) Talking Wellness show. She shares insights and fostering dialogue aroundmental health. Shavon has worked with clients of all ages with a wide range of concerns, including substance abuse, depression,anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, trauma, autism, PTSD and ADHD. A leader in the mental health field, she is also a third degree Reiki Master.
How does miscommunication happen? How does onemanage mental health and sometimes microagressions?Miscommunication happens during counseling whenbarriers to mental health care arise. While the intent is forall clients to get the needed resources, the counselor oftenhas to highlight the gaps and negative impacts faced bycertain populations in need of care.When examining one’s ability to manage and deal withmental health, we look at the broad influences on attitudes,values, trends, and behaviors (Bhullar, Malouff & Schutte,2012). Counselors and therapists are key to inspiring aproductive environment for managing mental health.For instance, a therapist who does not have knowledge orexperience with a specific population may often providesuggestions or make unintentional inferences that areinsulting to the individual. For example, I learned of thestory of a client who was troubled because her therapistwould show up to a session 45 minutes late and expectedher to be available. The client then reported that hertherapist mispronounced her name all the time. The clientreported not feeling respected and undervalued. When considering cultural aspects of the counselingprofession, it is essential to look at the practice andtheories behind the field and how it has been tailored tomale Eurocentric culture (Christian, Culpepper,Dollarhide, Hughes, Middleton & Toole, 2023). Many times, people of diverse backgrounds and culturesare misunderstood in counseling, and at the same time,counselors display microaggressions simply becausecounselors and therapists don’t have the backgroundknowledge of a given population, environment, or cultureto make more sound assessments and responses. Mental health professionals know better than anyone that youhave to know the client you serve—from past experiences,social influences, culture, and family values to personality andqualities you were born with. These factors significantlyinfluence their mental health and well-being. The field of mental health counseling has continued to showissues with barriers in treatment due to differences in‘experience,’ perspective, and knowledge of culture and otherinfluences, especially from a multicultural perspective. Mental health professionals work as barriers to healthdisparities rise. Barriers to mental health care include stigma,lack of awareness, financial constraints, logistical difficulties,and cultural or language barriers, all of which can preventindividuals from seeking and receiving necessary support.Depending upon the knowledge of the mental healthprofessional, the counselor should be well-positioned toprovide services that are ethical, meaningful, and beneficial tothe individual.What happens when a counselor fails to provide helpfulsuggestions?One example of a barrier in counseling services is when acounselor fails to provide helpful suggestions during sessionsand remains quiet while the client continues to speak. Thisscenario often represents a therapist’s inability to providehelpful feedback due to a barrier to understanding the clientfrom a cultural perspective. In a scenario shared to inform other practitioners on bestpractices, a client reported that a therapist repeatedly told her,“You are a good person.” The client understood why thecounselor made that statement to make her feel better, but therepetition made it sound like people think she, the client, is nota good person. In actuality, the therapist confirms that theworld doesn’t generally treat or consider the client a ‘goodperson’.
t References Bhullar, N., Schutte, N. S., & Malouff, J. M. (2012). Associations of individualistic-collectivistic orientations with emotional intelligence, mental health, and satisfaction withlife: A tale of two countries. Individual Differences Research, 10(3), 165–175.Kress, V. E., Caputo, L. G. D., & Forner, E. (2024). Relational-cultural theory as a frameworkfor counselor leadership. Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy, 1–16.https://doi.org/10.1080/2326716X.2024.2332183.McDonald, P., & Chang, C. Y. (2021). Creating social change through culturally responsivecounseling practices: a look at the multiracial population. Journal of CounselorLeadership and Advocacy, 9(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326716X.2021.1998807.Middleton, T. J., Toole, K. M., Culpepper, D., Hughes, D. C., Parsons-Christian, E., &Dollarhide, C. T. (2023). Decolonizing & decentering oppressive structures: practicalstrategies for social justice in school and clinical counseling. Journal of CounselorLeadership and Advocacy, 10(2), 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326716X.2023.2237023.How do we validate others who are different from our ownexperience or culture?Counselors and therapists must own their ‘gaps’ in theknowledge of certain communities. Without such knowledge,counselors, and therapists often engage in ineffective orinappropriate techniques that are not beneficial to clients andcan affect the progress of treatment. By acknowledging one’sculture and identity, counselors can empower, reinforce, andvalidate the feelings of diverse individuals (Christian,Culpepper, Dollarhide, Hughes, Middleton & Toole, 2023).Counselors must understand their limited viewpoints as theyassess the perspectives, behaviors, and scenarios of others.In another situation, I learned that someone once disclosed herissues, and the counselor just looked at her and said, “Nowonder your life sucks,” and continued to blame her for theway her life was. The counselor continued to blame the clientfor issues she couldn’t control due to her mental state,upbringing, and the fact that she was in an abusiverelationship. In addition, the client had a lack of support anddid not know that her husband was sexually molesting theirson. The issue here is that the counselor failed to gain adequateknowledge and a cultural/environmental understanding of whythe client was in the situation and how cultural aspectscontributed to it. If the counselor had gained knowledge andunderstanding, he would not have been so quick to judge theclient for circumstances she was not able to control. eMental health counseling aims to continue buildingpractices and techniques that cater to diversepopulations. One way to do this is to have the mentalhealth professional analyze themselves in terms ofchecking for biases, stereotypes, and microaggressions(Chang &McDonald, 2021). If mental health professionals become more self-awarein these areas, then positive changes in mental healthservices will provide sensitivity, dispositions, andeffective rapport in the counseling relationship (Chang& McDonald, 2021). It is important to know that theimpact of counseling depends on the knowledge andexpertise of the counselor, the ability to relate and seean individual through a multidimensional lens acrossculture, environment, and personality. eShavon Meyers, LMHC, NCC, M.S
Real Data. Real Women. Real Change.Greater Springfield Women’s Economic Security Hub Women in Greater Springfield are building stronger, more securefutures—and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts(WFWM) is committed to making that possible. Through strategicpartnerships and smart investments, we are tackling big financialchallenges and driving real change. See the impact in action! Watch this short, powerful videohighlighting how community collaboration is transforming theeconomic security of women and families.
Stepping into the futureDr. Sheri-ann McLean-WilliamsCR1A: Catalyst forLeadership Transformationand OrganizationalEmpowerment andDistinguished LeadershipPanelist. Founder and CEOof McLean Coaching andConsulting, Author of “YouBelong in the Room:Activating the Power of Self-Leadership”Lakishia Coppedge, MS inOrganizational LeadershipCR1A: Chief Relationshipand Impact Officer.Founder and Principal ofCoppedge Consulting LLCDinah Moore, M.Ed. inHigher Education andAdministration. CRIA:Leadership and StudentSuccess Champion -Distinguished LeadershipPanelist. Consultant, HigherEducation Consultant.Denise Brown, MS (Communications andInformation Management/CIM), is a doctoralstudent who is taking steps to shape the future ofeducation for those who need it the most. She hasformed The Brown Academy of Educational Equityand Innovation, LLC (BAEI) and serves as the ChiefVisionary for Corporate Readiness 101 Academy(CR1A).Corporate Readiness 101 Academy (CR1A), anationally award-winning program, is proud towelcome four Extraordinary Trailblazers—womenwho serve in various leadership roles within CR1A.While these positions are not full-time careers, theygenerously volunteer their time, expertise, andleadership to support and uplift their communities.As members of the Leadership Consortium, theyplay an instrumental role in shaping the future oftomorrow’s leaders, demonstrating a deepcommitment to giving back and empowering thenext generation. Their dedication goes above andbeyond, truly embodying the spirit of service andleadership:Corporate Readiness 101 Academy (CR1A) is proudto welcome four “phenomenal women” to itsleadership consortium: Dr. Sheri-ann McleanWilliams, Dinah Moore, Dr. Winifred (Winnie)Martin, and Lakisha Coppedge. Winifred (Winnie) Martin, EdD,LICSW CR1A: SUCCESS Accelerator,Assistant Professor of SocialWork/Elms CollegeCEO of Private Practice-TribeInstitute LLC-PractitionerAuthor of “Conversations withFaith Not Fear”Denise Brown, MSFor more information, send an email to: denise627.brown@gmail.com
In honor of National Poetry Month, let us appreciate andhonor the legacy voice of poetess Maria Luisa ArroyoCruzado.Born in Manatí, Puerto Rico and raised in Springfield,MA, María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado claims these languages& cultures of experiences: Puerto Rican Spanish,American Englishes, German & Farsi. They dynamicallyfeed her imagination, her poems & her essays. María Luisa's collections include:-Gathering Words: Recogiendo Palabras (Bilingual Review Press,2008) -Destierro Means More than Exile (2018)-Landscapes, a chapbook of poems & photos (2023)-Resistencia: Resilience, poems & essays (Human ErrorPublishing, 2023)-Thought Here Would Cure Me of There, a poetry memoir (LilyPoetry Review Books, 2024) A feminist intersectional educator & engaging poetryworkshop facilitator in online & in-person settings, MaríaLuisa motivates students and poets alike to take positiverisks with generating drafts of ghazals, ekphrastic poems,code-switching poems & multicultural/multilingual poems. The successes of her poetry workshops and curated multi-genre readings with community members in the GreaterSpringfield MA area, some in partnership with theSpringfield City Library, at the Mass Poetry Festival, atthe Monson Arts Festival, among others, contributed toMaría Luisa being named as the Inaugural Poet Laureateof Springfield, MA (2014-2016). In May 2024, María Luisa was awarded an honorarydoctorate in fine arts by Smith College in recognition ofher intersectional teaching & poetry. Currently, María Luisa is pursuing her PhD inComparative Literature as a Clark Diversity Fellow atBinghamton University. She also teaches creative non-fiction in the M.F.A. Program at Bay Path University.April is National Poetry MonthRecognizing Maria Luisa Arroyo CruzadoThank you Maria for your words and wisdom. Maria’s words are crafted through the clarity of vision,the heart of passion and the transformative nature oftruth. Her words are timeless in a world of change. Janine Fondon, MFAMaria Luisa Arroyo Cruzado.
The art of remembrance
A life-size sculpture of W.E.B. Du Bois will be unveiledin front of the Mason Public Library in GreatBarrington, MA, at noon on Saturday, July 19, 2025.The sculpture will sit at the center of a redesignedlibrary plaza, which will feature renovated steps and acurving marble bench to welcome the community.“We will be uploading an event calendar to our websitefor that weekend as we confirm our speakers,” said AriZorn, co-chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project,the non-profit that has raised $450,000 for the sculptureand bench as a gift to the town. “But right now we wantthe public to know the statue is being caste and will beready for delivery in July.”Chesterwood, the home of sculptor Daniel ChesterFrench, will be hosting two Du Bois events on thatweekend. On Friday, July 18, sculptor Richard Blakewill speak about fashioning the bronze statue anddisplaying the various stages of the process. On Sundayafternoon, Blake will be interviewed by historianKendra Field on how he went about conceptualizing theDu Bois he created.My public sculptureprojects have alwayscommemoratedsocial activism andthose thatcontributed or foughtfor social justice.Richard Blake, artist W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was born and educated inGreat Barrington. A world-famous sociologist,historian, and founder of the NAACP, he was anadvocate for the full integration of Blacks intoAmerican society. His collection of essays, The Soulsof Black Folk, is a seminal work in African Americanliterature.Great Barrington, located in one of the mostprogressive anti-slavery regions in the country, was aleader in public education. Shortly after DuBois’ birth,the town voted to establish Searles High School fromwhich Du Bois graduated in 1884. Members of theCongregational Church, next door to the MasonLibrary, funded his college education.The W.E.B. DU Bois Sculpture Project is working withthe W.E.B. Du Bois Town Legacy Committee, EmbraceBoston, and Blackshires in promoting the weekend’sevents. For more information or to donate, seewww.webdubois.sculpture.org.UNVEILING OF W.E.B. DUBOIS SCULPTURESCHEDULED FOR JULY 19, 2025
Events
JOURNEY IN JAZZA Journey in Jazz 9th Year Performance–An Unforgettable Experience! With special thanks to the SpringfieldCultural Council, Journey in Jazz founderTraci Talbert says, “Join us as wecelebrate the rich intersection of music,arts, and education with A Journey InJazz.”Richard Coffey Music Productionsreminds us:"Music is a universal language that unitespeople across cultures, serves as a voicefor social advocacy, and enhancesunderstanding between diversecommunities."Journey in Jazz honors the legacy of jazzhistory, showcasing diverse styles, andproviding an engaging platform for all toenjoy Get your tickets to the upcomingperformance onSaturday, May 31, 2025, Elks Lodge, 449Tiffany St, Springfield, MA.For tickets and more information, callTraci Talbert, 413-883-9631
Public Relations maestro Mark G. Auerbach has written amusical for the Springfield Chamber Players, which premiereson Saturday, April 26, for one performance only. TheSpringfield Chamber Players premieres Broadway with StringsAttached, a new pops concert celebrating music fromBroadway. This chamber music pops program features theSpringfield Chamber Players’ Quartetto Mosso, narratorsMarty Kluger and Mark G. Auerbach, and vocalists SarahVincelett Dredge and Spencer Reese. Quartetto Mossofeatures violinists Ronald Gorevic and Beth Welty, violistDelores Thayer, and cellist Yoonhee Ko. Broadway with Strings Attached features musicals wherestrings play a major role (i.e. a fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof, acellist in A Little Night Music, a violin in 1776, and a fiddleplayer who gets eaten in Sweeney Todd). Also included isRichard Rodgers’ No Strings, which he wrote with no stringedinstruments in the orchestra. There will be a medley ofRodgers and Hammerstein music from Cinderella, FlowerDrum Song, Oklahoma, South Pacific, and Carousel. Theensemble will showcase musicals that premiered in ourregional theatres, including Goodspeed Musicals(Shenandoah, Man of La Mancha), Hartford Stage (AGentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Anastasia) andBarrington Stage Company (On the Town). There will also besongs from the musicals Cabaret and The Band’s Visit, whichare relevant to today’s world.The Springfield Chamber Players premieresBroadway with Strings Attached Broadway with Strings Attached has musical supervision byMarty Kluger. Los Angeles-based film composer Max Mueller,who also composed Triptych for the Springfield ChamberPlayers’ Horn Trio, has arranged the music. Productiondesign is by Jay Pagluica of JP’s Lighting and Sound.Rehearsal pianist is Holyoke Civic Symphony Maestro DavidKidwell.Use discount ticket code 01106 for half-price tickets. Thisdeal won’t last long.For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/broadway-with-strings-attached-tickets-997258536127?aff=oddtdtcreatorFor more information, call 413-427-7352 or send email tomgauerbach@gmail.com.SAVE THE DATE!Saturday, April 2652 Sumner, Springfield, MA8PM Curtain. Hall opens 7PM.
Next Now deadline:Please let us know about events,programs, jobs and other news. Thenext deadline is April 21, 2025 for theMay 15 issue. Send information to:nowguide2024@gmail.comTo return to the first page, Click Here.