Brockton BuzzAround

January 26, 2025



~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time.

Another Successful Paper Bag Program for BAMSI!

"A huge thank you to the incredible volunteers of today's Brown Bag Program! 🙏 Your dedication and hard work made it possible to bag and deliver over 15,000lbs of food to over 700 people in need. Your generosity and commitment are making a real difference in our community, and we couldn't have done it without you! " Reposted from BAMSI FB

Each third Thursday of the month, BAMSI's Brown Bag program provides food assistance to over 700 individuals in need.

Join them in volunteering next month on Thu, Feb 20! Sign up at: bamsi.info/brownbag

39th Annual Rev. Dr. Luther King Breakfast

On Sat Jan 18, The Brockton Area Branch NAACP held their 39th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast at Envision Hotel. The theme was "King, Women, and America". Regional community members, leaders, activists, and dignitaries were in attendance to celebrate and reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and the contributions of women in America.

The keynote speaker was Reverend Alicia M. Johnson, MTS, STM, EdM. Reverend Johnson is a pastor, educator, and scientist. Her leadership extends throughout communities of Greater Boston, Brockton, and beyond. She is the first elected woman senior pastor in the history of Messiah Baptist Church - Brockton, Massachusetts. Dating back to the 1800's, Messiah is the City of Brockton's first established African American church and has been at the forefront of advancing the improvement of justice and inclusion in the community. Reverend Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Howard University, as well as multiple advanced degrees, including a Master's in Theological Studies with a focus on Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Harvard Divinity School, a Master's in Sacred Theology from Boston University School of Theology, and a Master's in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her scholarly work in the field of religion is deeply inspired by her interest in how memory, identity, and faith interconnect. 

39th Annual Brockton Area Branch NAACP MLK Breakfast 1-18-25

Reverend Alicia M. Johnson, Keynote Speaker

Video Courtesy of The Brockton Channels

The Brockton Area Branch has been a leader in ensuring equal access for all residents in housing, economic opportunity, education, justice, legal support and media diversity. The branch supports civic engagement; advocates for civil rights. The Brockton Area Branch was chartered in 1954. Brockton's involvement with the NAACP dates back to the 1920's with the Boston branch. The current branch president, Phyllis Ellis has been elected for 5 terms, and is the 3rd woman in the position.

 www.naacp-brocktonbranch.org

Brockton Area Prevention Collaborative

Recovery Can Take Time,

But It Is Worth The Challenge!

The elements of life that were lost during addiction are gained back during recovery, and then some.

The recovery community is here to support you, and remind you that there is life after addiction!

linktr.ee/od_preventionist

Brockton Garden Club Meeting:

“Garden Jeopardy”

Mon, Jan 27

6:30p

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Join us for a lively game of “Garden Jeopardy” and test your gardening knowledge while connecting with fellow enthusiasts. Free and open to all—come and enjoy an evening of fun and learning!

Source: brocktongc.org

Celebrate the Start of Black History Month

Sat, Feb 1

2p

Brockton Public Library

Join the Brockton Public Library as we celebrate Black History Month in the Lingos auditorium.

Guests and events include:

• Master of Ceremonies, Brockton historian Willie Wilson Jr.
• Filmmaker Zavius Aponte
• Rose Music Conservatory, under the direction of Gregory Fernades
• Brockton Poet Laureate Philip Hasouris
• Keynote Speaker, poet, author, and educator Regie Gibson
• A special presentation by the Brockton High School Art Department
• 2022-2024 Brockton Youth Poet Laureate Hannah Baptiste

Check out the event on the Brockton Public Library Website.

Brockton City Council Meeting 1-13-25

Video Courtesy of The Brockton Channels

Audition for Godspell at the Massasoit Theatre Company!

Sat, Feb 2

2p

Buckley Performing Arts Center

Show Dates: 

Sat, Apr 5 at 8:00p

Sun, Apr 6 at 3:00 p

Fri, Apr 11 at 8:00 p

Sat, Apr 12 at 8:00 p

Sun, April 13 at 3:00 p

What to expect: The audition process will be like a cattle call. Everyone will sing and then be taught a dance combination. Please dress in clothing appropriate for a dance call and with proper footwear. Please prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show. Bring sheet music, in the appropriate key, an accompanist will be provided. 

We will let people go as soon as we can, but please plan to be at the call for approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the turnout. We will entertain all conflicts, but availability will be considered when casting.        

Who: We are seeking a large cast of energetic performers covering various roles. All roles will be cast with an understudy. Understudies will perform on the Sun, Apr 1 Matinee performance, and Apr 6 at 3:00p. All roles are open. 16+ welcome

Rehearsal Schedule: The intended rehearsal schedule will be Sunday 1:00p-5:00p and Mon/Thurs 7p-10p. The first read-through will be Sun, Feb 9t at 1:00p. We will entertain all conflicts, but availability will be considered when casting. Not everyone will be required to attend all rehearsals.

Godspell: This immensely successful rock opera needs little introduction, but when it was first produced on Broadway in 1971 it broke new ground in its stage treatment of the historical Jesus Christ. This is the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden). Godspell is based on the Gospel according to St Matthew as it deals with the last days of Jesus and includes dramatized versions of several well-known parables. And yet it is something more – a religious experience, a demonstration of joy, and a celebration of the family of man. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come vibrantly to life.

Check out more information at the Massasoit Community College Website.

Artist of the Month Showcase: Mimi Desir

Fri, Feb 7

6-7:30p

1 North Main St

"Support your local artists by stopping by Brockton Community Access for our Artist of the Month Showcase! Next month our talented artist is Mimi Desir!" Reposted from Brockton Community Access FB

Featured Artist, Mimi Desir's beautiful works will be displayed on BCA's Art Gallery wall.

Stop in to meet the inspirational artist and learn how her Haitian background has fueled her creative journey!

Cornerstone Concerts Presents

"Duo Amie" Cello & Piano

Sun, Feb 9

3p

First Lutheran Church of Brockton

The Cornerstone Concert Series is back with “Duo Amie,” cello and piano at the First Lutheran Church of Brockton, 900 Main Street. This free concert is open to the public and a small reception follows. All this is made possible by a grant from the Local Cultural Council.

For more information, please call 508-586-9021.

Join the Dialogue:

"Discussing Douglass"

Tue, Feb 11

6-7p

Brockton Public Library Main Branch, Art Room (Third Floor)

Join the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Association for the first in a series of discussions that will provoke new thoughts and relevance around Frederick Douglass’ historical writings.

The speech for discussion is "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" The speech can be accessed as a PDF here.

We hope to attract individuals from all ages and ethnicities to discuss the historical context of the speech and how it applies to our lives today.

Contact us at fdnabrockton@gmail.com or find us on the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Association FB Page.

Celebrating Black History Month

through Music

Wed, Feb 12

12:15-1p

Christ Congregational Church

Midday Music at Christ Church - Brian Edwards, guest organist, will present "Celebrating Black History Month through Music."  Free, handicapped accessible, ample parking at the rear of the building.

For more information, email arts-music@brocktonucc.org or call the church office at 508-586-3022.

Get Involved at the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Meeting!

Thu, Feb 13

6p

North Baptist Church or Online Through Zoom

Attend the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Meeting! This is a chance for you to learn about what is happening in Brockton or to promote your organization’s event or activity. This is all free and taped through Brockton Community Access (BCA).

For more information, please contact Anne at 774-297-4939 or ambeauregard@outlook.com.

Brockton Lions Club Asks for Donations Toward Relief Efforts in Los Angeles

"Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is working with local California Lions to provide immediate relief to the families who are struggling to get back on their feet caused by the devastating fires. Your generous donation to LCIF will help respond to these victims."

"You can make a personal or club donation directly to LCIF here: www.lionsclubs.org/donate."

Reposted from Brockton Lions Club FB Page.

Author Talk with Chaz Hayden:

The Diet Soda Club

"Join us for a discussion by YA author Chaz Hayden, writer of The Diet Soda Club. Here is a brief description from our novelist database: 'when his mother leaves, 17-year-old Reed must care for his little sister, Bea, who has a life-threatening condition, and to do so, starts making and selling fake IDs so they can survive, which could lead to major consequences for both their futures if he’s caught.'" Reposted from YouTube.com

Video courtesy of The Brockton Public Library

Brockton Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 1-14-25

Video Courtesy of The Brockton Channels

Climate Can Do: Transform Food Waste into Healthy Soil

Composting is a great way to turn any food scraps into a soil supplement that is beneficial for your yards and gardens in the springtime and indoor plants you keep year-round. After you buy a compost bin (or build your own using materials like wood or cinder blocks), follow these steps to start creating your own compost:

1. Build a 4-6 inch layer of carbon-rich material like dry leaves, twigs, shredded cardboard, or shredded paper/brown bags. (Make sure the cardboard is not waxy and covered with tape or glue!)
2. Then layer in your nitrogen-rich material. This includes fruit & veggie scraps, coffee grounds, paper filters, crushed eggshells, and grass clippings.
3. Continue layering these materials, making sure that there are about 2-3 times more carbon-rich materials in your compost. This will help air circulate! 
4. Occasionally mix the materials together and make sure they remain damp like a wet sponge. If your mixture is too wet, add more carbon-rich material. 

It is natural for the compost to heat up when you mix it. When this no longer happens, or when all the visible food scraps have decomposed, let the compost sit for at least a month before using it. Overall, the process takes three to five months to make compost. If you do not mix the pile, it can take as long as a year for the process to finish! By reducing our food waste, we can all help reduce our carbon footprint!

Written by Layla Ahmed, Brown University BuzzAround Intern

Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

Heartfelt Thanks For BAHN

The Brockton Area Hunger Network (BAHN) Cooperative Intake Program, now in its 4th year, is the first initiative of its kind in Massachusetts. Using shared client intake software, a group of local food pantries has better insight into the full picture of food insecurity in our area.

In 2020, The Charity Guild was invited by the City of Brockton to propose an innovative cross-agency program to unify the client intake processes of local food pantries. Addressing food insecurity in Brockton is a community-wide effort that no single agency can tackle alone. The initial proposal was funded through a grant from Beth Israel Lahey Health.

With member agencies using a shared intake system, we've streamlined the process of receiving food, significantly reducing wait times, better connecting neighbors to local food programs, and giving community

members more time for their daily needs. Clients receive a shared BAHN card that they present at all the member food pantries. Using the card has no impact on clients' abilities to receive SNAP benefits.

In March 2024, BAHN's Cooperative Intake Program received a grant from Liberty Mutual Foundation, administered equally among BAHN partner agencies by The Charity Guild. We're so grateful that these organizations understand the importance of supporting a unified intake system to have a full understanding of the scope of food insecurity in our community.

Reposted from The Charity Guild, The Charity Guild FB

Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. 

Copyright 2025 Buzz Around Brockton. You have our permission to share and copy this issue in its entirety as much as you like. If you take it in part, please give credit. ("Buzz Around Brockton 1/26/25")

Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies.  At the Buzz Around, we promote community. The links provided are for informational purposes. BuzzAround is not responsible for the media content of other organizations.