We remember Mayor Carpenter, one year after his passing, as a man who worked tirelessly to create opportunity in the City of Brockton. To honor him, your BuzzAround publishes Josh Epps story of finding it... at the mayor's office.

My name is Joshua Epps (24) and I have been living in Brockton for over 15 years. I am truly proud to be living amongst the city of champions and have learned so much. Brockton is such a diverse place full of Iconic places such as DW field park, Brockton High School, Supremes Pizza, Brockton Library, and many more. From my time living in Brockton I realized how strong the people of Brockton are, and there are many communities that stand up for each other. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect city, we still are fighting for lots of causes. For example, we are fighting for a stronger education within the school system, affordable housing to prevent homelessness, more funding for communities of color and small businesses, and many more. I’ve always known that Brockton was a great city but it wasn’t until I was blessed with an amazing opportunity just a few years ago.

 

I was fortunate enough to take on a summer internship with the Mayor’s office in Brockton of 2018. This one internship had opened up so many doors for future opportunities, partnerships and friendships. I was working alongside the mayor’s staff assisting them with projects and meeting other officials within the community. Some projects I worked on were creating a calendar of events so that the staff can be updated on what’s next. I also took the time to create certificates that would allow the mayor’s staff to use for special occasions. There were a few times that we went to residential highrise buildings in which the late Mayor Bill Carpenter would interact with the elderly... read more

"The Vision" (Documentary)

JoshGuy Production

www.facebook.com/Joshguy-Productions

www.instagram.com/joshguyproductions

Brockton Public Library Art and Poetry Contest

Brockton students in grades 3 to 12 can enter an art and poetry contest to celebrate the history of the Women's Suffrage Movement which is now 100 years old.

Can you imagine a time when women were not allowed to vote? Tell us in a poem, or show us in a drawing what you know about the Women's Suffrage Movement and you might have your artwork or poem showcased at the Brockton Library. Six students will also win cash prizes up to $100.

Entries due July 24th at 8:00p EST.

Source: The Brockton Public Library FB Page

The Charity Guild Food Pantry & Thrift Shop Is Open!

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

10a - 12p

501 Main St.

The Charity Guild, Inc. is a Food Pantry and Thrift Shop located in Brockton. Our mission is "to provide basic and necessary services to those unable to meet their primary needs of food, clothing and household goods."

Please arrive early and if possible please bring a photo ID and piece of current mail. Thank you.

http://thecharityguild.org

Source: The Charity Guild FB Page

Grab-and-Go Summer Food Program Update

Beginning Monday July 6th, grab- and-go meals will be handed out at all 10 of the following locations from 10a - 12p every week day:

Angelo School

Arnone School

Brookfield School

Davis School

East Middle School

Hancock School

Plouffe Academy

Raymond School

South Middle School

West Middle School

Important: Children are not required to be present at the time of pickup. Parents, guardians or family friends are welcome to pick up meals on behalf of a child. This change was made so as to support physical distancing.

On Fridays, visitors at East, Raymond, South and West will receive additional meals for the weekend.

Source: Brockton Public Schools Website

Playgrounds Are Open

Effective June 25,2020, all city playgrounds in Brockton are open per order of Mayor Robert F. Sullivan.

Residents are asked to follow the guidelines posted about safety and social distancing. City playgrounds were previously closed in March due to COVID-19.

twitter.com/CityBrockton

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Serve the City Neighborhood Association Juneteenth Zoom Event.

Special Thank you to Brockton Public Library for allowing us to use their platform as a safe space forum. Kudos to our Panelists Mayor Robert Sullivan, Ollie Spears Community Organizer & Activist, State Rep Michelle Dubois and Phyllis Ellis President of NAACP in Brockton.



Keep an eye out for our next event in the EVOLution of Race Series.

Serve The City Neighborhood Assoc. Facebook

Brockton BuzzAround Shout Out

COMMONWEALTH PLACES GRANTS 

AVAILABLE

On Friday, MassDevelopment announced $225,000 in funding for a new round of Commonwealth Places grants. This Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places funding is being made available specifically to help community partners prepare public space and commercial districts to best serve their population during communities’ economic recovery efforts.

Eligible projects may include outdoor seating spaces, sidewalk retail venues, partitions to support social distancing, and more.

Non-profits and community groups are eligible to apply for grant awards of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project may be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020.  Read more in the "Request for Proposals" here.

Source: Metro South Chamber of Commerce

Brockton Business Assistance Program

In collaboration with the City of Brockton and the Brockton Redevelopment Authority, MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board is distributing $500,000 to Brockton businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Brockton Business Assistance program is offering awards up to $10,000 for business continuity, job retention & job creation.

Grant Application

The grant funding may be used for the following critical needs:

·     Expenses that would not have usually occurred without the COVID-19 pandemic

·     Business continuity assessment and planning

·     Marketing, such as paid digital advertising during and post COVID-19 pandemic

·     General business continuity expenses

·     Or any other applicable expenses incurred since State of Emergency declared in MA on March 10, 2020

Click here to read the full press release.  To begin you application for the Brockton Business Assistance Program,  click here . A free Google account is required to submit application.

Questions? Contact  Lexi .

These Free E-books and Audiobooks Available via Overdrive or Libby

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

 "Layla Saad is one of the most important and valuable teachers we have right now on the subject of white supremacy and racial injustice."~New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert. Based on the viral Instagram challenge that captivated participants worldwide, Me and White Supremacy takes readers on a 28-day journey of how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a "groundbreaking" (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society— and in ourselves." The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind." —The New York Times. Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism— and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At it's core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types.

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality. In this "vital, necessary, and beautiful book" (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and "allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to 'bad people' (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence.

http://www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org/

Congratulations Nancy!

On   Friday, June 19th, Metro South Chamber of Commerce and Eastern Bank presented the 22nd Annual ATHENA Award program via Zoom. This important award honors an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in his/her business or profession; has served the community in a meaningful way; and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential.



This year, the recipient of the 22nd Annual Athena Award is Nancy B. Gustafson. Nancy has achieved the highest level of professional excellence through her various positions in the Brockton School System, as well as through her leadership and overall dedication to the mission and impact of the Charity Guild within the Brockton Community. Nancy has positively impacted thousands of young people and families in Brockton and beyond. Her stewardship of the Peer Leadership Program at South Junior High and her dedication to the Charity Guild are both examples of how she leads through her actions.

Her colleagues say Nancy is a "woman of wisdom, compassion, and grace."

Her former students say "Nancy is a trusted confidant who helped guide us... she instilled in us the importance of helping those who might be vulnerable or less fortunate...lessons carried with us throughout our adult lives."

What an achievement, congrats again, Nancy!

Story & Image Credit: www.metrosouthchamber.com

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