In 1982, the MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless was founded by Marie Sheehan, Jack & Patti Conway, and local community leaders in response to the growing number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Brockton. Their emergency shelter opened at the corner of Main and Spring Street, resulting in the name, MainSpring House, being the shelter's name and organization. A video showcasing their history produced by Jack Conway’s company can be watched using this link. In 2007, the two separate organizations (the MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless and the Quincy Interfaith Sheltering Coalition, which operated the Father Bill’s Place shelter in Quincy) merged to become a single entity resulting in the organization known today as Father Bill’s & MainSpring (FBMS).

FBMS has been working toward transitioning its service-delivery model from an emergency shelter response to a more proactive housing resource approach to ending homelessness. Although the overnight shelter is a critical service – one they’re committed to providing if there’s a need – they have found through research of best practices that getting ahead of the crisis and reducing the need for emergency shelter is the most compassionate and cost-effective approach. That is achieved by investing in daytime services that help prevent households from becoming homeless and re-housing individuals and families that have already lost their housing more rapidly. Read the whole story at BuzzAround.info

Yudely and her children stayed in one of FBMS's family shelters during the pandemic and were helped to secure their own housing in 2022.

Photo courtesy of FBMS

Story By Primrose Morrison, BuzzAround Writing Intern, Southern New Hampshire University

Come join the Brockton NAACP and the Brockton Public Library in welcoming an afternoon with Dr. Khalilah Comacho-Ali. She is joining us to talk about her thoughts on family and community, as well as talking about her books. The Dr is the former wife of the late-great Muhammad Ali. The event will be held at the Lingos Auditorium at Brockton Public Library. For more info: 508-580-7890

Friends of Irish Research Seminars 2023

Cohosted by the David Allen Lambert Library

present

“This program is supported in part by a grant from the Brockton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.”

Stay for a Tour of the Research Facilities of the Friends of Irish Research and the David Allen Lambert Library after the concert with Richard Reid

Old Bridgewater Historical Society and West Bridgewater Open Space Committee present Walks in the Woods - Who is that Fungi?

In this presentation, Dr. Jenna Mendell of Bridgewater State University will discuss the different types of fungi, including mushrooms, that you may encounter when you walk in the woods of Southeastern Massachusetts. She will explain the evolution of this incredibly diverse group of organisms and their interesting and often complex lifecycles as well as the importance of fungi in the food web on our planet. She will then go on to show us some of the incredibly diverse and beautiful fungi that you can see as you stroll along paths in the woods in our area.

Dr. Jenna Mendell received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wheaton College in Norton, MA. She then went on to obtain a nursing degree before attending Bridgewater State College. Here she developed a love for teaching and research so decided to switch gears away from medical school and pursue a PhD in microbiology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. It was only fitting for her to return home to Bridgewater State to inspire undergraduates to follow their dreams, just as she was. Jenna has always had a passion for the outdoors and spent many summers hiking long through trails with her parents on the east and west coasts. As a true child of the woods, she has spent countless hours in nature with her sketchbook and field guides identifying different species of flora and fauna. She has always been particularly drawn to moss and fungi and while she currently studies organisms in her lab at BSU that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, she has never lost her passion to wander in the woods.

Electric vehicles are a more sustainable way for people to get to where they are going. These vehicles offer less maintenance and repairs, less expensive when it comes to fueling, and most importantly cause less pollution.

In Massachusetts the Zero Emissions Vehicle commission, or ZEV, was established in 2015 and is working to help support the zero emission vehicle adoption in Massachusetts. Their overall goal is to promote zero emission vehicles, also known as ZEV’s. These vehicles include fuel cell, plug in, or battery electric cars, buses, and vans.

When it comes to making more charging stations for electric vehicles, companies like Chargepoint are offering funding in order to install more of them. This would help make it more accessible for those who want this sustainable transportation. It would make it easier to charge their cars with more available charging stations in Massachusetts.

If you want to find out more about ZEV commission or would like to see more about the funding going into electric vehicle charging stations, read the links provided.

Resources:

For more information on this program and the one hundred-year-old church contact Anne at 774-297-4939 or ambeauregard@outlook.com.

Watch Me Rise Pop-Up Exhibition

For a limited time, the Brockton Fuller Craft Museum is offering an immersive exhibit to inspire exploration of voice, power and purpose in mental health recovery through poetry and baking. Exhibition panels combine poetry and art by women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Each visitor is offered a journal to chronicle their reflections as they visit the exhibition. For more information visit the FCM website here.

Help thaw the winter chill by donating items to support students facing homelessness. Donations can be left in the donation bin located near Burlington at Westgate through March 12th. Westgate Mall has partnered with School on Wheels of Massachusetts to host a Winter, Warm up; Wellness Donation Drive. Items needed include new and unused cozy blankets, hats and gloves, warm socks, hand sanitizer and more. School on Wheels provides a one-on-one academic support program to Massachusetts children impacted by homelessness. Since the start of the 2021/2022 academic year, SOWMA has distributed more than 6,000 new customized, grade-level backpacks to children and at-risk youth living in 38 Massachusetts communities. For more information on the donation drive, visit ShopatWestgateMall.com.

For more detailed information, as well as the opportunity to donate to their fire recovery efforts, go to the Signature Healthcare website.

The fire emergency at Brockton Hospital has dramatically impacted their staff and community. Signature Healthcare's employees are working day and night to observe their mission to support their community and deliver medically necessary services to all in need, regardless of status or ability to pay.

To continue helping people, Signature Healthcare has set in place a three-phase approach:

Phase 1: Expand access and hours at their Signature Medical Group ambulatory locations and open two new urgent care centers.

Phase 2: Re-open the hospital with limited in-patient services in approximately three months.

Phase 3: Add additional medical services to Brockton Hospital.

For more detailed information, as well as the opportunity to donate to their fire recovery efforts, go to the Signature Healthcare website.

Arts and Music at Christ Church Presents: King of Kings

Christ Church's Arts & Music is showcasing the classical silent film King of Kings, directed by Cecil B. Demille. There will be an accompanying organ performance by Peter Krasinski. The event will be held at Christ Congregational Church, starting at 7p. Admission will be $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for children under 12.

For more information, you can call the Church at

508-586-3022

Video courtesy of BTV

Video Courtesy of BTV

This past week, Brockton Public School's Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging visited and hosted Moving Forward in Excellence, performed by Arnone Elementary students. The students offered dance, music, poetry, and testimonials about famous African Americans in our country. The event was well attended by Brockton residents.

Photos and Story Courtesy of: City of Brockton FB

Bliss Through Yoga! 

Prizes@buzzaround.info

Prize Box Rules 

 On March 1, 2023, before 2p, we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.

Copyright 2023 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 2/26/23")