On September 16, I debuted a video series titled “Keeping Hope Alive.”
It’s 11 videos featuring community changemakers from across the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district who are leading hopeful and community-strengthening work amid local and national challenges.
These videos are inspiring, personal accounts of what keeps these incredible people rising to meet the many challenges of our day.
Don’t miss:
- Monte Belmonte, Volunteer President of the Board, Shea Theater Arts Center
- Dr. Sundeep “Sunny” Shukla, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, Cooley Dickinson Hospital
- Kirsten Levitt, Executive Director and Chef, Stone Soup Café
- Adela Imul Ajanel, Center for New Americans
- Amelia Durbin, 2024-2025 Co-Chair, Northampton Youth Commission
- Naomi Bledsoe, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Communities That Care Coalition
- Nate Woodard, Vice Chair, Greenfield Human Rights Commission
- Dr. Allison van der Velden, CEO, Community Health Center of Franklin County
- Jerry Whaland, Owner, Billy Goat Boats
- Deb Habib, Co-Founder, Seeds of Solidarity Farm and Education Center
- Keleigh BenEzra, Regional Director of Programs and Homeless Services, Clinical & Support Options (CSO)
- Mina Beckman, Civics Teacher, Pioneer Valley Regional School
This series is made possible by three of our office’s Summer 2025 interns, Zara Usman (Northampton High School), Maxwell Hartley (University of Maryland, NHS graduate), and Jasper Graham (Pitzer College, NMH graduate).
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