Intro
Even three years removed from the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Network – like many of us as individuals – continues to heal and learn from it. Beyond the challenges of navigating in a post-pandemic new normal and dealing with inflation, we have emerged with a new awareness of mental health and the cost of systemic inequities and exclusion.
This new awareness has evolved into two new initiatives that became a large part of our focus in 2022-23 and will continue to be engagement areas in the coming years:
- To address the sharp increase in mental health needs among youth, we have partnered with Social Capital Inc. in Woburn, and engaged our Network for Social Justice interns to establish the Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow (LET) program. With generous funding from Winchester Hospital Community Benefits, we are working cross-community with youth to advance mental health awareness and engagement through a focus on the intersection of mental health, race, and identity.
- In an effort to address the rising antisemitism, xenophobia, and racism of recent years we launched the Winchester Lived Experience Survey (LES) – a community-wide incident report to help us collect instances of harassment, discrimination, exclusion and marginalization of those who live, work, worship, and study in our community in order to learn how to prevent and respond to them.
Beyond these specific initiatives, we recognize the importance of simply rebuilding our sense of community togetherness as a way to heal and learn from our differences. To that end, we have continued to expand our annual community events — MLK Day of Service, AAPI heritage celebration, PRIDEfest and Indigenous Peoples Day — as opportunities to celebrate and highlight diversity and inclusion in Winchester and beyond it.
As we look towards the next decades of our work in this community, we would like to thank you for your enduring loyalty and fierce energy for this work. We are here for you, and we would not be here without your support. We are looking forward to the future together.
In collaboration and peace,
Liora Norwich Wei Han
Exec Director NFSJ Board President, 2021-2023
Community Programs & Engagement
We view our engagement and educational programs as falling under three main categories: NFSJ signature festivals, NFSJ signature trainings, and events. In the last fiscal year, we have taken strides to make our NFSJ signature festivals and trainings a dependable part of our calendar year that continue as free and accessible community services long into the future.
Signature Festivals
The NFSJ now supports 4 signature festivals that celebrate communities and values central to our mission.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day Family Celebration garnered a record number of volunteers to honor the land with our youngest community members.
- MLK Day of Service occurred in person for the first time since 2020, bringing together residents and the business community to support the Malden Warming Center.
- Our AAPI Heritage Celebration was held for the second time in collaboration with student clubs at Winchester High School, featuring a lion dance and K-Pop dance group.
- PRIDEfest continued to grow, with more business sponsors and community participation, creating a safe space for the hundreds of all ages who came to celebrate.
We can’t wait to see how these NFSJ signature festivals continue to grow and evolve!
Signature Trainings
In February, we unveiled the long awaited sequel to our popular Introduction Community Facilitation training. Advanced Community Facilitation 2.0 focuses on managing complex dialogues, addressing both race and class dynamics, and is designed for those who have completed our introductory facilitation workshop or who have basic facilitation experience. We believe these immersive trainings are a key step towards establishing a respectful and open dialogue in our society.
Events
When planning events promoting equity and inclusion, we take the opportunity to engage with community partners as organizers and collaborators in our work so that we can introduce our programs to — and learn from — a wider cross section of the community. In 2022-2023, we hosted a Turtle Island Art Project and Storytelling program with Wright Locke Farm; reimagined our popular International Connections series with volunteers from the Chinese American community; reflected on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising with Social Capital Inc; and hosted a Juneteenth celebration with 12 faith and community groups.
Advocacy & Initiatives
As part of the Winchester Housing Coalition, we are working with a diverse cross-section of residents, including students, professionals, and retirees representing a variety of committees, causes, and organizations. The Housing Coalition focuses on engendering organized, sustained, and broad community support to advance diversified and affordable housing in Winchester. Our work involves organizing targeted educational programs; leading grassroots advocacy; supporting affordable housing policies, implementation approaches, and projects.
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The Winchester Lived Experience Survey (LES) aims to improve how the town of Winchester addresses hate crimes and discriminatory, marginalizing, harassing, and exclusionary incidents.
It was modeled on similar surveys distributed in Greater Boston and has been reviewed and approved by the Winchester Select Board and substantially beta-tested with a diverse cross section of volunteers. The LES has been translated into the 4 most spoken languages in town (Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole).
Take the LES here
Students @ NFSJ
Student interns play an integral role in organizing year-round NFSJ events and special projects, learning skills such as public speaking, program planning, and community outreach, as well as exploring issues related to immigration and multiculturalism, LGBTQIA rights, socio-economic inequality, and the intersection of racism, identity, and mental health. The Social Justice Education Fund was established in November 2022 to support our next generation of social justice leaders. You can contribute here.
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Impact
Over the course of the year, we welcomed over 125 community volunteers and partnered with 114 community groups. Opportunities abounded, particularly with committees planning and carrying out our NFSJ signature festivals.
Our NFSJ Consulting Stream had a very busy year, training human rights commissions in Needham and Hingham (pictured).
Throughout FY 22-23, we filled 27 intern slots, meeting with them each week. This was on top of the nearly 1,200 individuals we welcomed to our signature festivals and trainings.
Financials
donors
Between FY 21-22 and 22-23, we experienced a 22% increase in our total number of donors and a 25% increase in new, first-time donors to the NFSJ. This represents a huge jump in our reach and engagement.
grantors
In FY22-23, the NFSJ applied for 22 grants from foundations, of which 30% were awarded. The applications were to foundations who have long supported the NFSJ, as well as those new to us. We were able to diversify our funding sources by adding 2 new grantors to our list of supporters!
gifts
The average gift size in FY 22-23 increased by 18% over FY 21-22. As we cope with the effects of inflation, this metric has become exceedingly important.
Gratitude
Sustainers
Dylan Armajani
Community Health Network Area (CHNA) 15
Phil Coonley & Marilyn Mullane
Cummings Foundation, Inc.
Sara R. Epstein
Arlan & Alice Fuller
Deirdre Giblin & David DuBard
Wei Han & Yuejaio Dai
Kurt Heisler & Robert Ellington
Homestead Foundation
Beth Levin & Sandy Jo Malmon
David & Terry Marotta
Kaye & David Nash
Jon Ripley & Hillary Turkewitz
Peggy & Jack Roll
Rotary Club of Winchester
Sandy Thompson
Candice & Anthony Trzcinka
Susan Turner
Winchester Cooperative Bank
Winchester Cultural Council
Winchester Hospital Community Benefits
Bin Wu & Yuhong Yang
Champions
Anonymous
Christina Berthelsen/Cummings Community Giving
Chen Chen
Peter & Vicky Coccoluto
Crawford Memorial Church
Fred Csibi & Daniel Levin
Marie & John Dacey
Charlie Danzoll & Abby Maxman
Thompson Easterwood
Guglielmo Family Fund
K & R Tree & Landscaping
Dr. Stuart Koman
Mary Jane & Stephen Lenhardt
Susan & Jason Lewis
Outreach at Epiphany, Parish of the Epiphany
Parish of the Epiphany Clergy
Paul & Lynne Rahmeier
Robin & Steve Smith
Social Outreach Committee at Winchester Unitarian Church
Felicity Tuttle & Jim Weisman
Susan Verdicchio & Shizuo Mukai
Supporters
Anonymous
Pauline & Tom Barkalow
BHGRE-The Shanahan Group
Lynne Brodsky
Jian Chen & Shawn Zhang
Elizabeth Co
Commonwealth of MA Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission
DeLaney-Barton Family Fund of Triangle Community Foundation
Sara Delano & Bill Zink
Janice Dolan
Mary & Bruce Donald
Cynny & Mike Evanisko
Alan Field & Donna Wainwright
John & Annmarie Galli
Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty
Stefanie Gordon
Tom Gosnell
Anne Hoenicke & Peter Woolford
Katie Hulse
Marty Lee Jones
Rob Kleist & Alex Duarte
Faye Kolhonen
Law Office of Kerri A. Koen
Leanne & Peter Lee
Amanda Lewis & Tom Springer
Xiaole Liu & Haowei Zhang
Wanda Luettgen
Shelby Meyerhoff
Archie & Nina McIntyre
Debra & Peter Murphy
Corie Nichols
Denise Pappas
Publicis Sapient
Karl Qin & Hong Chen
Supporters cont
RELX Inc.
Mayra Rodriguez-Howard & Bill Howard
Caroline Shamu & Peter Sorger
Colin & Linda Simson
Skordos Family
Rebecca Slisz & Steven Blank
Sukanya & Peter Soderland
Heidi & Barry Star
John Suhrbier
Maura Swan & Ben Lavery
Andrew Thompson & Michelle Britt Thompson
Ellen Wilson
Winchester Community Music School
Hilda Wong-Doo & Keith Doo
Juanita Zerda & William Carlin
Ligang Zhang & Lei Chang
Activists
Salma Abounadi
Maura Albert & Linda Blair
Pat & Will Aldrich
Meredith Allen
Susan & John Ampe
Allan & Susan Anderson
Anonymous (4)
Nelson Aquino
Helen L. Babcock
Charlene & William Band
Gouri Banerjee
Larry Banks & Maren Judd
Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty
Juliet Bennett
Bobby Berlet
Katie & Mike Bettencourt
Lauren Bettencourt
Hilary Binda & Kevin Dunn
Anne & William Bing
Ulla Bjarngard
Judy & Jerry Blaine
Alison Blosser
Karen Blumenfeld
Kathy Bodie & Paul Kelly
Steve & Diane Boettcher
Jill K. Bohlin
Kathryn Bonfiglio
Janet & Reid Boswell
Shamus & Anthea Brady
Karen Branley
Chuck & Tory Bunting
Barbara & Michael Burka
Philip Bushey
Dot & Ted Butler
Stephen & Kathleen Campbell
Joy & Leo Cass
Brian Casserly & Celiane Rey-Casserly
Denise Chamberland
Anita Colasante
Tina Coll
Alison Conlon
Nancy & Jamie Conroy
Rev. Branwen Cook & Allen Dors
Anne Cosco & Bill Bladd
Margaret Counts-Klebe
Doug & Mary Cromwell
Lindsay & Cliff Culver
Catherine Curtis & Hudson Gilmer
Kathy and Ed Czeck
Sally & Dennis Dale
Anne Daley
Janet Damaske
Bob Davidson
Carey Dawson
De Lellis Family
Ruth Ann De Redon
DEIB Outdoors
Deb DePeter
Mrs. Marion A. Desmond
Marianne DiBlasi
Mark & Linda Dockser
Tom Dunn
Eric M. Dupee
June Edwards
Louise & Michael Elefante
Marilyn & David Ellwood
Chris & Karen Erikson
Activists cont
Lauren Faber
Karen & Tim Fagan
Susan Fagerstrom & Doug Johnston
Eileen Faust
Jessica Fefferman
Verity Feldmann
Betts Fitzgerald
Kimberly Foley
Kathleen Forgac
Christina Freeman
Gail Freeman
Mia Friedman
Ariana Funaro
Karen & Craig Garrett
Timothy M. Garvey
Tanya & Nic Gatto
Hong Ge & Xi Zhang
Alexandra George
Elizabeth & Ahmed Ghoniem
Ayesha Ghosh
Harris Gibson
Elizabeth Goeke
Christine Golden
Erika Gorgenyi
Maryann Gottdenker
Electra & Joe Govoni
Laurel Grady
Cindy Greene & David Jegen
Tamisha Grice
Amie Grills
John Halbrooks & Kathleen McKool
Joy Harris & Bruce Roberts
Margaret Harvey
Maojiao He & Ran Li
Jean Herbert
Lauren Herrmann
Anne Hilliard
Anne Hoffman & Phil Myers
Veronica Holmes
Tom & Nancy Howley
Nancy Hsu-Law
Becky & Ben Jacques
Diab Jerius & Sherri Winkleman
Lisa Kalner-Williams & Randolph Williams
Merideth Kann
Nicole Kassissieh
Betsy Kelly
Pam & Randall Kromm
Shioka Kudo
Thomas Landry
Gail LaRocca
Paula & Mack Lee
Robert & Gloria Legvold
Anne Leiserson
June Lestrange
Amanda Lewis & Tom Springer
Matilda Ligon
Diana Linsenmayer
Jifeng Liu & Qianfan Wang
Kai Liu & Andrew Chen
Omar Lopez & Leslie Capachietti
Mary Helen Lorenz & Kenneth Bassett
Jane Lynch
Diane & Tom Maher
Zeina & Jason Marchant
Kim Martin
Paul Masi
Joyce & Daniel Maxwell
Raegan McCain & Steven Brykman
Jessica & Barry McCardle
Jack McCreless & Janet Nelson
Mary Kay & Jim McIntyre
Margaret McKenna & Paul Feiss
Andrew McKinley
Laura McMurry
Kim McNamara
Claire McNeill
Reeva J. Meyer
Craig Miller
Seeme & Mario Moreira
David Morovits
Harrison Mulhern Architects
Claudine & Ron Nacamuli
Nancy & Stefan Nagel
Ronald & Kathleen Nath
Ellen Newman
Activists cont
Richard C. Ockerbloom
Barbara B. O’Connell
Katie O’Connor & Adam Sinoway
Ann M. O’Neil
Merideth Pallone
Leilani Pascale & Matthew Segal
Marilyn & Dominic Pennachio
James Pidacks & Judith Murray
Edward Preston
Linda Preston
Ellen Prokopow & Zane Hollingsworth
Ken Pruitt
Sheila Puffer
Peter Pulsifer
Rosemary Pye
Arya Ramachandran
Ramesh & Shalu Ramachandran
Kandy Rathinasamy
Donna Reed & Raym de Ris
Melinda Reno
Tom & Kathy Richardson
Lindsay Robertson
Allan Rodgers
Heidi Rosenfeld
Peter & Maureen Rotolo
Elana Rudiger
John & Ginny Rueter
Maggie Russell
Gerard Ruth
Jayne Rutherford
Jason Ryan
Kelly Sarandis
Elizabeth Schreiber
Nancy & Richard Schrock Susanna Schweizer
Maryanne Senna
Anne Sharp
Linda & Ted Sharpe
Joanna Shea O’Brien & Justin O’Brien
Patty Shepard
Fuxin Shi
Emily Shield & Chris Cunnane
Martha Simon
Dara Singleton/The Shanahan Group
Corey Southworth
Kara & Paul Spelman
Jessica & Tom Stanton
Mary Sue & John Stevens
Bob & Connie Stolow
David & Judy Storeygard
Jay & Gabrielle Stott
Mariana & Vel Stoyanchev
Margot Sudbury
Maura Sullivan & Steven Cagnetta
Rosemary Sullivan
Katie Sutton
Jon & Robin Swan
Tammy Tan
Aba Taylor
Rebecca Tellefsen
Deborah Thompson
Leigh & Taylor Tinmouth
Kristen Toomey
Ruth Trimarchi
Kate Trociuk
Laura & Gaetan Turenne
Patricia Urick
Candace Van Aken
Brian Vernaglia & Shannon Scott Vernaglia
Frank Virnelli
Heather Von Mering
Carol Watson & Arthur Waltman
Dana J. Webber
Susan Webber
Judith & Douglas Weinstock
Westner Family
Lynda Wills
Winchester Historical Society
Winchester Unitarian Society
Peggy Wiseman
David Wisholek
Thomas Witkowski
Lily Yamamoto
Lu Yan
Jennifer Yanco
Zander Family
Sunny Zhou & Ge Wang