On Wednesday, October 11, the Network for Social Justice briefly became the Network for Soccer Justice, as we brought together over 200 people with help from the Woburn United Methodist Church and Social Capital Inc to support new arrivals from Haiti. From NFSJ volunteers who transported people to and from hotels to the field, Bentley … Read more
Dear Network for Social Justice Community, I’m writing to you as the Director of the Network and — as so many of us have many identities — I am also writing as a Jew and as an Israeli citizen who spent many years working in both Israel and Palestine. We are watching the situation in … Read more
NFSJ Intern Nicole Han contributed to this piece On Friday, July 28, NFSJ summer interns embarked on a field trip with NFSJ Executive Director Liora Norwich to Faneuil Hall and the Middle Passage Marker. Faneuil Hall was constructed between 1740 and 1742 in Boston’s central marketplace, known as Dock Square, where merchants sold a wide range … Read more
On June 21st, the Network for Social Justice and community partners welcomed over 60 people to Mill Pond to celebrate Juneteenth! The event began with a community reading of the Frederick Douglass speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?” Following the community reading, the Network was excited to welcome back to Winchester … Read more
Liora Norwich, Executive Director of the NFSJ, with NFSJ staff In early June of 2020, days after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, the Network issued this statement, which was endorsed by hundreds of community leaders and Winchester institutions. Since last Friday we have found ourselves once again grappling … Read more
On Saturday, May 14 2022, a gunman drove 200 miles to Buffalo, NY to carry out a terror attack specifically against Black people in the only grocery store located in a community of color. The gunman shot 13 people, 11 of whom were Black and 10 of whom died from their wounds. Beyond the shock … Read more
After months of planning–including weekly 7:30AM meetings with a dedicated group of WHS students–we were very excited to bring our 3rd annual MLK Day of Service to the community in person. Of course, the pandemic had other plans, and within just a few weeks, we had pivoted, re-imagined, and reframed the entire event as a … Read more
In 1862, a group of Winchester residents invited renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass to speak at Lyceum Hall (across the street from present-day BookEnds). Explore the speech and its implications today with archivist Dr. Ellen Knight, author Nathan Richardson, and a member of the Mystic Valley NAACP. Hosted by the NFSJ, Winchester Historical Society, and Winchester … Read more
On Tuesday, June 15th, we were thrilled to host 50 attendees for an informative and inspiring panel discussion with criminal legal reform advocates Sean Ellis, Helina Fontes, and Donna Patalano, moderated by Winchester resident Patty Shepard. Each of the panelists was able to speak from his/her own lived experiences; Sean as a recent exoneree who … Read more
On Wednesday, April 28, over 80 people participated in the program “Who Lives in Winchester? Housing Options – Past and Future.” This was the first of a two-part series brought forth by a collaboration between the Network, Planning Board, and the Housing Partnership Board. A recording and comprehensive slide deck are being prepared and will be disseminated … Read more
