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
On Tuesday, March 23, over 250 individuals gathered behind the Winchester Public Library overlooking Mill Pond on a clear and mild spring evening to grieve for those murdered in Atlanta on March 16th and to unite in solidarity against hate and racism. The vigil was co-hosted by the Chinese American Network of Winchester, the Network … Read more
Join the Winchester Anti-Racist Solidarity Collective and Network for Social Justice for a conversation and open dialogue about reparations. We’ll be providing definitions, asking questions and debunking myths. Please join us on Saturday March 20th from 3:00-4:15PM ET! Bring your questions, thoughts and ideas – and a friend if you can! Register here and contact … Read more
Recently, we have been gathering input from people who live, work or worship in Winchester about what Black Lives Matter (BLM) means to them. In this final article in our series we explore what support for BLM might look like, what antiracism practices a diverse group of community members would like to see, and what … Read more
In our ongoing series reflecting on what Black Lives Matter (BLM) means to people who live, work or worship in Winchester, we turn our attention to the perceived disconnect between support for the BLM movement and support for local police. Previous pieces in the series can be found here. Although the movement around the phrase … Read more
The Network for Social Justice has spent years fighting for social change in Winchester — from advocating for affordable housing to providing support to individuals who have faced injustices of all kinds. We need your help to continue to advance an inclusive and equitable community.
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