Sunday, Dec 14, 2025 at 2-5pmSecond Congregational Church, 16 Court Square Greenfield, MA with Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, Gloria Matlock & Twice As Smart Singers Creating Community in Difficult Times: Using the principles of Kwanzaa to Build & Celebrate Yesterday & Today’s Community Champions Join us for an IN PERSON program… Read More »Celebrating Community in the Spirit of Kwanzaa
Wed. April 16, 2025 at 6:00 – 7:30 PMGreenfield Public Library with Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz Join us for a talk and light refreshments with the authors of the book, In Defiance. (Library closes at 8pm.) The book, In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught In School… Read More »In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 3 – 6pm First United Methodist Church 25 Church St. Greenfield, MA 01301 with Dr. Amilcar Shabazz &Twice As Smart Students Join us for learning, singing and a Kwanzaa dinner (food is first come first serve) For more information & to register, email: guacomolly54@gmail.com Kwanzaa… Read More »Living & Celebrating the Nguzo Saba – Kwanzaa’s Seven Principles
December 10, 2023; First United Methodist Church, Greenfield, MA; Kwanzaa celebration with singing and a meal
Saturday, February 18, 2023 – 2 PM All Souls UU Church of Greenfield, 399 Church Street, Greenfield MA This documentary film by Gloria Matlock about two historically Black neighborhoods in the small city of Ravenna, Ohio, offers a lens on race in 20th and 21st century America. Program is free… Read More »Just Another Mile
Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 2 p.m. IN PERSON PROGRAM at First United Methodist Church25 Church Street, Greenfield MA Presented by Racial Justice Rising & Twice As Smart ~ Masks optional ~ Join students and staff of Twice As Smart as they explore immigration, migration, and homelessness — topics filled… Read More »Where Is The Kindness? Homelessness, Migration, and Immigration
Wednesday, June 8 & 15, 2022 at 6:00 pm. Outdoors, under the tent at Carnegie Public Library201 Avenue A, Turners Falls (Great Falls), MA Racial Justice Rising and the Wheeler Memorial Library co-hosted this 2-part program focusing on the experiences of three local Black people. Jeanne Hall, Gloria Matlock, and… Read More »Conversations About Racism, with Jeanne Hall, Dick Hall, and Gloria Matlock
Monday, February 21st, 2022, 7:00-8:30pm, via Zoom—An introduction to the five
components of reparations, as defined by the United
Nations. Utilizing this framework, participants will
have the opportunity to learn about and discuss
reparative actions for African Americans in the nation
and our region.
“Reparations is a process of repairing, healing and restoring a
people injured because of their group identity and in violation
of their fundamental human rights by governments,
corporations, institutions and families.”
N’COBRA: National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
Saturday, February 5 at 1:00 p.m. EST, via Zoom, with Allison Lau—Anti-Asian sentiment and hate crimes against Asians in the U.S. have been increasing since the beginning of the pandemic. This violence is directly linked with the U.S’s current engagement in multidomain “hybrid warfare” with China. The only way to stop violence against Asians domestically is to stop the U.S’s aggression and hybrid war on China. China is not our enemy!
Saturday, December 4, 2021 via Zoom With Orice Jenkins At this Zoom presentation, Mr. Jenkins drew from his own family records to highlight the disastrous effects of the chattel slavery in our country’s past. As he told us, “My enslaved ancestors were only listed by name as the property of other… Read More »Tracing Racism Through Genealogy
Tuesday evening, October 13, 2021 from 6:30-8:00 p.m, via Zoom A Conversation About Racism, with Gloria Matlock, Jeanne Hall, and Dick Hall The Daily Hampshire Gazette wrote about the event: Easthampton library hosts evening of racial dialogue
Monday, October 4, 2021 at 7 p.m. with Rebecca Kozak of the National Lawyers Guild—Learn about your rights and effective tactics if you have an encounter with the police!
Monday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., via Zoom—The Black and Brown community has been calling for change for many years, especially with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. That is what prompted the creation of The Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART).
Two career educators engage in dialogue about moving diversity, equity, and inclusion from words to actions, benefiting the experiences and outcomes of both students and staff. This thought-provoking session will likely ask more questions than it answers as participants consider the experiences that have shaped their lives. Those present will gain greater cultural awareness while addressing implicit bias, resulting in greater understanding, productivity, and inclusiveness.
“Upsetting Expectations: Looking at Black Contemporary Art,” will be held Saturday at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Whitney Robbins, a social justice advocate, will create a discussion surrounding a selection of artwork by Black artists and how art can serve as a visual language of the oppressed.
“I’m hoping that looking at Black contemporary artists can allow us to think symbolically and metaphorically about race and racism,” Robbins said. Her goal is to get the community thinking about the past and present, challenging stereotypes and being honest about what they see the moment they view this art.
Building a Culture of Reparations examines the history, spiritual, conceptual (ethical and moral), and practical dimensions of reparations as a global movement.
Dr. Ragland will speak about the various ways ordinary people can build a spiritual and practical culture of reparative justice work. There will be time for questions, and the sponsors will send you off with several immediate, accessible, joyful actions you can take towards healing and reparation work.
Saturday, February 20 2021 via zoom Eliza Caldwell and Adam Matlock joined us to talk about Food Forests, a strategy for sustainable gardening that can serve as a model of future resilience and mitigate food desert conditions in predominantly Black and Latino communities. View the video
January 23, 2021 Racial Justice Rising and Musica Franklin present the voices of children describing how they are surviving during the pandemic. Children from Gloria Matlock’s Twice as Smart program have made two 30 minute videos during the pandemic. The most recent, made in September, is about COVID.The videos will… Read More »When We Can Breathe Again, An Update
December 3-7, 2020 Join Racial Justice Rising and Greening Greenfield, online December 3rd to 7th, to view, at your leisure, the outstanding film, Mossville: When Great Trees Fall. In this award winning documentary, a centuries-old black community is uprooted by petrochemical plants and one man stands his ground. To join us… Read More »Mossville: When Great Trees Fall
September 10-15, 2020 This free online screening of the award winning documentary The Harvest/La Cosecha, presented by Racial Justice Rising and Greening Greenfield, was RJR’s first venture into online educational programming. 64 people attended. The documentary was available for viewing via a special link over the course of 5 days. On the evening… Read More »The Harvest/La Cosecha
March 7, 2020 Palestinians are classified as refugees by the United Nations. Topics will include a historical overview, Palestinian resistance, Israeli and U.S solidarity, and a look toward the future. This program is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont-Hawley, Conway, Gill, Greenfield, Heath, Montague, New… Read More »Palestine Solidarity
Saturday, February 21, 2020 Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, professor of history and Afro-American Studies in the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at UMass, Amherst will address reparations for slavery. Discussion will follow. Admission, parking, refreshments are free.
January 4, 2020 A discussion about homelessness with members of Arise for Social Justice of Springfield, including Executive Director Tanisha Arena, homelessness organizer Johnie Sanders, and Arise member Levi Taylor. In the News… Greenfield Recorder 1/6/2020: Advocates For the Homeless Dispute Myths At Greenfield Forum, Editorial in Greenfield Recorder 1/22/2020:Many… Read More »Homelessness: A Discussion with Arise For Social Justice
Saturday, September 7, 2019 Music from Juan Pedraza, Fiery Hope, Mary Wheelan, The Visioning Bear Singers, and Musica Franklin. From the Program…
October 5, 2019, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. First Congregational Church43 Silver StreetGreenfield MA Free Admission, Donations Welcome A panel of elders will discuss how they are impacted by or dealing with one or all of these factors.We know we live in a racist and ageist society, and that our health care… Read More »Racism, Ageism, and Health Care
September 7, 2019 The LGBT Asylum Task Force supports and advocates for LGBTQI immigrants who are fleeing persecution in their home countries. The Task Force, a ministry of Worcester’s Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC, provides safe housing and access to pro bono legal, medical, and mental health resources for their… Read More »LGBTQI Asylum Seekers Share Their Stories
April 6, 2019 Why Do We Perpetuate Them? What Are Their Cultural Consequences?with Nai mah Muhammad and Gloria Matlock
Saturday, March 2, 2019 Racial Justice Rising invites you to join Ashfield Attorney Buz Eisenberg for a presentation on the racial inequities of our criminal legal system. Attorney Eisenberg has practiced law in the region for over 3 decades and has handled a variety of criminal, civil and civil rights… Read More »Racism in the Prison Experience: An Overview from the Outside, Voices from the Inside
Saturday, February 2, 2019 A conversation with Gardening the Community Co-Executive Director Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim will speak about his understanding of food justice, the important link between hiphop and food, and how race and racism play out in his role at Gardening The Community. Learn more about Gardening the Community
Saturday, January 5, 2019 Racial Justice Rising’s 10th anniversary. Enjoy a feat of delicious cultural dishes! 10:15 a.m.— 12:15 p.m. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.First Congregational Church, 43 Silver Street, Greenfield MA Thank you Greenfield Recorder for your article about the event. View the video! REPARATIONS RESOURCES shared during the… Read More »10th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, December 1, 2018 This documentary film by Gloria Matlock about two historically Black neighborhoods in the small city of Ravenna, Ohio, offers a lens on race in 20th and 21st century America. Greenfield Recorder article about Just Another Mile
Saturday, November 3, 2018 with Lessert Moore, enrolled member of the Ogalala Lakota Sioux, and Grandmother Nancy Ardry, a traditional native healer and storyteller of Algonquin and French heritage.
Saturday, October 13, 2018 with Strong Oak Strong Oak, executive director and founder of the Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Coalition, is an American Indian of Maliseet and Mi’kmaq descent. Strong Oak is coauthor of the Walking in Balance with All Our Relations curriculum, a violence prevention bystander approach based on… Read More »The Price of Rape and Racism: Rape, Racism, and the Real Cost of Food
Saturday, September 1, 2018 with Licia Sky, Irene I-SHEA Shailkly, Adam Matlock, & Gloria Matlock and Michael Nix More about the performers: Sana and I-Shea’s band, Jam Atan Abina Gloria Matlock and Michael Nix Licia Sky Adam Matlock– An Historic– Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps– Adam’s YouTube Channel
Saturday, July 7, 2018, 10:15 a.m.—12:15 p.m. with Kate Stevens Though this country prides itself on principles of democracy and justice for all, in actuality the U.S. was founded on the practices of genocide and slavery. Stevens, who recently undertook a three-month, 6,000 mile pilgrimage to the Southern states to… Read More »The Road Home: A Spiritual Pilgrimage To The South
Saturday, June 2, 2018 with Tem Blessed and Russ Vernon-Jones Racism and climate change are connected. Deepening our awareness of the connections will help us be more effective in eliminating both. People of color and indigenous people are already disproportionately bearing the harmful effects of climate change. In poetry and… Read More »Racial Justice – Climate Justice
August 28, 2017 with Marianna Islam Learn about what is possible when educators, students, parents and community members join forces to improve public education. Learn about the challenges and opportunities for education justice organizing in Massachusetts. Links Schott Foundation – http://schottfoundation.org/ – resources: http://schottfoundation.org/resources – webinars:… Read More »Organizing for Education Justice
May 6, 2018 Discover the similarities and the differences that bind us and separate us. How important are the differences? How real are they? Everyone present will be included in an active exploration of the things we have in common and those we don’t. Inspired by 40 Strangers, 50 Questions… Read More »50 People, 40 Questions
Saturday, April 7, 2018 A panel of area teens will speak about their hopes and concerns, in their lives, in their schools, & in our society. Topics may include school shootings, our education system, difficulties faced by marginalized groups, environmental issues…. Adults and youth are invited to attend. Story about… Read More »Youth Speak Out
March 3, 2018 with Strong Oak This interactive workshop has an intersectional, antiracist approach to oppression. In it, we will: Article about workshop in Greenfield Recorder
February 3, 2018 with Auda Gonzalez, Javier Luengo-Garrido, Bill Newman, Sister Rosa Torres Activities and resources described by the panelists are listed at end of page. View the video: < Speakers, in the order they spoke: Bill Newman, American Civil Liberties Union of Western Massachusetts Javier Luengo-Garrido, Immigrant Protection Project… Read More »Immigration and Trump: Franklin County’s Response
January 6, 2018 An in-depth look at the United States’ prison system and how it reveals the nation’s history of racism. After viewing part of the film, we brainstormed actions we can take, including: Developing skills and resources: Working for system change: Offering personal support:
December 2, 2017 with Tim Bullock, Abrah Dresdale, Gloria Matlock, Asima Silva, and Ted Todd Links: Greenfield Recorder, 11/30/17: Greenfield Discussion To Explore Religion, Race Greenfield Recorder, 12/2/17: Panelists Explore Religion’s Role in Racial Divide Asima’s website Abrah’s website Peace Pagoda website
November 4 and 5, 2017 with Grandmother Jeorgina Larocqueman) Join Sagaligesw (Plant Woman) A Mi’kmaq, Grandmother from New Brunswick. Saturday, 10:15 a.m.— 12:15 p.m.First Congregational Church, 43 Silver Street, Greenfield MA Saturday starting at 2 & Sunday 10 a.m. -4 p.m.Deerfield Business Center, 110 N. Hillside Rd., S. Deerfield MA… Read More »Grandmother Teachings
October 7, 2017 Film screening, with discussion circle facilitated by Strong Oak The Doctrine of Discovery, Unmasking the Domination Code was made by Dakota filmmaker and Director Sheldon Wolfchild and Co-Producer Steven Newcomb (Shawnee, Lenape), based on Newcomb’s thirty years of research and his book Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the… Read More »Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking The Domination Code
September 2, 2017 with Licia Sky, Marcia Gomes, Gloria Matlock, Adam Matlock, and Arjuna Griest Learn more about: Adam Matlock– Adam’s Youtube channel– Adam’s Bandcamp page Arjuna Greist– Arjuna’s Youtube channel– Arjuna’s Last FM page Gloria Matlock– Gloria on The Song– Gloria and People’s Music Network Licia Sky– Licia’s… Read More »Voices of Dissent, Music of Activism
August 26,2017 with Marianna Islam Learn about what is possible when educators, students, parents and community members join forces to improve public education. Learn about the challenges and opportunities for education justice organizing in Massachusetts. Presenter Marianna Islam, Director of Programs and Advocacy at the Schott Foundation for Public Education,… Read More »Organizing for Education Justice
June 3, 2017 with Naimah Muhammad and Kathleen Anderson View our video of the program: Links Naimah’s videos: America Before Columbus: Negro Gene Pool America Before Columbus: African American Gene Pool American Deception: Who Were the Real Slaves Another View – Native Americans Kathleen’s slide show of ads, postcards, etc… Read More »The Real Story of American History: My Story, Not His Story
May 27, 2017 with Buz Eisenberg Racial Justice Rising invites you to join Ashfield Attorney Buz Eisenberg for a presentation on the racial inequities of our criminal legal system. Attorney Eisenberg has practiced law in the region for over 3 decades and has handled a variety of criminal, civil and… Read More »Racial Justice In The Courts
May 6, 2017 with Karmen Smith Understanding Grief in Adopted Children, with a focus on transracial adoptions Adoptees and foster children struggle with grief and loss throughout their lives . In this workshop, family , friends, and helping professionals will increase their understanding of the intersectionality of adoption, human development, and… Read More »Have You Seen My Childhood?
March 4, 2017 with Tem Blessed and guests Cita Light, John Elmore, and Kalia Lydgate Tem Blessed will take us on a journey through the history of spoken word through demonstration of the art as well as lecture. Tem’s love of music, his experience, his care of the natural world,… Read More »Spoken Word, An Art With A History
February 4, 2017 with Elizabeth Bridgewater At this program, we will explore different expressions of housing discrimination in American history. What has it looked like over the years and what does it look like now? We will also discuss community housing resources and how to best utilize them Elizabeth Bridgewater… Read More »The Evolving Face Of Housing Discrimination
January 7, 2017 with Momodou Sarr and Joan Featherman Did you know that in the 1800s, Greenfield was home to an active regional abolition group? Links The Road To Freedom, Anti-Slavery Activity in Greenfield, Massachusetts, 12-page booklet PDF Video from Channel 22 News Suggested reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk… Read More »The Road To Freedom: Anti-Slavery Activity In Greenfield
December 3, 2016 Capoeira has been described as a martial art, a dance, an art form, a formof self-defense, or any hybrid of these. Capoeira is a product of theextensive slave trade between Brazil and Africa.Tuzinho Demelo began studying Capoeira as a child in Brazil and hastaught it for many… Read More »Taste of Brazil: The Story of Capoeira Dance with Tuzinho
December 10 & 18, 2016 from 10 to 5pm Two Day Workshop on “What is the World We Wish to Build: Solidarity in a time of Supremacy”
November 5, 2016 with Dr. Stephen A. Martin Links Why Your Doctor Should Care About Social Justice, with Mary Bassett Structural Racism and Supporting Black Lives: The Role of Health Professionals, from the New England Journal of Medicine, October 12, 2016 The Invisible Man, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation… Read More »Racial Disparities in U.S. Health Care
October 1, 2016 Facilitated by Keyedrya Jacobs & Robert Tobin According to RJR organizers Gloria Matlock and Sherrill Hogen, “In light of recent events locally and nationally, the intention of the program is to assure Black and Brown people in the community that they can expect fair treatment and that they… Read More »Building Relationships between Our Community and the Police, A Community Forum with Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh
September 10, 2016 with Gloria Matlock and Keyedrya Jacobs Recent escalating violence on Black people and Black organizations, local hate-based occurrances, and how do we deal with the distress of these times? What allies can do to help. Thanks to Nur Tiven for the design of this compelling poster!
January 9, 2016 With Sister Clare Carter, Natan Cohen, Bob Cooley, Ya-Ping Douglass, Alex Fischer, Teegrey Iannuzzi, Brenda Ross. Moderated by Gloria Matlock Links Crossing the Waters Institute for Cultural Exchange Lost River Racial Justice New England Peace Pagoda Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage
December 5, 2015 with Dr. Mulazimuddin Rasool This interactive presentation will examine the glaring contradictions in the present school system and expose cognitive dissonance as a contributing factor to the system. We will look at how the school system began, who designed it, and why. We will define education, define… Read More »Education or Miseducation: By Design or By Accident?
November 7, 2015 with David Brule and David Tall Pine White View a video of the program Links The Nolumbeka Project Mapping the Battle at Great Falls We Shall Remain, a PBS film
October 3, 2015 with Mel Motel Links Feeling for the Edge of your Imagination: finding ways not to call the police (Tumblr) The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson “What did you like about the workshop?” …a few responses Organized, clear, appreciated assumptions instead of… Read More »Mass Incarceration & Imagining Alternatives
September 12, 2015 Young people from our community will share their experiences in local schools.We will also screen the PBS documentary A Class Divided, about “a third grade teacher who divided her all-white class into blue-eyed and brown-eyed groups, and gave them a daring lesson in discrimination,” Links A Class… Read More »Youth Speak Out: Teens of Color Talk About Their Experiences in Our Schools
with Chris Tinson August 8, 2015 Watch a video of the program: Video of program courtesy of Greenfield Community Television Part 1 Part 2 Links Handout – Final Communique: The National/International Reparations Summit from Institute of the Black World Handout: Ordinance: Reparations for the Chicago Police Torture Survivors
June 6, 2015 with Brother NorthStar View a video of the program Links Brother NorthStar’s website Link to part 2 Link to part 3 Selected comments Brother NorthStar’s style is captivating, empowering the level of information. Goes to the core of life. Appreciated his generosity of spirit & open-heated sharing.… Read More »One People, One Earth
May 2, 2015 with Annie Rodriguez This workshop will use Juan Gonzalez’s film, Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America, and discussion to help participants developa deeper understanding of the realities of Latino life and history in the U. S. Links Transforming the Latino Narrative one-day workshop… Read More »Latinos In The U.S. – Colonization, Diaspora, & Racialization
April 11, 2015 with Gloria De,Layne Matlock and Adam Matlock Through conversation and performance, Adam and Gloria will share stories about their lives—as Black boy and man, as Black mother raising a Black son, and as performers, and about how historic happenings like the 1921 Black Wall Street massacre in… Read More »Black Lives/Black History
March 7, 2015 with Liz O’Gilvie & Catherine Sands What is food justice? What does it mean in our lives? Is it attainable? What are the ingredients of a more just food system? What do just systems look like? Who needs to be in the conversation? Why? Links PV Grows:… Read More »Food Justice: What is it? What does it mean in our individual lives? Is it attainable?
February 7, 2015 with BLM413 Area Black Lives Matter activists will screen a new documentary of their October trip to Ferguson, discuss their local organizing, and talk about the role of white allies in the Black Lives Matter movement, followed by a question and answer session featuring youth leaders. … Read More »Black Lives Matter: Local Activists Speak
January 10, 2015 with Angela Berkfield A look at how and why race and class are connected, including land theft, genocide, labor exploitation, & militarism. We’ll look at historical & current resistance and find out own particular place in that resistance. Selected comments: The presenter held the space really well,… Read More »Race & Class: Past and Present Connections
December 6, 2014 with Ingrid Askew, Tim Bullock, & Melinda Holm In 1998, a group of walkers left Leverett MA on the Interfaith Pilgrimage, a 13-month journey retracing the slave trade down the east coast, through the American south, then to the Caribbean and finally South Africa. Links This Far… Read More »Revisiting the Middle Passage
October 27, 2013 What is happening in our towns? How do we handle change? A screening of the film Pleasantville: Nothing is as Simple as Black and White, and and discussion led by Keeley Malone.
June 29, 2013 Join us for a screening of Mirrors of Privilige a documentary of white women and men who share their stories of how racism and privilege affected them personally and often painfully. Conversation led by Keely Malone, experienced trainer/facilitatorand anti-racist activist. Download a full size, printable (PDF) flyer
March 2, 2013 A follow up conversation on Last Chance for Eden, a film by Lee Mun Wah and Stirfry Productions, viewed at our program on January 5, 2013. Conversation facilitated by a cross-racial team of experienced trainers:Anika Nailah and Robin DiAngelo It’s recommended to watch the film before the… Read More »Part 2, Last Chance for Eden: follow-up dialog
January 5, 2013 Film by Lee Mun Wah and Stirfry SeminarsGroup discussion facilitated by Anika Nailah and Robin DiAngelo Last Chance for Eden documents a cross-racial dialog between 9 women and men over the course of two weekends. On camera for 24 hours, they struggle to find a way to… Read More »Part 1, Last Chance for Eden: film screening and dialog