Social Issues

MLK Day Event Preview

Eileen McCaffery, Executive Director of the Community Music School of Springfield, Ronn Johnson, and United Way President Dora Robinson, discuss the annual Martin Luther King Day observance scheduled for Monday, January 19 at the Mass Mutual Center in...

Common Capital

Chris Sikes, CEO of Common Capital, and businesswoman Susan Mastroianni, a Common Capital investor, discuss the work of that Holyoke-based organization: granting loans to local residents in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Counties & providing...

Jewish Family Services Syrian Relief

Over the next year, the Obama administration has plans to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees fleeing from persecution in their war-torn country. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled to Europe. But many US politicians have raised serious concerns about letting in...

Bishop Talbert Swan

Bishop Talbert Swan, President of the Springfield Chapter of the NAACP, discusses his concerns over the deaths of black men at the hands of police in Ferguson, MO, Staten Island NY and other communities in what he terms “legalized...

Valley Gives

Kristin Leutz, Vice President of Philanthropic Services for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and Mary Ann Maloney, President of the Friends of the Springfield Library discuss the upcoming December 10th Valley Gives Day, an on-line fundraising event...

To the Village Square

Photographer Lionel Delevingne of Montague discusses his recently-published book, “To the Village Square” which tells the story—through his photographs—of four decades of the anti-nuclear power movement here in Massachusetts and around the...

Birthday Wishes

In 2002, Birthday Wishes started providing birthday parties for homeless children at a single local shelter. With the help from volunteers they have been able to expand to over 185 shelters all over the Northeast. “Connecting Point” contributor Carolee McGrath sits...

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month and Connecting Point Contributor Carolee McGrath talks with Marla Ruth Allisan, Director of Full Circle Adoption, Erin Cronie, and Erin’s adoptive mother. Together they discuss the adoption process and the benefits and challenges a...