Author: Vekonda Luangaphay
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Local groups call to end Southeast Asian Deportation
Photo by author. About 50 protestors gathered outside the Bristol County Jail and House of Corrections in North Dartmouth, Mass. on the evening of January 23, to raise awareness on the deportation of Southeast Asians and to demand that the Sheriff’s office end its partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “It’s important for us…
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A Back Bay memorial honors the founder of Rosie’s Place
On the sunny fall Saturday afternoon of Oct. 6, hundreds of people gathered in Back Bay to view the unveiling of an art sculpture that honored Kip Tiernan, founder of the women’s shelter Rosie’s Place. The sculpture consists of three arches that stand about 12 feet tall, with Tiernan’s quotes engraved into the piece for…
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On Good Friday, a Family Fights for Their Home
“Wells Fargo, you can’t hide. We can see your greedy side,” chanted the crowd standing in front of the Mason family’s home on Elmont Street in Dorchester. About 30 people protested for the Mason family against Wells Fargo on the evening of Good Friday. The family has been trying to buy their house back for…
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Cycling for the Homeless
Photo: Courtesy Once a year in the financial district, and typically on a harsh, cold day, white-collar workers change from their office attire into their workout clothes and take a cycling class together outside. The event is called iCycle, and it’s organized by HomeStart, a nonprofit that has helped people find and maintain housing for…
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Freedom for Francisco and Siham: Kids Protest Against ICE Arrests
The sounds of musical instruments, singing and chanting burst through the cold, silent and stiff air outside the South Bay House of Correction on a Sunday afternoon. A bunch of fifth graders from the Boston Workmen’s Circle Center for Jewish Culture and Social Justice Sunday School rallied on Dec. 10 to demand the U.S. Immigration…
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Protesters ‘Take a Knee’ One Year After Fatal Shooting by Boston Police
On Saturday, Oct. 29, protesters knelt in front of the State House calling on State Attorney Maura Healy to reopen the cases of police brutality in Massachusetts. “We’re demanding that Attorney General Maura Healy reopen the cases,” said Brock Satter of Mass Action Against Police Brutality, the group that organized the Boston Takes a Knee…
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Furnishing a House into a Home
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the nonprofit Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts cut the ribbon for its new location in Harvard Square, a bigger office than its previous location. Executive Director Suzy Palitz’s goal is to help families furnish their new house into a home. So in 2013 she started the nonprofit in Cambridge. Today Furnishing Hope…
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New Boston Initiative Aims to Help People in Recovery Succeed
On Sept. 21, Mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Office of Recovery Services announced the launch of the Personal Advancement for Individuals in Recovery (PAIR) initiative. It’s a pilot program that tackles housing, education, and employment by granting money to individuals who are in early recovery and looking to shape up their life from substance…
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Musicians unite to collect Hoodies for the Homeless
PushMethod, whose lead vocalist, Tavis Eaton, founded Hoodies for the Homeless, takes the stage. All photos courtesy of Hoodies for the Homeless. Give a hoodie and you’ll get to listen to live music at the Middle East in Cambridge. This Thursday, Sept. 14, Hoodies for the Homeless, founded in 2015 by Tavis Eaton, lead vocalist…