NBSO Musicians giving free public performance, Summer 2019
The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) is pleased to announce the approval of a $7,400 Wicked Cool Places grant, financed by the city of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund. News of the grant came from the New Bedford Economic Development Council regarding the implementation of the NBSO’s proposed project, “Music in the Streets”. Music in the Streets will enable the NBSO to collaborate with a number of organizations in the area, bringing music to streets and outdoor locales across the city. A goal of the project is to bring cultural vitality to areas in New Bedford by performing musical concerts with partners. Partners may include Love the Ave, New Bedford Housing Authority, New Bedford Parks, Third Eye Unlimited, Cape Verdean Association and other groups. The concerts will be free and open to all, and may vary from solo musicians to quintets.
A patient receives the Pfizer vaccine as the ballpark is opened as a COVID-19 public vaccination site on January 29, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Getting COVID-19 vaccine shots into the arms of nearly 6 million adult residents will be one of the greatest public health challenges Massachusetts ever attempts. And it’s a challenge we risk failing, if our health institutions don’t convince skeptical minority communities of the urgency and benefits of being inoculated.
As the former executive director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants and as a Latina entrepreneur from Puerto Rico, I have worked closely with multicultural communities across the state listening to their unique needs for years. It’s even more critical we listen closely during this crisis.
Standard-Times
The SouthCoast Community Foundation announced it is awarding over $600,000 of Stabilization Grants from its SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund to 60 nonprofits from the Southeastern Massachusetts region.
“The selected group of 501(c)3 organizations clearly demonstrated a financial need due to COVID-19 and cover a range of areas of need including arts and culture, education, and economic opportunity,” a press release from the Community Foundation stated.
The recipients also actively serve vulnerable populations, are dedicated to a re-envisioned organization of adaptability and innovation, and have demonstrated a commitment toward racially diverse leadership within the nonprofit.
“Although we have seen amazing resilience from community-grounded nonprofits they are still struggling due to the relentless impact of COVID-19,” said, John Vasconcellos, president of SouthCoast Community Foundation. “We are exceedingly grateful that our Emergency Response Fund has