POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SPRINGFIELD
-
Community Advocacy: Voicing your opinion for positive change.
July 28, 2009:
Springfield
Forward member
George Pappas
speaks with WWLP
reporter J.
Cashman.
Springfield
Forward voiced
opposition to
the proposed
redevelopment of
Longhill
Gardens into
subsidized low
income only
housing.
Much has been said about our advocacy for a better option at Longhill Gardens, so here it is in our own words: Springfield Forward believes that the warehousing and segregation of the poor in high density low-income projects is not only mean spirited, it defeats the very purpose of helping those who need it most. Crime flourishes in high density low-income projects because criminals prey upon the most vulnerable in our society, and as crime flows outward into the surrounding City, the residents of such projects are further isolated, stigmatized, disempowered and disenfranchised. We need to do better than that.
Integrated neighborhoods where residents come from ALL socio-economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds, develop a sense of community where neighbors help neighbors and look out for each other. INTEGRATED NEIGHBORHOODS = STABILIZED NEIGHBORHOODS = GENUINE COMMUNITY. Integrated neighborhoods waste less financial resources. Once you stabilize a neighborhood, crime goes down. Once crime goes down, resources are used more productively and a base for economic development has been created. Springfield Forward opposes using $20,000,000 of OUR TAXPAYER MONEY to warehouse and segregate those in need while enriching the developer and bankers who feed at the government trough. Springfield Forward believes we need to take our time, rethink this project, and come up with something better where everyone wins: the City, the community, and especially those who most need our help.
See our
"News" page
for more
detailed
coverage on
this issue.
-
Volunteerism: Neighborhood cleanups. Click here for more coverage on our Keep Springfield Beautiful efforts.
-
Education: Helping elementary school children in Springfield to write creatively.
Springfield Forward volunteers help Sumner School Children hone their writing skills and creativity through SF's Tell Me Your Story (TM) program.
SF's Sandi Vella & Ellen Pappas with Sumner Avenue School students
-
Raising Funds for Children Sports
Springfield Forward Board Members George Pappas and Rick Carpenter (See below) donate sports memorabilia to help raise funds for the Sumner Avenue Elementary School basketball team. The Sumner Avenue basketball team gives kids a healthy and fun alternative during after-school hours. Some wonderful teachers have volunteered their time and energy to coach, supervise, and schedule games and practices. However, these kids need uniforms and equipment!
All Springfield kids are our kids so let's support them!
Little things can make a big difference!
-
Springfield Clean Up: Springfield Forward and the Springfield Forward "Kid Squad" help clean up Sumner Avenue and the "X". For more information about Springfield Forward's contributions toward helping Springfield keep beautiful click here.
-
Helping to restore and build homes in Springfield: Springfield Forward working with Habitat for Humanity to build a home in Springfield. Come and join us at the Habitat for Humanity Women Build on White Street in Springfield - building one miracle at a time!
-
Building Relationships: Reaching out to public officials to support positive change for Springfield.
-
Springfield Forward Supports Commuter Rail.
Union Station, Springfield, MA/ Press Conference June 2, 2008 (see below). Write to your legislators in Congress and MA State House supporting Commuter Rail between New Haven, CT and Springfield & Springfield and Boston.
