https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/06/ali-haqq-helps-artists-in-springfield-pursue-and-achieve-their-dreams.html

Ali Haqq helps artists in Springfield pursue and achieve their dreams

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avery_Sharpe

Avery Sharpe (born August 23, 1954) is an American jazz double-bassist, electric bassist, composer, educator and founder of the artist-owned record label, JKNM Records.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis_(activist)

Ruth Charlotte Ellis (July 23, 1899 – October 5, 2000) was an African-American woman known for being an LGBT rights activist and the oldest surviving open lesbian at the age of 101. Her life is celebrated in Yvonne Welbon‘s documentary film Living With Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100.^[1]

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/07/g-s1-1873/tierra-whack-tiny-desk-concert

Tierra Whack and her band she dubbed “The Big Backs” might go down as having one of the best Tiny Desks in history. Why? Whack manages to keep all of us on our toes, pulling endless tricks out of her bag.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tierra_Whack

Tierra Helena Whack (born August 11, 1995)^[4][5] is an American rapper and singer. She originally performed as “Dizzle Dizz” as a teenager, but later on reverted to her birth name in 2017.^[6] Her debut mixtape, Whack World, was released in May 2018 and received widespread critical acclaim.^[7] Her song “Mumbo Jumbo” was nominated at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Music Video.^[8] Whack has since collaborated with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Tyler, the Creator, Chief Keef and Melanie Martinez.

Jocelyn Frye is President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. Under her leadership, the organization is focused on advancing economic justice, affordable and equitable health care, civil rights, and reproductive freedom for women who face the steepest barriers – including women of color, women with the lowest incomes, women with disabilities, and transgender women.

https://www.recorder.com/Greenfield-native-to-debut-novel-Swift-River-appear-on-Today-Show-55546420

Greenfield native to debut novel ‘Swift River,’ appear on Today Show

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/essie-chambers-swift-river-novel

A New Novel Explores How to Develop Black Identity in the Absence of Black Culture

In Essie Chambers’s debut novel, Swift River, protagonist Diamond Newberry finds ways to fill the gaps in her family tree.

https://www.hud.gov/about/leadership/acting_secretary_Todman

Adrianne Todman is Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She was previously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Deputy Secretary of HUD in June, 2021.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_Buolamwini

Joy Adowaa Buolamwini is a Canadian-American computer scientist and digital activist formerly based at the MIT Media Lab.^[2] She founded the Algorithmic Justice League (AJL), an organization that works to challenge bias in decision-making software, using art, advocacy, and research to highlight the social implications and harms of artificial intelligence (AI).^[3]