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In recognition of the Juneteenth holiday, MassLive is celebrating emerging Black leaders throughout the state. Last month, MassLive solicited nominations for leaders to readers and staff. The individuals below are who was selected.
Juneteenth, with a history going back to 1865, was recently recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, as well as here in Massachusetts.
The people below were identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
We’re always open to hear about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
Age: 29
Community: Springfield
Her story: Tiffany Allecia is a social activist based in Springfield who works to bring about positive social change and address various injustices within the community. Her work has involved organizing protests, demonstrations, and campaigns that shed light on pressing social issues such as poverty, health inequities, police brutality, housing discrimination, the educational opportunity gap and food insecurity in Springfield.
Allecia currently serves as the executive director of the Springfield Creative City Collective. The SCCC is a coalition of economic development stakeholders focused on the transformation and revitalization of the Springfield creative and cultural economy. The organizations primary focus is to heal, empower, invest in and sustain the creative economy of Springfield. One of the SCCC’s latest accomplishments is distributing $30,000 to 22 Springfield creatives, nonprofits and businesses for various cultural projects.
The mentorship of Springfield community leaders throughout her childhood and emerging adulthood helped get her started, Allecia said. She developed a passion for grassroots community organizing in high school, later moving on to study African-American studies, sociology, political science and psychology at Howard University. She earned a master’s degree in education with a specialization in educational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
She then completed her teacher licensure educational requirements at Boston University and is currently studying educational policy and leadership at American University.
In her words: “First and foremost, fall in love with learning. You have to educate yourself continuously on the issues you feel strongly about, to become a meaningful and efficient activist. Knowledge is power, and by understanding the root causes of systemic issues, you can better advocate for change. Secondly and almost equally important, remain humble and keep your ego in check. I live by the Socrates quote, ‘I know that I know nothing.’ It is easy to believe you have all the answers, but that is a fallacy and defeatist thought. Your openness to access more knowledge and incorporate collaborative opinions, experiences, and solution ideas will strengthen your activism, while making your efforts more relevant to those you serve.”
— Taylor Sanzo
Age: 37
Community: Springfield and Agawam
Her story: Banks found her life’s work as a physical therapist in the health and wellness field by feeling a call to serve another.
That was two decades ago, when as a high school student growing up in Springfield her aunt suffered a stroke. Today, after undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts and doctoral work at Temple University, Banks continues that by seeing clients at a practice she owns called Neurologic Optimal Wellness Physical Therapy on Hunt Street in Agawam. The patients who come to see her and her colleagues face major physical challenges, including the after-effects of stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Together, their goal is to slow neurologic declines and keep at the business of life.
Banks says what matters most is helping people hold on to a quality of life, including a sense of independence, “cheering them on to see that they were more capable of meeting their goals than they thought.” One key to that, she says, is nurturing a deep empathy with patients. Therapists must truly understand their clients’ physical challenges. That’s needed to provide the best motivation for what can be a difficult path to improvement.
Memorable moments: Seeing a Parkinson’s patient walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding … and watching a mother with M.S. stand and hold her newborn baby. Even witnessing a patient, six years after suffering a stroke, regain the ability to walk.
In her words: “Do it from the heart. Remain open-minded to new ideas, commit to lifelong learning. And prioritize your own well-being, by maintaining your own fitness and self-care routines, which not only help prevent burnout, but also allow you to lead by example and inspire your patients.”
— Larry Parnass
Age: 31
Community: Boston
Her story: Shakeeda Bartee teaches sixth grade at a public school in Boston. It’s the same district her children attend and the same district where she went to school.
Bartee joined the district in 2017 after leaving a job at a local needle exchange program. She wanted to work with young people to try to reduce harm before they felt like they needed to turn to drugs.
For her, middle school was a crucial time, and her role as an English language arts teacher has her advocating for families, students and other teachers.
Bartee was selected as one of four finalists for the 2023 Teacher of the Year and has graduated from the Emerge program, which is dedicated to teaching women how to lead in the political realm.
Recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative disease, Bartee has been inspired to advocate louder and bolder, she said.
As a teacher, she prioritizes anti-racist practices, and has her sights on elected office.
“I hope to one day go into politics because I know that many of the inequities my community faces can only be changed with good policy,” she said. “Until then, I try every day to instill values in my students that I hope will equip them to be change-makers themselves.”
In her words: “In education, it’s so easy to become tired, so easy to become burnt out. But for the sake of the students and more importantly you, it’s imperative to rest and take care of yourself. Our students deserve great educators and we can only be great if we care about ourselves as much as we care about them.”
— Dave Eisenstadter
Age: 40
Community: Springfield
His story: Taurean Bethea is the founder and CEO of the Springfield Pride Parade Organization which focuses on providing resources to LGBTQIA+ youth in Springfield.
Bethea ran the first Pride Parade in Springfield last year and is expecting 10,000 people to join for the second inaugural parade. In addition to working on the parade, Bethea focuses on running the Safe Space initiative through the Pride Parade organization. The initiative partners with Springfield businesses to place public-facing decals to commit to and demonstrate their business is inclusive to LGBTQIA+ individuals. MassLive is one of more than a dozen businesses that are a part of this initiative.
The Pride Parade organization, which has become an official city commission, also runs summer programming in partnership with Springfield College and after school programs in Springfield public schools which focuses on the enrichment, development, support, and overall protection of LGBTQIA+ Springfield youth.
Before beginning his organization, Bethea worked in fashion, working for brand such as Phat Farm/Baby Phat, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren and Ermenegildo Zegna. He also produced events in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Springfield, and other locations.
He moved away from fashion after deciding he wanted to do more to help his community. Coming out later in life, Bethea said he realized “there are people out there that could use me as an inspiration and I can create spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth to be safe, seen and heard.”
In his words: “Stay true to your mission. I always say ‘if your intentions are pure, great things will come.’”
— Juliet Schulman-Hall
Age: 43
Community: Boston
Her story: Meaka Brown began her career in the music industry but became curious about cannabis when her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and used cannabis to help her eat and gain weight during treatment. After learning about the medicinal properties of the plant, she began creating her own recipes for cannabis-infused salves at home.
She studied herbalism and cannabis science, but to learn about the cannabis business, Brown took a position as a supervisor at Pure Oasis, a dispensary in Boston, eventually becoming the store’s general manager.
“The rest is history,” she said.
Today, Brown works as a cannabis banking regulatory specialist at Green Check Verified, a technology company that provides financial services for legal cannabis businesses. She also serves on the Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Fund Advisory Board and is the director of education and wellness for Boston Cannabis Week.
In her spare time, Brown continues to work on developing body care products that incorporate cannabis, and plans to relaunch her company Babes Handmade later this year.
In her words: “Find a mentor in the industry. Learn everything you can about each aspect of the industry, and be sure to lean into any past experience you have. It will always be useful when moving through.”
— Tréa Lavery
Age: 29
Community: Somerville
His story: Somerville City Councilor-at-Large Willie Burnley Jr. only entered office last year, but he has already made significant changes in the city.
Burnley grew up in San Diego and came to Massachusetts to attend Emerson College, becoming the first person in his family to attain a college degree. The progressive leader has worked on various campaigns over the past decade, and has been on the front lines of Black Lives Matter protests as well as been arrested alongside other activists during a climate protest in support of the Green New Deal.
In 2018, Burnley worked on Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s re-election campaign, and joined Sen. Ed Markey’s re-election campaign two years later. That same year, he helped found Defund Somerville Police Department, which helped move more than $1 million from the city’s police budget to jobs, healthcare and rental and food assistance programs.
After the success of Defund SPD, Burnley was encouraged by neighbors to run for City Council. Since his election, he has helped pass numerous laws protecting and expanding rights for rental tenants, workers and LGBTQ+ residents, including being one of the original proposers of an ordinance passed earlier this year giving protections to people in polyamorous relationships.
He has also helped pass or draft ordinances abolishing medical debt locally, establishing the first supervised consumption site in New England, creating unarmed alternative emergency response programs and expediting construction of protected bike lanes throughout the city.
“(My) praxis is to do the work, at all levels, all the time,” Burnley said.
In his words: “We all have the capacity to contribute positively to our communities and to our planet. We simply need the time, support and patience necessary to find those issues or activities that we feel best suited for. Knowing how we want to make a difference opens us to the opportunity to build a community of support with people who share our interest. That support in turn is critical to pursuing your purpose, whatever it is.”
— Tréa Lavery
Age: 41
Community: Boston
Her story: Andrea Campbell was sworn in as attorney general on Jan. 18 after a historic Election Day last November when several women swept the highest offices in Massachusetts. Campbell, the first Black woman to become attorney general in Massachusetts, outlined an ambitious agenda for her four-year term and stated her office will prioritize housing issues, abortion rights and public safety.
Campbell has spent most of her post-graduate life working in public service and most recently served as a member of the Boston City Council for six years, from 2016 to 2022. After graduating with a law degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2009, she went on to work as a deputy legal counsel to then-Gov. Deval Patrick.
During Campbell’s second term on the City Council, she was elected to the position of president, becoming the first Black woman to hold the seat in Boston. After an unsuccessful run for Boston mayor in 2021, Campbell set sights for the attorney general’s office and won with 63% of the vote against Republican candidate James McMahon.
Campbell is married to her husband, Matt, is a mother of two children and lives in Mattapan.
In her words: “I have the best job, I don’t think just in the Commonwealth — in the nation — given the issues we’re talking about locally and nationally around children and the wellbeing of our kids, mental health, guns, reproductive justice, Supreme Court, affordability, and so much more. AGs (Attorney Generals) are going to be at the forefront of all those issues. So it’s an honor and a privilege.”
— Luis Fieldman
Age: 43
Community: Springfield
His story: LaMar Cook was named Deputy Director for Western Massachusetts under Governor Maura Healey this past April and acts as a liaison between her administration and the residents, leaders, and municipalities of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.
Cook has a background in business and community leadership, with over 20 years in hospitality and management: prior to joining the governor’s leadership team, Cook was University of Massachusetts Amherst’s hotel director and managed Hotel UMass, serving on the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management Leadership Board. He has a background of over 20 years in hospitality and tourism, holding hotel leadership positions in major cities such as Atlanta, Boston and New York City, along with in Connecticut and in Northampton.
With a passion for politics since childhood, Cook and his family spent a lot of time in Washington, D.C., fostering his love for history, government and elections. He studied government at Western New England College, now University, and had internships in school at both the federal and state government levels.
He remained immersed in politics after graduation and made a few runs for public office, including the Springfield School Committee Board. Despite his unsuccessful attempts, Cook co-founded a nonprofit organization in Springfield called Back to School Brighter, and held positions in the Community Preservation Commission, the Massachusetts Lodging Association, and the MLK HBCU Tour.
In his words: “Here are some ways to get involved: Intern or volunteer for a campaign. Use your unique skills to support a candidate or cause. Get involved in school politics. Take electives in high school or college that are politically oriented. I would love to see more of our youth being groomed in government and politics to create positive change and equity for their communities. It begins with us.”
— Irene Rotondo
Age: 48
Community: Worcester
Her story: Marlina Duncan was named the vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for UMass Chan Medical School, the only public academic health sciences center in the commonwealth, at the end of 2020. In her roles, she heads the Diversity and Inclusion Office and works with leaders across the institution’s three schools and business and administrative departments to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion goals outlined in UMass Chan’s Strategic Plan are met.
When the school announced its IMPACT 2025 Strategic Plan in Feb. 2022, it highlighted that DEI would have its own pillar. At the time, Duncan said: “having DEI as its own pillar makes diversity, equity and inclusion central to our vision. This project is an effective way to move from good intentions to intentional efforts in DEI.”
In her role she has worked to assist with hiring faculty and recruit students that are historically underrepresented in the medical field and to provide trainings and educational materials to improve campus climate and culture.
In January, Duncan received the Diamond Award for Education, Leadership, Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, Humanitarian Philanthropic and Community Engagement from Not Alone Foundation, Inc. which works to provide financial assistance and other resources to people suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease.
Duncan has spent several years working on diversity initiatives in academia. She worked as the Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Program Director from 2007 to 2012, served as Director of Diversity Initiatives and Education and Outreach at the Broad Institute from 2015 to 2016 and acted as the Assistant Vice President of Academic Diversity and Associate Dean of Diversity Initiatives, Graduate School at Brown University from 2016 to 2020, among other positions.
In her words: “My role as vice chancellor is the culmination of previous experiences in teaching, research, program development and higher education administration, in the fields of science and diversity equity and inclusion (DEI). All my professional experiences are driven by the question, ‘How do I create spaces that are going to allow people from marginalized communities to thrive?’ I do this work to create opportunities to center the experiences of those on the margins.”
Advice she would give others pursuing her work: “Stand for what you believe in and the universe will take care of the rest.”
— Kiernan Dunlop
Age: 33
Community: Springfield
Her story: Shenell Ford is the founder of Heart2Heartbeat Lactation & Wellness, a community-based practice in Springfield that serves prenatal and lactating families, focusing on culturally-informed clinical breastfeeding management, equity in lactation professional development training, commUNITY breastfeeding classes, and lactation specific advocacy activities.
Ford is also a mayoral aide to Mayor Domenic Sarno in Springfield. She also serves on the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition Board of Directors, as Springfield Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Child Health Commission Chair, and is a member of U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s CRASH Committee and Vital Village Network’s Black Breastfeeding Week Committee.
Ford’s passion for lactation began when she had her first child. Motivated by a lack of systemic support for lactation, especially for Black and Brown communities, Ford was inspired to become a Breastfeeding Peer Support Counselor with Tapestry North WIC. She later became a certified Lactation Counselor and an international board certified Lactation Consultant in 2019. Since then, she has also become a certified perinatal educator.
As a lactation consultant, Ford centers her work on making sure families in Springfield feel seen, heard, and respected.
According to Ford, health and lactation education and support are intertwined.
“I’m proud yet disheartened to be one of very few IBCLCs (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) of color in the Commonwealth, and committed to changing that. Culturally responsive care is vital and diversifying the pool of providers offering lactation services has direct impact on achieving positive health outcomes,” Ford said.
In her words: “Find your village and lean in, as often as you need! Especially for those aspiring Black and Brown lactation warriors, align yourself with those currently doing the work, locally, nationally, and globally. In the midst of holding space for our families, make sure to hold space for yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
— Juliet Schulman-Hall
Age: 38
Community: Springfield
Her story: Nearly eight years ago, Gaines was a stay-at-home mom raising four children with autism. As her children were entering school, Gaines tirelessly advocated for them to get the best education the district could offer. However, Gaines — whose father is African American and whose mother is Puerto Rican — felt as if she needed to do more to help other children with autism in schools.
“I decided to go out and build the world I wanted for them as adults, so I started volunteering and meeting people,” Gaines said.
In 2016, Gaines began working as a Community Coordinator for Women, Infants, and Children, a nonprofit program that provides healthy food and nutritional education to families in need. During that same year, she participated in Leadership Pioneer Valley, a regional leadership organization, where she learned to foster her professional skills.
Gaines said her career took off once she joined the healthcare field working with adults with different abilities. Now as a Community Development Manager for Sevita, Gaines works to bring accessible care to adults in need.
“As medical needs arise, that isn’t always easy for the adult or their family caregivers,” Gaines said. “It is my joy to help young adults, and seniors live a life with purpose and find services in their communities.”
Gaines is also a board member for Shes Local Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting women in New England. According to Gaines, the nonprofit is about reducing the opportunity gap so all women can come together to thrive.
In her own words: “My advice is to bet on you and follow your passion. You will never know where it might lead you to. Build meaningful relationships because, together with the right people, change will happen. Always be yourself and permit yourself to dream big.”
What Juneteenth means to her: “Juneteenth means to me freedom.”
— Alvin Buyinza
Age: 52
Community: Springfield
His story: Lorenzo Gaines founded Zo Lit Lifestyle, a boutique convenience store, to address the health disparities he saw in communities of color. Whether it’s raising awareness of farm-to-table programs or bringing more access to fresh fruits and produce, Gaines wants to provide healthy options to residents living in what are known as food deserts. These are urban areas where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.
Gaines started Zo Lit Lifestyle in Springfield as a health and wellness brand with a brick-and-mortar grocery store on Chestnut Street. The store emphasizes quality food, healthy recipes and merchandise that is culturally inclusive. Gaines is an advocate for food justice and increasing awareness about sustainability for future generations. Among the areas he wants to bring more attention to are who has access to healthy foods, what kinds of nutritious food are available and who owns the land where food comes from.
Unequal access to quality and healthy food is a form of systemic racism and has an impact on a population’s health and obesity rates, according to Gaines. Access to healthy food is a right, not a privilege, Gaines said. He hopes to have a measurable impact on Springfield with his mission to bring quality food and knowledge to the area.
The store is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 414 Chestnut Street.
In his words: “My goal is to amplify the message and sound the alarm about pressing food and agricultural questions that affect the masses of people. My advice if you want to pursue this work is to put values before profits and find a purpose in your work that is bigger than you. Don’t be silent about food injustice and align yourself with those who are already doing the work.”
— Luis Fieldman
Age: 59
Community: Northampton
His story: Patrick Gore knows the struggles homeless veterans face. It isn’t just the two decades he worked in Veterans Affairs medical facilities. He’s also been there himself.
Left without shelter for a combination of reasons, Gore said he found a home on the campus of the VA hospital in Northampton, in a shelter run by the nonprofit Soldier On. He later joined the hospital’s staff and worked his way up to become president of the 600-member employee union.
Gore, a Navy veteran, saw that there were veterans in crisis who faced more daunting hills to climb then himself: substance abuse, alcoholism, crippling mental health challenges — much of it stemming from post-traumatic stress.
“I figured I could give them a voice,” Gore said. “Not only did I work at the VA, but I had been in that situation.”
Gore now dedicates his time to the organization he founded — Veterans with Vision. He is an advocate for homeless veterans, helping them navigate a medical system that for some can prove overwhelming. But he said he hopes to transition the work to focus more on providing services to homeless veterans and veterans in crisis or transition, helping them find stability.
In his words: “I’m in it because I’ve worked with veterans for two decades at two different [VA] facilities and then I found myself in crisis, needing the services that were being provided. I feel the best way I can pay back the system is to be involved in the system and get it to work the best it can.”
— Will Katcher
Age: 17
Community: Wilbraham
Her story: Abyssinia Haile is making history as she becomes the first Black female student to become state president of the Massachusetts Association of Student Council (MASC).
Haile will be serving as the Massachusetts Association of Student Council (MASC) state president for the 2023-2024 school year. She’s the first Western Massachusetts student to have the honor since 2015, and is the first time a Black female student has ever assumed the position.
The junior at Minnechaug Regional High School began by participating on her school’s student council board for the past three years. She was elected to the Western Massachusetts Association of Student Councils (WMASC) board as vice-president her sophomore year.
“However, it was the inequities I saw in terms of access to student council opportunity for people living in Western Massachusetts that inspired me to run for the position of State President, hoping to increase the breadth and spread of representation to all students in Massachusetts,” she said.
She is responsible for leading the MASC executive board, including planning leadership summits and workshop opportunities for student council delegates across the state. One event is the yearly President’s Dinner in Franklin, where the MASC invites student council presidents from more than 90 schools throughout the state for a formal dinner reception to begin the school year. They also organize a yearly Bocce tournament for students with special needs through Special Olympics of Massachusetts.
But that’s not all.
She also represents Massachusetts on the National Association of Student Council (NatStuCo).
In her words: “There are so many inequities I witness on a daily basis in my school and throughout my own school district, and it pains me to go on with my life without doing anything or not speaking up. And there are people that I know are either scared or don’t have the resources to make their voices heard. So it’s kind of become an intrinsic duty for myself to utilize the privileges I have of being able to attend a school that offers me so many opportunities to amplify my own voice, thoughts, ideas, and concerns and use that to uplift and showcase what others who don’t have the same access to opportunities have to say. If you demonstrate this opportunity, I truly believe you have what it takes to be the best possible student leader for our state and greater community.”
— Heather Morrison
Age: 41
Community: Springfield
His Story: Justin Haynes took a leap of faith in 2009. With little to no financial backing and 19 years of retail clothing store experience, from the GAP to luxury clothing brand chains, Haynes quit his secure job to pursue a career in fashion design.
Fast forward 14 years later, Haynes’ JUS10H clothing line and ONYX luxury fashion label have become globally recognized, featuring in multiple Milan, Dubai, Paris, Los Angeles, New York and Miami fashion week showcase events.
JUS10H garments made their way to Times Square in a featured CoverGirl advertisement and have earned him a slew of fashion, lifestyle awards and magazine cover pages.
His work and iconic denim-based fabrics influenced the international fashion scene and would land him a spot on TedTalk’s 1000 Influential People of 2022 list.
Although JUS10H has been donned by celebrities and other high-profile individuals, Haynes ensures his brand has a presence in the city he came up in. He tailors and designs prom suits and dresses for local Springfield high school students as well as other garments for people in his community.
In his words: “Custom tailoring is not something available in a city and state like Springfield, Massachusetts. I feel I give this community and entire state a touch of New York, London, and Paris. Being Internationally known and still here I believe speaks volumes [about] where I want to see my area go.”
What Juneteenth means to him: “Juneteenth means freedom. It means expression of who you are.”
— Tristan Smith
Age: 51
Community: Dorchester
His story: James “Jimmy” Hills is the host of “Java with Jimmy,” a virtual talk show where politicians, community organizers and experts come together to provide solutions to issues that affect Black and Brown communities.
He began the virtual talk show at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As people locked themselves inside their homes fearing a rapidly changing world, the show served as a positive source of information for people to receive COVID-19 updates. As “Java with Jimmy” gained more traction, Hills began to expand the show’s topics to include information on local news, police accountability and other health-related news.
In the two years since its inception, “Java with Jimmy” has gained the attention of notable figures from the Boston area. Influential people such as U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey have all made appearances on the show.
The mission of “Java with Jimmy,” according to Hills, is to share valuable information and resources that empower people to achieve a fair and fulfilling quality of life.
“I’ve done well at embracing that though I thought I was either going to be a pastor, a nonprofit leader or a politician, I’ve embraced the fact that this is a destined road where I’m having my impact.”
In June, Hills will be moving “Java with Jimmy” from the small studio in his apartment to a larger stage. On June 15, Hills will be hosting an episode of “Java with Jimmy” at GBH at Boston Public Library.
In his words: “By any means necessary is sort of my approach. If it’s going to be 100% to piss somebody off, I’m going to do 99.9% to result in some good for the community.”
— Alvin Buyinza
Age: 39
Community: Works in Springfield and lives in Chicopee
Her story: Sina Holloman, an advocate for quality of life of senior citizens, is the owner and chief executive officer of the health and staffing organization HomeCare Hands.
The mission for this organization is to improve individuals’ quality of life by providing employment opportunities to care for the local senior population and community. Holloman chose to begin HomeCare Hands as a way to be an active leader in the community and create opportunities for others to pursue their vision and goals.
For the past 20 years, Holloman has worked within the health care sector. She has studied as an independent researcher by examining and investigating human thoughts and behaviors to find out what motivates, inspires and empowers human beings to want great success.
“I owe this privilege to the seniors, who’ve paved the way and made these opportunities and adventures possible as [a] woman of color,” Holloman said.
In her words: “Break through the noise and become who you are destined to be. You are capable of and have the ability to overcome any and every obstacle placed in front of you. Remain persistent and consistent with your vision and goals. Decide and act with purpose and true intention. Trust and believe in yourself always. You can do it.”
— Liesel Nygard
Age: 32
Community: Springfield
Her story: Regina Hudson is an award-winning, licensed real estate agent in Massachusetts and Connecticut and is also licensed as a life insurance agent in the two New England states along with the states of Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.
Hudson focuses heavily on the educational aspects of real estate and life insurance, using her skills to teach courses for first-time homebuyers and on financial literacy as well as sharing resources to help to “change the narrative for families,” she said.
Hudson has a mission to inspire families to break “generational curses and poverty,” allowing them to build generational wealth in addition to financial wellness, financial literacy and a plan of action, she added.
In 2014, she achieved her Bachelors of Science in accounting from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and served as a financial aid advisor for seven years at Western New England University, the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology and the Springfield Promise Program.
Through those experiences, she said she found a severe need for greater knowledge about financial literacy — specifically citing factors like credit, budgeting, savings, life insurance, estate planning and retirement.
Hudson, a single parent, said she had a strong desire to become self-employed and to take control over her work life schedule, so in 2017 she acquired her life insurance license, then her credit counselor certification, and by April 2021 she got her real estate license.
Just this past week, Hudson became a Homes for Heroes agent, working with firefighters, medical professionals, teachers, military and law enforcement to save money on buying, selling or refinancing a home.
In her words: “In order to do the work the right way, you have to love the work you do and become knowledgeable. You have to love helping families. You have to study and learn the field and the resources available. Mainly, you have to be passionate about helping families and changing the narrative for families.”
What Juneteenth means to her: “Juneteenth means to me Black independence day, Black freedom and Black celebration.”
— Chris McLaughlin
Age: 44
Community: Springfield
His story: Justin Hurst is a Springfield resident who hails from a family of civil rights and community activists fighting for equal education and opportunity.
He grew up inspired by his uncle Ronald Hurst — who died fighting for the country in Vietnam — and his mother, who was elected to the Springfield School Committee as well as his father who served as Commissioner to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
“Through my parents’ advocacy, I learned the importance of community and having the courage to take a stand for what is right even when it is unpopular,” he said.
Hurst’s lifelong role models would propel him to pursue a life of community, political and civil service. Hurst would become an educator and attorney before being elected to the city council where Hurst later served as council president.
As council president, Hurst sponsored many ordinances and resolutions including advocating for the equitable distribution of American Rescue Plan funds for families and small businesses, fighting for affordable transportation and leading the city council in codifying a 5-member board of police commissioners into law.
He led efforts calling for living wages for paraprofessionals, signed letters supporting improved conditions for our nurses and patients and brokered deals to pass a military leave for city employees.
Hurst chaired the Young Professionals subcommittee and was an inaugural founder of Springfield’s Restaurant Week.
Using his background in law, Hurst challenged inequities and focused on accountability, public safety, and quality of life issues, with the intentionality of promoting and creating safer streets, neighborhoods and communities across Springfield.
In 2023, Hurst launched his bid for mayor of Springfield.
In his words: “From as far back as I can remember, working to do away with inequities and uplifting community were ‘givens’ in my household. Becoming an educator, attorney, and running for elected office all integrated with the common theme I learned growing up, which is to give back to the community that gave so much to me. It is a part of my fabric to be a continuous learner, teacher, mentor, and change agent.”
His advice: “Find a mentor/confidant and make sure they are brutally honest with you. Be willing to listen. Take time to reflect and then act, but be sure to act! Don’t ever be afraid to speak truth to power and challenge yourself even when it is uncomfortable. There are a lot more people relying on your leadership than there are waiting for you to fail. Lead courageously even in unchartered waters and never give up.”
— Tristan Smith
Age: 28
Community: Springfield
His story: Darrius Johnson is the founder of Visionary Acts, LLC, a multimedia production company thats goal is to “elevate the visual representation of the city of Springfield with our local entrepreneurs and small business owners.”
Visionary Acts offers a range of services, including audio and music production, photography, apparel, and event hosting but specializes in videography and graphic design.
His clients have ranged anywhere from Dewey’s Jazz Lounge — where Visionary Acts provided photography and videography for the jazz lounge’s events — to traveling with Justin Haynes, the creator of fashion brand Jus10h, providing photography and other media work. He has also worked with the Springfield Health Department, New York rapper Fabolous, and rapper Dave East, among others.
Visionary Acts also created a upscale dining experience called D’Lux for Springfield residents and entrepreneurs to network.
Johnson told MassLive he has always been creative and especially loved drawing as a child. Visionary Acts is an “elevated version” of the music and video production company he created with his brother as a teenager in 2011, which he has since expanded into other multimedia offerings.
“I’m always going to have a base here (in Springfield). I’m going to travel out but I always want to make sure that I’m able to bring more to the city because the city invested into me,” Johnson said. “So I want to be able to invest back and make sure that they they didn’t only invest into someone to leave but they invested in someone who’s going to be willing to give back to the next generation.”
In his words: “We’re lifting the negative blanket over the city and revealing the beauty it has to offer! If there’s an experience I want to see, I’ll make sure to get it done!”
— Juliet Schulman-Hall
Age: 37
Community: Works in Western Massachusetts
His story: When Terrell Joyner started the MBA program at Western New England University, he originally intended to use the knowledge to open a restaurant. Joyner knew the restaurant industry is unreliable, however, and looked for work outside of the industry so he could build himself a financial safety net first.
Instead of following up on his restaurant plans, Joyner is now helping others learn how to create their own financial safety nets. Joyner took on a role as a financial advisor, starting at Equitable Life before moving to a role at Chart Oak and then opening his own business, RJ Consulting, which focuses on financial planning and business coaching services, according to Joyner.
His consulting firm specializes in Minority, Women and LGBT-owned businesses in Western Massachusetts.
Joyner was asked to share his financial knowledge with students in area school districts, which led to him presenting to adults through different community organizations and then becoming an adjunct professor at Elms College where he now teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Outside of his work for his consulting firm, Joyner mentors a first-generation college student who is applying to graduate schools, serves as the executive committee vice president for Junior Achievement of Massachusetts, is on the advisory committee for his alma mater’s Center for Social Justice and acts as a philanthropic services committee member for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
In April, Joyner was named to Business West’s 2023 40 Under Forty list and in June he participated in the Springfield Pride Parade’s “Panel Full of Leaders.”
“For far too long did I let others dictate who I was, how I acted or what I said … No more … These people on this panel come from all walks of life and had to deal with their own hurdles and they persevered against all odds,” Joyner said while on the panel.
In his words: “In poverty-stricken areas and even more so in minority communities, financial literacy is hard to come by and not talked about in the home. I for one did not get this education growing up. Much of my knowledge today comes from experiences in my professional career. There is still much to learn, but as I do, it is important that I’m passing this information along to those who are looking to better themselves financially.”
— Kiernan Dunlop
Age: 28
Community: Springfield
His story: At 25 years old, Springfield native Kenny Lumpkin was one of the youngest people in the state to be granted a liquor license when co-opening Dewey’s Jazz Lounge on Worthington Street in 2021.
The restaurant quickly developed a large fan base, people across the city converged for the smooth, textured atmosphere that pays homage to some of the most pivotal Jazz musicians.
Local artists perform at Dewey’s daily, Lumpkin also hosts a variety of events including open mic nights and networking occasions.
Nearly two years removed from the establishment’s grand opening, Dewey’s — named after Lumpkin’s late cousin Dwight whose nickname was “Dewey” — has become both a Springfield mainstay and landmark destination in the Western Massachusetts dining scene.
In April 2023, Lumpkin went on to launch his second restaurant, All American Bar Grill & Patio. A sports bar that shifts away from Dewey’s jazz roots while maintaining the venue’s sense of community and kinship Lumpkin wishes to promote across his hometown.
In his words: “Our restaurants are important for the community as they provide a space for socialization, offer employment opportunities, promote diversity, attract tourism, and support community involvement. They bring people together, boost the local economy, and reflect the diversity of the community through the variety of cuisines and cocktails they offer.”
What Juneteenth means to him: “Juneteenth is, in my honest opinion, another American holiday that we should all celebrate. I believe Juneteenth should be in collab with Fourth of July as we all as Americans celebrate liberation and freedom in this country.”
— Tristan Smith
Age: 47
Community: Worcester
His story: Growing up with three siblings and a single mother on a fixed income in subsidized housing, Sean Rose has dedicated his work to helping others that suffer from some of the same social disadvantages he faced.
Rose is a city counselor for Worcester’s District 1, and president and CEO of Thrive Support and Advocacy, which serves disabled adults. The first Black councilor in the district, Sean also serves as a diversity and wellness coach for O’Connor Professional Group in Boston.
The first in his family to graduate college, and later obtaining a master’s degree, Rose recalls even in his youth volunteering and participating in community service in appreciation for “the help and support that others provided my family and me.”
For Rose, his leadership and advocacy in the private, public and municipal sectors all reflect his goal of “improving the quality of life of others.”
In his words: “It’s undoubtedly respectable to be selfish about your personal growth. We are only as good for others as we are to ourselves.”
— Dave Thompson
Age: 30
Community: Springfield
Her story: Payton Shubrick is the founder and CEO of 6 Brick’s which is a family owned and Black owned cannabis dispensary. A part of what she enjoys in this position is procuring products with her team of 30 vendors from across Massachusetts to create diversity in products and price, while also hiring people from Springfield to create a more inclusive and equitable future in the cannabis industry.
A year after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross, Shubrick wanted to create a career and seek justice, causing her to become interested in cannabis’ checkered history. In 2019, she wrote a request for proposal in an effort to battle the narrative that only experienced multistate operators could own dispensaries.
“I saw first-hand what happened to students that smoked weed or dropped a dime bag in the hallway,” said Shubrick. “Not wanting to live life wondering ‘what if’ coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit of my grandfather, I applied in round one for cannabis licensure in the City of Springfield with 26 other groups and was selected as one of four finalists.”
In her words: “Three pieces of advice I live by, fear and faith cannot coexist so pick one. Time and energy are precious, so in the time you waste fearing something, is time lost in having faith that you will figure it out and get it done. Oftentimes your best moments are on the other side of fear. Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. If you are going to do something, do it well. Become obsessed and be a sponge soaking up all you can. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Just like being in the gym and pushing yourself to complete one more rep or one more mile, through that temporary discomfort there is needed and satisfying growth.”
— Liesel Nygard
Age: 48
Community: Holyoke
His story: As a newly elected pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Community Church, while working as a hospice chaplain supervisor for New England Hospice, Bernard Smith’s work has supplied spiritual guidance to those in need.
For over 25 years, Smith has been a part of the Bethlehem Church, and has been an active member since he was 19. A part of this early commitment included being a part of the church’s music ministry, which led him to continue singing for other gospel groups.
Along with his church work, Smith is also heavily involved in community service which began by working in a soup kitchen. He then branched out to other areas of community engagement such as local support, some activism, and voicing against police brutality towards Black and Brown people across the United States especially during the time of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
“This work is not for the weak or faint,” said Smith. “But it is rather exhausting and taxing.”
In his words: “Pray about being called to this work and ask God for wisdom, strength and guidance…Encourage reading, attending classes, seminars, and webinars in your area of passion or focus. There is a lot of information out there that can assist you in your journey. Also partner with someone. Connect with those who have done what you would like to do. There are a lot of wise people out there that can help. Lastly, become a bridge builder in all you do.”
— Liesel Nygard
Age: 27
Community: Springfield
Her story: Ariaun Stewart helps empower creative people in Springfield by finding them jobs. And, in turn, is “paving the way for a vibrant and prosperous future for our community as a whole,” she said.
“By bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, we hope to invigorate the local creative sector and contribute to the overall economic growth of Springfield,” she told MassLive.
Stewart is a human resources professional and is an executive board member of the Springfield Creative City Collective.
This year, she is organizing the Creative Industries Hiring Event.
On June 24 at the MassMutual Center, the event hopes to “bring together and celebrate the local creative talent while connecting them with companies that require their unique skills and abilities,” she said.
She graduated from Western New England University. Soon after she went into recruitment and then became the Head of Human Resources and Community Responsibility.
“I’ve always had an interest in business and psychology, so HR felt like a perfect fit,” she said.
But then came the pandemic. That, however, didn’t stop her.
She created her own business C.HR ( Community Human Resources ) that helps small business owners develop their HR systems.
“Most small businesses don’t need a whole HR department,” she said. “What they need is someone on their team who understands the legalities around doing business and people management. I have a passion for helping businesses strive for better company culture and overall organization.”
In her words: “Continuous learning is a necessity. In addition, effective marketing and finding a great mentorship can significantly contribute to achieving your desired goals. I still have many goals I want to accomplish, I’m far from being done. Nonetheless, I am proud to have established my brand in my community, and having supportive mentors has played a significant role in my achievements.”
— Heather Morrison
Age: 32
Community: Springfield
Her story: Among Springfield’s entrepreneurs, Moriah L. Taylor founded her own business in order to use her gifts and passions in the service of others.
She grew up with a passion for dancing, training and even teaching dance during her youth. Originally from Springfield, she went to Howard University in Washington, D.C., according to her LinkedIn page, before working as a counselor in Prince George’s County Government in Camp Springs, Maryland. But she decided to return to her roots and realign her career.
Beginning in January 2017, she played with some ideas focused on the arts before opening her business six months later. Rooted Essence Dance & Healing Art Studio, for which Taylor serves as CEO, opened during what Taylor described as Springfield’s “renaissance era.”
“Since then our company continued to gain recognition by regional institutions including UMass Amherst, Mount Holyoke, American International College, Springfield College, Salem State University and Bay Path University, who have commissioned the organization for choreography and dance programming,” she said.
Taylor’s work took her in 2019 to Africa, “the birthplace of music and dance,” she said. She launched international dance programs in Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria. That same year, she finished studying for her master’s degree in Business Administration at Bay Path University. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she used her time to write her book “Creative Entrepreneurship: Coaching Creatives to Build and Believe in Their Business Dreams” in July 2022.
The name of her book carried on in the form of a conference “committed to empowering and investing in emerging entrepreneurs, individuals, small business owners, and creative entrepreneurs in our community,” according to the Rooted Essence website.
In her words: “My work is important because it provides a positive impact and outlet for youth, young professionals and adults. It uplifts all who partake in the healing, community and cultural experience we offer as an organization. I am dedicated to showing creatives you don’t always have to always choose one career over the other but can find a pathway to thrive between your skills and talents. I am dedicated to showing our youth there is a way to achieve your dreams and be a leader and create positive change. I am dedicated to showing adults that there is a greater quality of life you experience through the arts. People often share their testimony or the example they have for the future because of my commitment.”
— Ryan Mancini
Age: 35
Community: Springfield
His story: In 2020, Vilenti Tulloch founded a school-based mentoring program that is known today as the Academic Leadership Association. The program is designed to empower youth to make positive changes within themselves and their school communities through mentoring and advocacy. The association serves hundreds of at-risk youth in Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow school districts.
Prior to founding the Academic Leadership Association, Tulloch graduated from Westfield University with a bachelor’s degree, worked for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for three years, and then completed a master’s degree in psychology. He made a career change to education and worked as a classroom teacher in Southbridge and went on to become an adjustment counselor and then a culture and climate associate.
Tulloch also serves as chairman of The Forum, an organization made up of Black and Brown male educators that strive to improve outcomes for youth by increasing the number of professionals who are men of color in the kindergarten to grade 12 school systems of Western Massachusetts.
In his words: “My advice is to be a lifelong student, believe in your dreams and ideas that God plants in your heart. Lastly, you can’t do this work alone, it truly takes a village to support the youth in our community.”
— Luis Fieldman
Age: 39
Community: Springfield
His story: Underwood has worked as a professional photographer for 19 years — 11 of which he’s worked in the profession full time. He expressed it is “an honor and privilege” to document so many important events and activities in the community and that he gets to “live vicariously” through others’ celebrations.
What started as a hobby for Underwood in high school and college blossomed into a career. He said at the time he didn’t see himself pursuing photography, but that “doors continued to open and I continued to hone in on my craft, build my clientele, my network and business acumen.”
He also started the business Upscale Socks in 2016, saying he knew when he started it that he wanted to give back to the community in a tangible way. Underwood did this by establishing annual scholarship giveaways to local college-bound seniors along with his sock products being donated to area nonprofits.
Prior to starting Upscale Socks, Underwood said he had a highly clear and vivid dream one night about owning a sock line in summer of 2014 which led him to tell a friend the next morning, only to dwell on the dream for a year before starting to turn dream into reality.
From there, Underwood developed a name, logo and designs and became more involved in the local business ecosystem, crediting Spark Holyoke — which now goes by EforAll — as “instrumental” in the maturing of Upscale Socks into what it is today.
“It gave me the confidence, focus and discipline I needed to bring the business to fruition,” Underwood said. “I have never worked in retail before so guidance was certainly needed.”
In his words: “Some of the keys to success is to remain flexible, humble, consistent and even-keeled. Finding an outlet to distress in the midst of a busy schedule is critical. Being a fitness fanatic, working out is my therapy, along with my relationship with God. Finding balance is critical.”
— Chris McLaughlin
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