Area briefs: Transhealth to celebrate 3 year; Holyoke to plant tree at museum; Documentary film about reparations focus of Unitarian talk

Documentary film about reparations focus of Unitarian Society talk

NORTHAMPTON — A public showing of the new documentary film “The Cost of Inheritance,” about the issue of reparations owed to African Americans for historic and current racialized harms and injustice, will take place on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, 220 Main St.

A discussion will follow the film, led by members of the Northampton Reparations Committee, which advocated for the February passage by the City Council of a reparations resolution. The resolution authorized the city to establish the Northampton Reparations Study Commission, which has met monthly since last September and will release a report in the fall documenting the historic harms done to Black people living or working in Northampton, and offer recommendations for municipal reparatory justice initiatives.

Boston, Amherst, and many other U.S. cities have passed similar resolutions and initiated reparations efforts in the past few years.

The event is free, and sponsored by the USNF Racial Justice Team. For more information, contact cathiebrown53@gmail.com.

Actor Elliot Page to celebrate 3 years of Transhealth

NORTHAMPTON — Transhealth, one of the only health care organizations in Massachusetts dedicated to serving the transgender community, will host “An Evening with Elliot Page: Fireside Chat and Birthday Benefit” for Transhealth on Sunday, May 5, at the Academy of Music at 7:30 p.m. in Northampton. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll will also take part in the event.

This event will celebrate Transhealth’s mission to provide compassionate and empowering health care and support to the transgender and gender-diverse community throughout western Massachusetts and the greater New England area.

This anniversary event will include a fireside chat with Page, an Academy Award-nominated actor, director, producer, writer, and New York Times bestselling author. Page is the first transgender man to be featured solo on the cover of TIME, and is an advocate for marginalized people, using his voice to raise awareness of and fight against the discrimination, inequities, and violence faced by the trans and gender-diverse community, including efforts to criminalize gender-affirming care.

All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting Transhealth’s programs and services, which include adult primary care, pediatric care, mental health services, a community gathering space and community closet, support groups, events, education, advocacy, and research.

Tickets are on sale through the Academy of Music.

Holyoke to observe Arbor Day with tree-planting at museum

HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and Holyoke Conservation and Sustainability Director Yoni Glogower will participate in an observance of Arbor Day at Wistariahurst on Friday at 1 p.m.

Sarah Greenleaf of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, accompanied by a crew, will plant a tree on the grounds of Wistariahurst and Garcia will read an Arbor Day proclamation.

Located at 238 Cabot St., Wistariahurst is Holyoke’s historic house museum.

State financial aid priority deadline extended to July 1

BOSTON — The Department of Higher Education has moved the priority deadline for its largest state financial aid program, MASSGrant, from May 1 to July 1. This later deadline gives Massachusetts students more time to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 academic year.

MASSGrant is a need-based financial aid program that helps to cover educational expenses at state public and private colleges and universities.

The extended priority deadline for MASSGrant comes in response to challenges that students are facing as they work to complete the significantly updated FAFSA. Students who qualify for MASSGrant and apply by the July 1 priority deadline are guaranteed to receive financial assistance from this program. Students who cannot complete the FAFSA due to their immigration status can complete the MASFA to apply for state need-based financial aid.

See also

Reparations

Tennessee House kills bill that would have banned local officials from studying, funding reparations