Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services

Today, we celebrate Jacquelyn Lee-Washington, Attorney At Law and an inspiring MLKFS Vice Chair of our Board, whose leadership embodies strength, integrity, and courage. When asked about the most impactful advice from a woman that has shaped her as a leader, Jacquie shared: "Be truthful, honest, and courageous." These words resonate deeply—not just as wisdom, but as the very essence of the work we do at MLKFS. They guide every conversation, every action, and every life we touch, from supporting our Clemente participants to empowering youth leaders, and providing for our neighbors through our Emergency Pantry. As we honor the women in our community, we are reminded of their incredible impact in shaping the future. Jacquie's wisdom is a living legacy that inspires us to lead with purpose and heart. We are so grateful for the brilliance and dedication she brings to our community and are proud to share her light with the world. Let’s continue to uplift and inspire one another. #ShapingFutures #TransformingGenerations #BelovedCommunity413 #WomensHistoryMonth2025

Sharing our stories to breathe life into the next generation, lifting others along the way. That’s always been the work of our Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, to be in service to lift others to their fullest potential creating pathways to self-sufficiency. We thank the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts for inviting us into this space to share and uplift these rising women in the next generation of their Young Women’s Initiative, young women of color from across Hampden and Franklin Counties. “if you don’t know your superpower, surround others who see it & reflect it back. Believe them!” Shannon M. Rudder, MBA , our President & CEO.

Our President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder and our VP of Finance & Operations, Patricia Bernard joined city and state officials for Governor Healey’s Tax Saving Public Awareness Event. Together, they gathered at Educare on Hickory Street, where our President & CEO also serves as a Board Member. The Governor highlighted the signing of the state’s first tax cuts in more than 20 years. Provisions of the historic tax package include $1 billion in tax cuts, savings for seniors, businesses, renters, and a generous Child and Family Tax Credit a timely announcement as we enter tax season. Mayor Sarno, Governor Healey, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, President & CEO of Square One Dawn DiStefano, Executive Director of Educare Nikki Burnett, State Senator Adam Gomez, State Representative Bud Williams, Denise Jordan, Springfield Housing Authority, Springfield City Councilor Lavar Click Bruce, Educare Parent Champion Esther Manso Alicea, Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder, and Springfield Partners for Community Action Director Mickey Harris also joined today. Visit mass.gov/taxcuts to learn more. Shannon M. Rudder, MBA Nikki Burnett, Ed.Dc Dawn Forbes DiStefano Adam Gomez Sr. Denise Jordan

Honoring the incredible women driving change at MLKFS this International Women's Day! At the helm of our organization is our inspiring President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, who leads an exceptionally dedicated team of fellow women leaders. Together, they empower our youth and families through compassionate leadership rooted in our rich cultural heritage. These are just some of the remarkable women who along with our entire group of team leaders, uplift one another as a powerful example for those we're honored to support, helping to pave the way for even brighter futures. Here's to empowered women empowering others! Left to right: Lenise Williams Alexia Coppedge Patricia Brown Shannon M. Rudder, MBA Claudia Pazmany Donna Johnson Patricia Bernard #InternationalWomensDay #ShapingFutures #TransformingGenerations #BeLoveInAction #BelovedCommunity413

Candid, courageous, vulnerable! A sampling of some of the feedback to the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. lecture commemorating the 61st anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. delivering Springfield College’s commencement address on June 14, 1964, a powerful conversation focused on today’s political climate on race & justice with our President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, MBA, State Sen. Adam Gomez & Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley, and moderated by Terry Powe ’96, Board of Trustees. They shared courageously and candidly when speaking out on where they think our country is in terms of achieving Dr. King’s vision while offering hope and challenge. We were reminded by Senator Gomez that communities of color, Black and Brown, need to align- and recognize when the powers that be might try to divide you but instead rise to the courage of our convictions and remain awake during a great revolution. Dr. Holley reminded us that this administrations’ insistence on relying on ‘color blindness’ as a metric to include diversity after pulling DEI, “color blindness does not exist, and is not in the constitution, not in the law.” This is a time to recommit to our work. Shared Shannon Rudder, and here are the action steps she closed with: REST: Unplug, practice self-care & self-love, fuel yourself with joy. Explore 7 types of Rest. ROOT: Educate yourself, explore organizing strategies--Read Dr. King's 1967 "Where Do We Go from here: Chaos to Community". RECOMMIT: Establish your network, plug into local movements and organizations to work in tandem towards the quest of liberation. Become Co-Conspitors and organize. See the mutual humanity, suspend judgement and create dialogue to deepen understanding toward empathy. Senator Gomez said find your clubs, neighborhood councils, find your ‘why’ and commit to it in community with others. And Shannon closed with, “WE HAVE THE BLUEPRINT, Dr. King was just one person a part of the movement and it was across the nation! Friends and EACH of you gathered in this room has a unique and divinely given gift to tap into, to share in our movement of today! “ Thank you to Dr. Slandie Dieujuste and the planning Committee for the invitation. #courageous #recommitment #amovement Springfield College Mount Holyoke College Adam Gomez Sr. Shannon M. Rudder, MBA

3rd Annual Impactful Women Bartending Fundraiser Event We are proud to share that our President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, MBA, is joining area leaders to raise money for I FOUND LIGHT AGAINST ALL ODDS & Lighthouse Home For Homeless Teen Girls. Join Us on “International Women’s Day” Saturday March 8th, for I Found Light Against All Odds 3rd Annual Impactful Women Bartending Fundraiser Event! Join us in supporting a worthy cause as we raise funds to purchase a house for homeless and housing insecure girls, along with the vital programs we provide. Let’s come together to celebrate, uplift, and empower. We can’t wait to see you there, March 8, Plan B. Shannon kicks it off at 5:15pm. Support Shannon here at her fundraising page. https://lnkd.in/ej98AyQg

SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, DIVISION OF CAMPUS LIFE & INCLUSION PRESENT: Honoring the history of inclusion and diversity at Springfield College Monday, March 3, 2025 at 4 p.m. Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room (C-F), Flynn Campus Union ADD TO CALENDAR June 14, 1964, was one of the greatest days in Springfield College history. That was the day when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the College’s commencement address. Taking place at the height of his fame and the height of the Civil Rights Movement, it also happened in a remarkable context. That included both pressure from the FBI on the College to cancel the speech, and King’s arrest and imprisonment three days before he was scheduled to appear. 2025 marks the 61st anniversary of these events. March 3 will mark the 12th annual MLK Lecture. This year’s event is not really a lecture at all. It is a thought-provoking conversation rooted in King’s own political and prophetic thought and advocacy in both historical and contemporary contexts. The discussion will assist us in understanding how racial, ethnic, gender, and/or class issues have influenced the current political landscape in the United States. ? Our?President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, MBA,?joins other esteemed panelists:?State Senator Adam Gomez Sr. and Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley.?Moderating the talk will be?Terry Powe ’96, Board of Trustees member and co-chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. JOIN THE CONVERSATION. BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. Springfield College

NEW TEAM MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT! We are proud to announce the appointment of Ariana M. Williams, BSPH, MPA, as the organization’s first-ever Chief of Public Health Strategy & Innovation. In this role, she will integrate public health strategies into the organization’s core mission, develop new community-driven initiatives, and strengthen strategic partnerships that advance health equity. Ariana’s journey with MLK Family Services began in 2018 as a part-time Community Health Worker, after earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from American International College (AIC) as a member of the program’s second graduating class. Within nine months, she was promoted to become the organization’s first Director of Public Health, where she spent three years leading initiatives that strengthened community health, public health programming, and youth development. Ariana returned in February 2024 as a Grants Consultant, helping to expand and sustain critical programs. Read full press release on our website at: https://lnkd.in/ep-p2JUW "Stepping into this role is not just a career milestone—it is a continuation of my purpose. MLK Family Services has played a pivotal role in my growth, both professionally and personally, and I am honored to now help shape its future. Public health is about community, and I look forward to deepening our impact, expanding critical services, and ensuring that our work remains a trusted resource for those who need it most.” ?~Ariana M. Williams, BSPH, MPA Chief of Public Health Strategy & Innovation Congratulations and welcome Ari!

Thank you for inviting us in for a valuable conversation on the meaning behind Black History Month and how we carry the work forward at MLKFS as true living history. As Shannon shared, “We are the new faces of civil rights and have Dr King as our blueprint.” We uplift our communities of youth and families, by “offering tools and skills, while hosting safe conversations in safe spaces. Many programs are based on their expressed interests. We see our youth as leaders in their own lives.” This was an opportunity to build stronger connections, deepen partnerships and ultimately build a wider circle of Dr. King’s beloved community. Shannon M. Rudder, MBA Rania Kfuri Kathy Martin

Celebrating Two Years of Empowerment and Impact! As our President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, MBA celebrates her second anniversary with Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services, she shares her reflections in the Republican's Outlook 2025. Here she shares the generational impact we've made over the past four decades. Our alumni, in particular, are a constant source of strength and inspiration, serving as living testaments to the enduring impact of MLKFS on personal and professional growth. She continues to share that at the heart of our work is the unwavering dedication of our team, board, volunteers, and alumni — the "Magic Makers" of MLKFS. Their passion, compassion, and commitment ensure our programs thrive each day, making Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community" a reality. Stories like Michael Jone's, shared in the article, and the tale of a current scholar, the third generation in their family to participate in our historically Black colleges and universities tour, inspire me and underscore MLKFS' lasting effects. Reflecting on the past year, she is especially proud of hosting our first-ever MLKFS Family Reunion, a three-day event celebrating our rich legacy through reflection, reconnection, and recommitment, modeled after "Sankofa" which means “to go back and get it” in the the Akan language of Ghana, often interpreted as looking back to inform the future. We also formed powerful partnerships with aligned organizations, including the MLK Day Collaborative, bringing together our largest MLK Day Celebration in 2025. Additionally, we collaborated with Springfield Public Library and Springfield Cultural Partnership to engage our community in the Be Love movement, launching a social justice art installation on MLK Day 2025. Looking ahead, our focus turns to strategic planning, ensuring that MLKFS remains a cornerstone of empowerment for future generations. We are committed to our traditions in youth empowerment, college readiness, nutrition, and wellness, while also exploring new areas of growth, including arts and culture, creating a stronger food ecosystem, leveraging technology for learning, workforce development, promoting financial literacy, and intergenerational programming. Strengthening MLKFS' foundation is critical to our success in laying the groundwork for success as we expand our regional impact and contribute to the national conversation on race, equity, and belonging. We remain committed to being a beacon of hope, justice, and opportunity, driving lasting change in the lives we touch here at home. Service is at the heart of everything we do, and if we stay true to our mission, the future will one day include a CEO raised by this very village. Join us on our journey. https://lnkd.in/gBrgbKEc #MLKFS #Empowerment #CommunityImpact #Leadership #GenerationalChange #BelovedCommunity Full article here: https://lnkd.in/etMsMYhx