Af-Am Point

As I reflect on the life and extraordinary work of Overseer Charlene Naylor, I must recognize the unique fabric of her extended lineage: the Naylor, Jackson, Hurst, Williams and Bass families, along with a host of many others whose lives were touched and forever impacted by this extraordinary woman.

Community, Education, Features August 18, 2026 HOLYOKE – Holyoke Community College is offering a special one-hour noncredit class that will explore digital fraud and cybersecurity risks to small businesses in the AI age. The stand-alone class will run over Zoom from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The course is led by Bryan Shapiro, founder of Retina Advisors, a fraud consulting business, with support from cybersecurity consultant Michael Narducci. “Fraud isn’t what it used to be,” Shapiro said.

The streets of Springfield’s Black community are carrying a heavy burden, one measured not just in statistics, but in shattered lives and futures cut short. Gun violence has become a pervasive crisis, rippling through neighborhoods, eroding safety, and stealing the promise of the next generation. Confronting this crisis requires a focused, community-driven strategy rooted in local Black leadership.