SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Partners for Community Action, a local social services organization celebrated its 60th birthday on Aug. 7 by doing what it does best, helping members of the community get ahead in life.
At a ceremony at the South End Community Center, emcee Wesley Days, the weekend morning anchor at Western Mass News, said that President Lyndon Johnson began the war on poverty on August 20, 1964. Springfield Partners began serving the community in that same year. In 2023 alone, the organization provided services to more than 7,000 low- and middle-income people in the city. Springfield Partners “helps people meet essential needs” he said. He noted that nationally, 11.5% of people live at or below the poverty line. In Springfield, it is 25.3%.
Springfield Partners received a citation for its 60th anniversary from Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. Similarly, state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) and state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) presented citations from the Massachusetts House or Representatives and Senate, respectively.
Mayor Domenic Sarno presented a proclamation from the city, marking the day as Springfield Partner’s for Community Action Day. He commended the organization for its work, noting that it was the first community action organization in Western Massachusetts. He said Springfield Partners has “always been there” to assist people in the city and “help individuals by giving them a hand up.” He added that the organization helps people “build stability” and “dignity.”
Executive Director Paul Bailey said that of all the programs the organization operates, the scholarships are his favorite. Springfield Partners has been providing scholarships to community members seeking higher education since 2002. Since then, Days said, 280 people have been awarded more than $280,000 to help them continue their education.
The keynote speaker was Emanuel Parrilla. Parrilla was among the first people to receive a scholarship from Springfield Partners and is now a business owner and physician’s assistant. He said his journey had been “made possible” by the scholarship he received. He thanked Tabitha Desplaines, director of early childhood education at Springfield Partners, for her help in filling out the free application for federal student aid paperwork.
Addressing the scholarship recipients, he said, “This award is a testament to your hard work and potential. Dream boldly, work tirelessly and uplift each other.”
Ayanna Presley, another former scholarship recipient, said “There are so many assets” among the people of Springfield. “We need to know that people look like who they serve.”
Gomez spoke of earning a degree, saying, “In Black and brown communities, that piece of paper has always been our passport out of [poverty].” Referring to the scholarships, he said, “This is a commitment and an investment the organization has made in all of you.”
There are 10 scholarship recipients who each were awarded $1,000 toward their educational goals:
Nathalie Cruz is a rising junior at Harvard and is going into the medical field.
- Isabella Culver will be attending Providence College in the fall, majoring in marketing.
- Samantha Culver is a sophomore on a pre-med track at Providence College
- Aliana De La Guardia is earning a life and career coaching certificate at Rider University.
- Jayla Fisher will attend Western New England University in the fall to study journalism and mass communications.
- Arilyn Kane is a nursing student at Elms College.
- Yanaira Lebron is attending the Elms College nursing program in the fall.
- Jennially Pacheco is a rising sophomore at Westfield State University in the early childhood education major.
- Maryneida Perez Morales is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling at Springfield College.
- Catherine Thompson is a rising sophomore at John Hopkins University majoring in political science.
