News  Springfield Court Complex is chosen as "signature court event" where the public is invited to celebrate Cultural Appreciation Week

Springfield, MA — The Springfield event will take place on Monday, October 24, beginning at 9 am. Signature Court events are attended by court and local leaders. The theme for this year's event is "Out of Many, We Are One: Equal Justice for All."

During Cultural Appreciation Week, courts and court offices throughout the Commonwealth celebrate the rich culture and diversity of court employees, court-users, and residents who live in the communities surrounding the courthouses. There are hundreds of activities planned at courthouses, court offices, and Community Justice Support Centers (CJSC) throughout the state during the week of October 24-28.

Springfield's event is free and open to the public. This outdoor event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Harry Dumay, President of the Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee MA. President Dumay hails from Haiti. Free breakfast and lunch will be served. ROCA will grill hamburgers and hot dogs which will be provided free to the public. Food trucks will be present. There will be cotton candy and popcorn. The celebration will also feature music, singing, dance, spoken word, a DJ as well as presentations by local school children of their artwork.

Robert Sepheus, a choreographer in residence at Shooting Star Dance Center, will perform a special dance to the music of R & B artist George Benson called "Everything Must Change." Elementary school drummers and singers  as well as a violinist will perform. Community vendors will also be on the courthouse grounds. The mounted police and representatives from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department will be on hand. The Springfield Fire Department will do an October Safety Month demonstration. There will also be a raffle of 30-day bus passes and Walmart and TD Bank gift cards; as well as free haircuts and hair styling.

"We are excited about celebrating the great City of Springfield and its many cultures," said Lorna Spencer, Statewide Supervisor for the Massachusetts Probation Service and one of the planners of the Springfield event.

Cultural Appreciation Day was conceived by Pamerson Ifill, Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services for the Massachusetts Probation Service. The Trial Court celebration was later extended to a week. Each year, Deputy Ifill organizes a group of more than 300 court employees called Cultural Proficiency Champions or Champions who plan these celebrations each year. Champions also serve as ambassadors at the courts and help court-users navigate the court system.