News  The Roderick Ireland Courthouse was the second stop on the Signature Court Site tour for Cultural Appreciation Week 2022

Court Administrator John Bello, who recently announced he is leaving the Trial Court, bid farewell to his colleagues in his speech.

"I really appreciate what you do for the court system and I am really proud to be a part of the Trial Court family. Although I am leaving, I am leaving you in good hands and rest assure the work will continue," said Mr. Bello.      ` 

Springfield was the second of nine Signature Court events attended by court and local leaders. Associate Justice Serge Georges and Dr. Harry Dumay, president of Our Lady of the Elms College, who both hail from Haiti, spoke about the importance of culture and diversity.

"I hope everyone has a great day today and understands that everybody matters, every race matters, every position matters, and that you all give each other a chance to get to know one another and build a bridge from there," said Justice Georges.

Students from the Rebecca Johnson School danced and held hands in a circle as Salsa and Meringue music played in the background. The 4th and 5th graders from the school--with microphones in hand--also shared their impressions of the courts as their classmates cheered them on. The Springfield celebration featured violinist Elijah Hairston, a dance performance by Robert Sepheus, choreographer in residence at the Shooting Star Dance Center.

Guests stood in a fast line as heaps of meatballs, chicken, pasta, and empanadas were served. ROCA youth workers, dressed in neon color shirts, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. State Police on horses posed with those who attended the event.

The other eight signature sites--which will be visited by Massachusetts Trial Court leaders throughout the week-- include the Massachusetts Training and Operations Center (MTOC) in Clinton where Matthew DeVeau, Chief Probation Officer of the Administrative Services Unit (ASU), was presented with the Margaret E. Oglesby Award by her husband, Frank Oglesby. Mrs. Oglesby, former Hampshire Superior Court Chief Probation Officer, passed away on August 28, 2020 after a long illness. She served in the Army National Guard for 28 years retiring as a Major in 2010.  

Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn will be the site of a Naturalization ceremony where 25 men and women will take an oath to become new American citizens on Wednesday, October 26th. A second event will follow at Boston Municipal Court-West Roxbury. Haverhill and Newburyport District courts are stops on Thursday's signature court tour. Cultural Appreciation Week 2022 will end on Friday, October 28th, with signature court events at the Office of Court Management (OCM) on Center Plaza and the Brooke Courthouse in Boston.

In addition to the Signature Court events, there are celebrations taking place in courthouses and court offices across the state which feature employee-only activities as well as those that are open to the public. These events center around music, art, and food. There are also interactive activities such as games and exercises for employees to learn more about each other's cultures, as well as a planned panel discussion.

Cultural Appreciation Week was conceived by Pamerson Ifill, Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services for the Massachusetts Probation Service. It began as a one-day event and was expanded to one week by former Massachusetts Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey. Each year, Deputy Ifill organizes a group of more than 250 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. The theme for this year's event is "Out of Many, We Are One: Equal Justice for All."