5MilestonesCelebrating its 97th anniversary, theUrban League of Springfield recent-ly held its annual dinner withkeynote speaker U.S. DeputySecretary Dennis Hightower. Withthe theme “Strong Business=StrongCommunities,” the program salutedthe League’s mission to enableAfrican Americans to secure self-reliance, parity, power and civilrights. The event’s lead sponsorswere MassMutual and Comcast.The major sponsors were BaystateHealth and Bank of America.

MakingHistorySpringfield’s WTCC celebrates 40 yearsKnown as The Community’sChoice, WTCC-FM, the radiostation of Springfield TechnicalCommunity College, recentlycelebrated its 40th birthday.

WTCC’s 4,000 watts signal,unusually strong for a collegeradio station, reaches southbeyond Hartford and north, insome areas, nearly to theVermont border. The stationbroadcasts from its studios onthe first floor of Gar vey Hall atSTCC.

With more than 100 volun-teer members and programhosts from the surroundingcommunities, the station pro-vides local programming 24hours a day, at 90.7 FM. Manyprogram hosts have been withthe station for 20 years or more.

WTCC’s schedule reflectsthe region, providing a highlydiversified range of programs.Among those are followingthemed programs: Caribbean,Portuguese, Italian, Greek,Native American and Polish.

There are severalgospel and jazz pro-grams, as well as R&B,blues, and classicalmusic. BlackSpectrum programs arethe focus on week daymornings, and Latinoshows on weekdayafternoons. There areseveral talk shows thatcover local issues bycommunity-based hostsand area guests.

WTCC is an activepart of the community, partici-pating in area events, oftenbroadcasting live from festivalsand concerts, and offeringactivities for area children.

The station is led by a board of elected station volunteers,and governed by a board ofdirectors composed of profes-sionals from the community,the station, and the college.Board chair Janine Fondon,President and CEO of UnityFirst, says, “This station is tr uly

a jewel in ourcommunity. We’re proud of ourrecord of 40 years of quality,local programming and we lookforward to continuing as a rele-vant resource for the communi-ty.”

As a non-profit, educationalstation, WTCC is supported byunderwriting from communitybusinesses and organizations,and through annual fundrais-ing efforts.

In celebration, let’s recog-

nize the station’s contributionto the Springfield communityand its legacy on the campus ofSpringfield TechnicalCommunity College.

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Denise Stewart Shown left to right: Luis Rodriguez and Maurice Lindsay

Recent 40th anniversary events were highlighted by a concert in December and January reception.

Rivier CollegeCelebrates BlackHistory Month

Through March 3,2010,Rivier College ArtGallery presents KEEPINGRHYTHM: Three AfricanAmerican ArtistsNashua, NH—

Through March 3, 2010, theRivier College Art Gallery willdisplay “Keeping Rhythm”,works by three AfricanAmerican artists: paintings,drawings and prints by PaulGoodnight, collages by EkuaHolmes, and fiberworks by EdJohnetta Fowler-Miller.

On February 25 at 7 p.m. in the Rivier College’s DionCenter Reception Room (seeinfo to the right), EkuaHolmes will share her personal narrative and the phi-losophy and experiences thatshape her art.

This exhibition probes visualsignifiers that give the AfricanAmerican experience an impor-tant place in the cultural andspiritual life of our nation. Theartists are highly acclaimed fortheir accomplishments, both in

the United Statesand abroad.

Currently,Goodnight’s work isin the internationalgroup show thatwill travel in theUnited States andthen in South Africato commemoratethe 2010 World Cup

events; Holmes is a participantin Harvard University’s BlackArts Festival; Miller is conduct-ing workshops as an ArtsManagement Envoy from theUnited States to the Ivor yCoast, Africa.

The Rivier College ArtGallery is free and open to thepublic Mondays throughThursdays from 11 a.m. to 3:45p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. and onFridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For additional informationcall (603) 897-8276. TheGallery is located at 431 SouthMain Street (Memorial Hall onthe second floor, accessible byelevator and six low steps) inNashua, New Hampshire. Pictured: American Songbook-Bridges.

Collage by Ekua Holmes.

Join us....

February 25 at 7 p.m. Rivier College Black HistoryMonth reception for Artist

Ekua Holmes To attend, send an email to:

multiculturalaffairs@rivier.edu

or visit www.rivier.edu.

“Lighting Up the Sky: 25 Yearsof the African AmericanExperience in Springfield” willbe the Black History Monthexhibit in the Amy H. Carberr yFine Arts Gallery at SpringfieldTechnical Community College. Fifty black and white photostaken by area photographerEdward Cohen will be on dis-play; Cohen has taken thou-sands of photos since 1979 inthe Springfield community.

The photo exhibit will be onview through February 26.

Cohen, who is a graduate ofthe electronic technologydepartment at SpringfieldTechnical Community College,as well as the bachelor ’s degreeprogram in mass communica-tions at UMass Amherst, is amember ofSTCC’s radio station, WTCC-

FM. He has been producingradio programs at WTCC,90.7FM, since the mid-1980s,and currently hosts the GreatBlack Music: Jazz program onWednesdays from 10:00 p.m. tomidnight.

The Amy H. Carberry FineArts Gallery at STCC is locatedon the lower level of building28. Hours are Tuesday throughFriday 12:30 to 4:30,and Saturdays 10:00 to 2:00.This program is supported inpart by a grant from theSpringfield Cultural Council, alocal agency supported by theMassachusetts CulturalCouncil. Partial support alsocomes from STCC StudentActivities.

Celebrating African American history in Springfield

Elder DouglasM. Williamswas calledhome to bewith the Lordon January 30,2010. He wasborn inBrunson,SouthCarolina onFebruary 7,1944 to thelate ReverendWillie E. andBeulahWilliams. Hewas educatedin theHampton County Public School system and graduated in 1962. In1964, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where heserved as an Artillery Officer and Sharp Shooter and completedtwo tours of duty in Vietnam. Elder W illiams was a resident ofSpringfield, MA since 1970.

Elder Williams was a man of God who walked in faith andshared his love of the Lord with those around him. Elder W illiamstouched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity , andmaintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. In1973, he and his wife began to sell beauty supplies as a home-basebusiness. Their business grew to the point where they were able toopen their first store at the corner of Mapledale and State Street.

The business moved to Midtown Plaza where it operated forover 20 years. Williams' Beauty Supply was one of the few blackowned beauty supply businesses that carried a complete line ofproducts for cosmetologist and barbers in the New England andEastern New York areas. After retiring from his business, heworked at the South End Community Center. He was a partner inthe Mid-Town Plaza and Merri Maid laundr y mat. He served as amember on the Mason Square Concerned Citizens and was a life-time member of the NAACP.

The spiritual foundation of Elder Williams started at a ver yearly age, being born to a spiritual family. He was a charter mem-ber of Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he ser ved as an usher,was ordained as a deacon, and ser ved on the Board of Missionaries.He also served as a teacher for the Bible study and Sunday School.He was a pillar member of the Shiloh Community Church of Godin Christ and held the offices of financial chairman and deacon.He was called into the ministr y where he was licensed andordained in 1997 as an Elder under Pastor Robert Daniels andserved in the Shiloh Prison Ministry at Ludlow CorrectionalFacility. Since 1994, Elder Williams ministered with FaithOutreach Ministries at local prisons, shelters, and on the citystreets.

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Elder Douglas M. Williams

Our Legacy

Shown (Left to Right): Springfield community leaders Edna Mappand Rebecca Johnson in January 1991