2026-10-08 - Cultural Affairs and Tourism

00:20And I'm going to probably kick this off

00:22because we have a few things to mention.

00:26And thanks everybody for joining. This

00:27is Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

00:29Basically what it is an opportunity 11

00:32times a year

00:34for us to tape

00:36people announcing their organization

00:38activities, opportunities, fundraisers,

00:42etc. Any kind of information they want,

00:45their phone number, their email,

00:46whatever. And then we edit it. It's very

00:49basic. And then we send it out.

00:53And it's constantly played for a month

00:56until we take the other one. The only

00:58time we don't tape is in December.

01:00December gets a little kooky.

01:03In more ways than one. So, I don't know

01:06who wants to start. I mean this is My

01:08name is Anne. This is Cultural Affairs

01:10and Tourism. We've been going on for

01:12about 5 years now. And again, we hold

01:15these meetings.

01:17Excuse me, they're taped. And we just

01:20want people to come on you know and

01:22speak about all the positives going on,

01:25all the you know, concerns,

01:26opportunities for meetings, etc. And I'm

01:29mostly I just want to say everybody vote

01:32on Tuesday, November 3rd or show up for

01:35early voting, which starts apparently

01:38like Saturday, October 17th. And that's

01:41a week from this Saturday.

01:44And then we also want to make sure

01:46because we're going to be taping the

01:47next one on Thursday, November 12th.

01:51It's always at 6:00-ish.

01:53And like I said, it goes for 20 minutes

01:55or so, half an hour. And we're you know,

01:58it's Veteran's Day

01:59and of course Brockton Library Oh, no.

02:02Brockton Garden Club is having their

02:05meeting and Pat Monteith is the

02:08presenter and it's about gardening in

02:10space, which is kind of neat. Oh, and

02:13Richard Reed's here, too. So, okay.

02:17And he's joining and I'm you know, going

02:19to make sure that you guys are all able

02:21to speak. But, that was primarily People

02:23can call me at 7 7 4 297 4939

02:28uh to find out more about Brockton

02:30Community Access. This is where all this

02:31happens. And um again, my email is A as

02:37in Anne, M as in

02:39Mary Beauregard. B E A U R E G A R D and

02:45um

02:46there's just so much great stuff going

02:47on. Symphony concert going on. This is

02:50kind of wild because this year they're

02:52having it at Easton

02:55um

02:57Oliver Ames High School.

02:59Yeah. So, I just thought that was kind

03:01of cool. So, anyway, I'm hoping that you

03:03guys are all going to join this. So,

03:05Samara, since you're new and you came on

03:08first, go for it.

03:10>> Okay. Hi, everyone. Thank you, Anna, for

03:13having me

03:14in your program. My name is Samira.

03:17Um and I work with Brockton Workers

03:19Alliance

03:21and we have the bank here in Brockton

03:23since 2006 uh 2017.

03:27>> Wow.

03:27>> And what we do is the to help the

03:31workers to fight or to learn about the

03:34rights

03:35um at the workplace because we know that

03:38many of them, unfortunately, they don't

03:40know their rights. They don't know how

03:42to advocate and sometimes people take

03:45advantage of that and um

03:48they sometimes get uh paid less than the

03:51minimum wage and many other things that

03:54happen that they don't know how to

03:55advocate. So, Brockton Workers Alliance

03:58is right there to support the workers

04:01to be to be their voices and to make

04:03sure that their

04:05rights are protected and respectful.

04:08Also, we do

04:10many other things like we had the ASLO

04:13classes

04:14which we make sure that the immigrant

04:18community can be able to have access to

04:21at least the basic of medium English

04:24English English, sorry.

04:26That they can be able to communicate.

04:29And also, we had the different campaigns

04:32like the child care campaign.

04:34>> Okay.

04:34>> We had the transportation campaign. So,

04:37we are advocating for the better

04:39accessible and affordable transportation

04:41in Brockton. As well, we had the co-op.

04:46We are trying to build a co-op here in

04:48Brockton to support our community to be

04:50able to build something and have an

04:52income

04:54and provide for their families. So,

04:56those are the some of the things

04:59that we do and we help the community in

05:01many other ways. But that's it like the

05:04basic what we do so you can have an idea

05:06who we are. And we are located at the

05:09826 Belmont Street here in Brockton.

05:13And we are Monday through Friday at the

05:16office and also we had the know your

05:18rights session or meeting which we meet

05:22the second and the fourth Saturday of

05:25each month. And there we share

05:27information with the community.

05:30>> Oh, that's incredible. And that's And

05:32then meanwhile, you're part of the

05:33transportation

05:35and one of the reasons I wanted to ask

05:37that um

05:39I want to say recognition of

05:41unfortunately people that are lost in

05:43pedestrian accidents.

05:45That is supposed to be on what day? Do

05:48you have the

05:49>> November 16th.

05:50>> November 16th.

05:52>> 16th. So, 4:00 to 6:00

05:556:30.

05:56>> Okay. And that and that's really

05:59important. We're going to see more about

06:00that. But, uh you don't want to let

06:03people forget, you know, forget. And

06:05we're always looking for more safety on

06:08the roads, sidewalks, etc. But, thank

06:10you. All right, Pat. You came next. So,

06:14uh Neil Craig, thank you. Yes.

06:17>> So, am I going to be able to share?

06:21>> I don't know.

06:21>> No. Sharing is not turned on.

06:24>> Where where do I press that?

06:27>> Uh probably down the bottom of the page,

06:30there should be a button that says

06:32share.

06:35>> I see mute all, more.

06:37Uh more.

06:39>> Should be to Probably to the immediate

06:41left of more.

06:42>> Immediate left of more?

06:44>> You need to make Harry a co-host.

06:48>> What was that?

06:49>> You need to make Harry a co-host.

06:52>> Or you could make me a co-host.

06:55>> Oh.

06:55>> know how to do that?

06:56>> Oh, well. Now, come on, guys. You're

06:58really testing me here.

07:00>> Well, let's I can just talk about it.

07:03Not a big deal.

07:04>> about that. Yeah.

07:05>> No, that's fine. Something, you know,

07:07that's that's in your next That's in

07:10your next learning stage.

07:11>> Yes.

07:12>> [laughter]

07:13>> Okay. So, we have a so much going on

07:17this month at the planetarium.

07:20Um this Saturday,

07:22um

07:2311:00, 12:00, and 1:00, we have three

07:25planetarium shows.

07:27>> I saw that. Yeah.

07:29>> The 11:00 and the 12:00 one are for the

07:32real youngsters, real little youngsters

07:34from um pre-K through um maybe 8 or 9

07:39years old. And then the one at 1:00 is

07:42for ages eight and up.

07:45Um so that's going to be great, but that

07:47first the first show at 11:00 is going

07:49to feature Big Bird talking about the

07:52moon, which is going to

07:54>> wow!

07:54>> Yeah, really fun.

07:56Um

07:56and then in a couple of weeks my

07:59absolute favorite event is going to be

08:02our STEM night event at

08:04>> Yes.

08:05>> um library and Anne is going to be there

08:08with the Garden Club and a few other

08:10people.

08:11>> mess. Making a mess.

08:13>> We have I think 15 exhibitors this year.

08:16>> Oh, that's terrific. Great.

08:19>> we're going to be making um

08:21uh what do you call them? Uh

08:24oh

08:25>> This is all free, everybody. Stop The

08:27doors open at 5:00. Yep.

08:29>> Yep.

08:30So um it's for families, you know,

08:34youngsters as young as you want to

08:36bring, but it's going to be really

08:38wonderful. We usually have about 150 or

08:41200 people come in. Uh Home Depot will

08:44be there again

08:46uh helping the kids building little

08:48kits, but there's going to be lots to

08:50do. And then

08:52um as Anne said, I will be over at the

08:55Garden Club on um October 26th.

09:00>> I will let you all know, yep.

09:03>> And we'll be talking about

09:04>> yep.

09:05>> And we'll be talking about gardening in

09:08space. And that's going to be so much

09:11fun. I've put a lot of time into it

09:14already.

09:15Um and you're going to learn about how

09:19gardens grow

09:21uh maybe on the moon, on Mars, or even

09:24in the International Space Station.

09:26>> Blow your mind, yeah.

09:28>> And then on Saturday, October 31st,

09:31Halloween day, um we're going to have

09:34three very special shows in the

09:36planetarium at the library. Um two of

09:39them are Halloween related. The first

09:42one is called Spooky Space. Um and the

09:45second one is Halloween Celestial

09:47Origins. And those are both for ages six

09:51and up. Um and then one that I thought

09:54might be

09:56going along with this a little bit. Uh

09:58it's for a little bit of an older

10:00audience. You can bring, you know, the

10:01younger kids, too, but it's called

10:04Undiscovered Worlds. And it's about

10:06other planets in the solar system

10:10and beyond our solar system. So,

10:13um that's going to be tons of fun.

10:16Um

10:17and

10:18yeah, would love to see you at every

10:20single one of those events. And then on

10:23November 1st, I take a nap.

10:26>> That I believe. And we want to we want

10:29to remind people everything is free.

10:31It's all and all these events with the

10:33planetarium and the STEM events,

10:36science, technology, engineering, math,

10:39everything is free. Everything is at 304

10:42Main Street. But the parking is behind

10:45the building on White Ave.

10:48Excuse me. And

10:50uh really highly recommend if people

10:51want to sign up, they can through What

10:55is it? Brockton Makerspace

10:57at gmail, right?

10:59>> Right.

11:00>> Okay.

11:01>> Let me actually

11:03I have several email accounts, so I

11:05actually have to look at it.

11:07>> That I believe. And uh and we just want

11:10to emphasize that these are terrific.

11:12They have um colleges coming um you

11:15know, with their students, you know,

11:17presentation. And it's really it's just

11:20so fascinating cuz kids are

11:21participating, students uh what do I

11:25want to call them? Mentoring. Oh, yeah.

11:26It's it's just fabulous all around. Yep,

11:28Brockton Library Maker.

11:31Brockton Library Maker. Because

11:33everything's at the Maker Space, but

11:34Brockton Library Maker at gmail.com.

11:38Thank you very much and Pat's doing

11:41this. Pat gets recognized and Pat is in

11:44demand. She takes her planetarium all

11:47over the place, which fascinates me to

11:50be honest with you. She's done all the

11:52schools in the city of Brockton just

11:54about. She's gone to other school

11:56systems cuz no one else has a traveling

11:58planetarium. So there.

12:00>> Next.

12:01>> Yeah.

12:01>> Next next week I'm going to Attleboro

12:03High School.

12:05>> Oh, terrific.

12:06>> And 3 weeks from now I'll be going to

12:08the Ames Elementary School in Easton

12:10with planetarium.

12:12>> Oh, wonderful. So again, this is all

12:14con- constant positive stuff and as I

12:17you know, I say this, I realize that you

12:19know, people are preparing for a whole

12:21lot that's you know, coming forward.

12:24There's always something is 3 weeks left

12:26of the farmers market. There's

12:29always an opportunity for people to do

12:31something here at BCA, promote what

12:33they're doing, do a show, do a PSA, do a

12:36podcast. So now we're going to let

12:40Richard, what do you have going on here?

12:42Reverend Reed. Yes.

12:45>> We have lots of stuff going on.

12:47>> Okay.

12:48>> This

12:49um you can actually check the library

12:51website and I'll promote them for this.

12:54At least you look at the if you can find

12:56it, you find their newsletter and I I

12:59was looking at it today I believe. The

13:01newsletter for the month of October is

13:0382 pages long.

13:06>> What?

13:07>> Yeah.

13:08So so they they generally for every

13:10event, children's event, whatever's

13:13going on, they have a page, a graphic

13:16done up for it. So

13:18I think that's the largest one that I've

13:20ever seen.

13:21I know about it because I'm on the

13:23foundation, so we fund a lot of the

13:25things.

13:26Uh,

13:27okay, but

13:29uh going on coming up at the library on

13:32the 24th

13:34from 2:00 to about 3:30, 4:00 or so.

13:38>> Okay, that's Saturday, October 24th,

13:41February

13:41>> Saturday, October 24th in the Lingo's

13:44auditorium.

13:45>> 304 Main Street. Yep, yep. Okay.

13:48>> Uh, I will be there uh

13:51with the Friends of Irish Research. It's

13:53only taken me

13:54It's only taken me a decade to be able

13:57to get a session at the library.

14:01Uh, so we'll be doing a a general talk

14:03on free things for tools for genealogy.

14:07And so again, it'll be from 2:00 to

14:094:00.

14:11Uh, like I said, it's taken me a decade

14:14to get in there. I've been in all kinds

14:16of libraries all over the Commonwealth,

14:19but my home one, I

14:21Yeah, just couldn't get in there.

14:24Uh

14:25>> Prime real estate.

14:26>> Uh, no.

14:28No, no, no. Real estate was never an

14:30issue. Um, but anyway,

14:32um

14:33Okay, coming up

14:35uh let's see. At any time, somebody

14:37wants to join,

14:39um we are partnering with uh Haitian

14:41American Citizen Aid. Um, so we are

14:46offering Haitian Creole language and

14:48culture courses

14:50uh on Zoom on Tuesday nights 7:00.

14:54Um If you go to the website

14:56happeninginbrockton.com,

14:59you will see there'll be a flyer there

15:01for it with all the contact information.

15:04Um, I host it with my Zoom account. Uh,

15:07so I'm, you know, usually there. Um,

15:11let's see. So we have that coming up.

15:13We're in the We're still in the process

15:16of getting the final things ready for

15:19starting an LPN school here in Brockton.

15:23There isn't one right now, so we will be

15:25planning to start it. Everything we host

15:27is at 899 North Main Street. Um

15:32>> Wow.

15:32>> Uh let's see. I'm trying to think what

15:34else is going on there. We currently

15:36have the

15:38uh Haitian cuisine food truck is right

15:40there

15:42uh on the property.

15:44Um

15:45On Thursdays from 3:00 to 6:00 uh we

15:49offer um

15:50through the hacka we have

15:53uh language uh ESL classes, we have

15:57citizenship classes.

15:58>> Wow.

15:59>> We have uh people a notary in there

16:01doing uh

16:03uh translation work and doing

16:06um

16:06>> resume helping people with resumes and

16:10uh

16:10uh

16:11green card and citizenship process. So,

16:15a lot happening there.

16:17Um

16:18I'm trying to think what else there was

16:21uh on my list of things that are coming

16:23up. We are I am looking forward to in

16:26November. Uh we will have I think it's

16:30on the 14th, which is a Saturday.

16:32>> Yes.

16:33>> We'll be having it We'll be having a

16:34lecture and our annual book sale uh at

16:39the uh Friends of Irish Research or

16:41David Allen Lambert Library.

16:43>> Oh.

16:44>> Uh it is the second largest genealogical

16:47history library in Massachusetts.

16:50>> All right.

16:51>> Uh the only one the only one that's

16:53bigger than us is uh uh American

16:56Ancestors in Boston and um ours is named

17:00after their chief genealogist.

17:02>> Oh, cool.

17:03>> So, uh we do we have a a great

17:05partnership there. Um

17:08We'll see. Coming up, what else is

17:11coming up?

17:12Ooh, the Haitian Creole classes, you You

17:15like say we really want to push that uh

17:17to get people involved with that.

17:20>> For sure.

17:21>> Like I say,

17:22checking the

17:23brocktonlibraryfoundation.org

17:26website gives you a little bit more

17:28information about some of the things

17:29that are going on there. Uh but at the

17:32library one, I like 82 pages. It was

17:35like unbelievable. All the events that

17:38are going on. I know they're having a

17:41special

17:43Uh

17:44what's what she calls? Some sort of fall

17:46festival.

17:48>> Oh.

17:48>> And that is, I think, on the 27th

17:53and 28th

17:55of October.

17:57Um

17:59and I forget the exact times, but it'll

18:01be on the library site. Uh but I think

18:04it's like 4:00 to 8:00.

18:05Um and they'll be doing all kinds of

18:08different projects and whatnot for the

18:10children.

18:11Uh

18:12so that's going to be a big time. We're

18:13expecting hundreds of kids is there.

18:15>> Okay.

18:16>> Uh we did the book bag

18:19or backpack giveaway

18:21uh in I think in August.

18:24And we had

18:28>> [laughter]

18:28>> Mhm. 365

18:31backpacks given out.

18:33>> I can't believe that.

18:34>> All filled all filled with supplies. The

18:36foundation was the one that did the bulk

18:39of the work on that. Uh but there were

18:40several other groups that donated

18:42backpacks as well.

18:44Uh so that was a success. And what what

18:47we did different this year though

18:49is every child that came in and got a

18:52backpack, we had them fill out an

18:54application for a library card.

18:57>> Oh, that's terrific. Good. Good.

18:58>> So

18:59there were several there were

19:01probably about 300 close to 300

19:05applications filled out. They're still

19:06being entered in.

19:08>> [laughter]

19:08>> Uh that doesn't that doesn't happen

19:10instantly. So it's they're still being

19:12entered in, but uh a lot of the kids

19:15that did it that night I have are

19:17already been in to pick up their new

19:20library cards.

19:21>> Oh, that's great.

19:22>> we're really excited about that.

19:24Um

19:25>> Wow.

19:26>> else. Yeah, I know. It's going crazy

19:29here.

19:30Uh but again, the big thing for us, too,

19:32is again, I mentioned about the LPN

19:34school, getting that off the ground. Um

19:37we're we're pretty close.

19:39>> Good.

19:40>> Just have a couple more students that

19:41have to pass their TEAS test to be able

19:43to qualify for the classes. And um so,

19:47that's that's going to be something new

19:50here to Brockton. And um of course, we

19:53found a lot of medical places that we

19:56can get people to do their internships.

19:58So,

19:59>> Now, that I believe.

20:00>> It's it's full it's full service.

20:03>> Great.

20:03>> Everything's at 899 North Main Street.

20:07And

20:07>> Parking? Parking?

20:09>> Lot free parking.

20:11Uh and again, food a restaurant on site,

20:14you know,

20:15during the warm months

20:17with the Haitian cuisine.

20:20Uh and then um

20:22all the events you got free parking, the

20:24you know, really they're free. Uh the

20:26Creole class does have a charge to it,

20:29but it's reasonable because we have a

20:31teacher that we have to pay.

20:33Um

20:33>> Makes sense. Yeah.

20:35>> Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. So, but

20:36happeninginbrockton.com,

20:38you'll find out all the information that

20:41anybody submits to me.

20:43So, I've already put our next Cultural

20:45Affairs meeting on there because I

20:46happen to be in there making a change

20:48today.

20:49>> Mhm.

20:49>> So,

20:50um I just

20:51>> November 12th, yep.

20:52>> Yeah, I updated it to November 12th, and

20:54the

20:55and the also the foundation

20:59has uh

21:00a month already, and we'll again in

21:03November meet over at North Baptist

21:05because it's going to be on a Thursday

21:07night and the library is closed, so

21:08>> Sure. Okay.

21:10>> But also it's encouraged everybody to

21:13get out there and vote.

21:14>> Yes, vote and encourage others, take

21:18them there. I mean, I want to thank

21:19everybody for joining and I really you

21:23know, as we we see more information, I

21:26see to it that BCA gets it. We pass

21:29along this, you know, November 16th,

21:32Monday, November 16th. All the stuff

21:34that Pat's doing

21:36it it's just phenomenal and what is

21:38really phenomenal about it is Pat is

21:40responsible for all these various

21:44students over the years drawing national

21:47attention and getting awards and often

21:50times, get this, IN FIRST PLACE. SO, you

21:54know, this is this is all great stuff. I

21:56do want to mention something. A lot of

21:58people are familiar with the late Dr.

22:01Claire Appling and she was a

22:04Don't worry I'll say it. A teacher and

22:06then the first headmaster, dean

22:10woman in the history of the school

22:12system and after she retired, she really

22:15didn't retire. Is that a story I

22:17directed to you, Pat?

22:19Instead she ran around doing all kinds

22:21of stuff. She became an EMT. Now, I'm 5

22:24ft tall, she's shorter than me. She rode

22:27around in the ambulance. She taught

22:29people the

22:30the different CPR, especially for the

22:33little babies and everything. She came

22:34in with the It was unbelievable. But

22:36what the woman did, she never stopped. I

22:39mean, she passed away in her early 80s

22:42and and people, how would I say it?

22:46She commanded respect. But the thing is

22:48is she empowered so many students and

22:51the other night they were speaking on

22:53behalf of, you know, recognizing her and

22:55they're working on

22:57a proposal at Brockton High to name the

23:01entryway in her honor.

23:04So, I just thought over 52 years she was

23:07involved with this and she volunteered

23:10like it involved, kept learning, etc.

23:14You know, lifelong learning. And it's

23:15just there's a lot of great people up

23:17there. Frederick Douglass Neighborhood

23:19Association is having their meeting on

23:22Tuesday, October 20th and they they they

23:25have a way of getting, you know, to to

23:28that information, FDNY, and um that's

23:32Tuesday the 20th. Um I'm thinking now, I

23:35just thought it was so cool with the

23:36symphony kicking off and the music has

23:39to do with space and celestial. I was

23:41like, "Okay, Pat influenced them." And

23:45again, we're emphasizing the voting, but

23:47on a sensitive note, let's remember,

23:50unfortunately, we're going to have to

23:51turn on the heat at some point soon and

23:54some people are challenged with that. We

23:56have um self-help in this community. We

24:00have other options, especially for

24:02seniors, those that are disabled, and

24:04veterans.

24:06It's really important for people to

24:07realize that that we have these various

24:10services.

24:11Um I'm sure the money's a little tight,

24:14but the we you know, a beginning of a

24:16way to work, you know, assist

24:17individuals in these challenging times

24:20with the winter coming and um we're

24:23going to be changing the clocks on

24:25Halloween night

24:27so we get that extra hour of sleep. Yes.

24:31And some of you don't know what that

24:32means cuz you're always doing something,

24:34but

24:35>> [laughter]

24:35>> but anyway, we want to um continue to to

24:38mention all these positives that are

24:39transpiring. Thank you for joining us,

24:42Samara, and uh Pat Reed, and Pat

24:45Monteith, the uh solar system ambassador

24:49with NASA. And um again, next one

24:53meeting is Thursday, November 12th at uh

24:586:00 p.m. We send out the Zoom

25:00instructions and everyone is welcome and

25:03we want to thank BCA for always allowing

25:05us to do this. Does anybody have any

25:07other announcements? Yeah.

25:08>> Yeah, my announcement is not another

25:11announcement, but just I want to make

25:13sure that everybody remember

25:15>> Yes.

25:15>> about November 16th because no one

25:18should be on none any family should

25:21going uh through a tragedy losing a

25:23family member.

25:24>> Sure.

25:25>> We got the mass that report from the

25:28>> Oh.

25:28>> 2025 to 2026 uh report and we had 3,7882

25:37>> Oh.

25:37>> So

25:38>> Oh man.

25:38>> And we had five federal injured crashes

25:4215 people.

25:44>> Oh

25:44>> So even though it's one person that

25:46passed away because of crash, that is a

25:49tragedy.

25:50>> Wow.

25:50>> So we need to make sure that everybody

25:53show up. This is a way that we are

25:55advocating to make sure that our streets

25:57are safe

25:58>> Sure.

25:59>> for everyone. And remember November 16th

26:03at 4:00 p.m. we are going to be located

26:05sorry being back at at

26:07>> It's all right. Don't worry.

26:10>> But

26:11>> Hi honey.

26:12>> [laughter]

26:12>> We are going to be to meet at the city

26:14hall at 4:00 p.m.

26:16>> Okay.

26:17>> Please everybody show up.

26:18>> Okay.

26:18>> And we are going to walk around

26:21advocating for safety on our streets.

26:24Thank you.

26:24>> Okay. Advocating safety. Thank you. And

26:27on that note um anyone else? No? All

26:31right, thank you. Have a GREAT HOLIDAY

26:33WEEKEND. YAY! [screaming]

26:34ALL RIGHT. Thank you.

26:37>> Yeah. Thank you. All right. Good night.

26:39>> Night.

27:00>> Mhm.