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COVID-19 Listening Sessions: Share Your Story & Help Your Community!

COVID-19 Listening Sessions: Share Your Story & Help Your Community!

A strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for all people and local businesses is a top priority for the City of Somerville. Mayor Ballantyne is asking Somerville residents hit hardest by the pandemic to tell their story.  We need you to share your ideas on ways to help our community recover.

You should attend these sessions if you:

  • Became ill or lost loved ones to COVID-19
  • Lost income, your job, or missed work because of COVID-19
  • Had trouble getting food because of COVID-19
  • Had housing problems because of COVID-19
  • Have medical bills because of COVID-19
  • Lost childcare because of COVID-19
  • Had mental health difficulties because of COVID-19
  • Had your education disrupted because of COVID-19
  • Experienced other difficulties due to the pandemic.
Contact Information

How to Take Part & Share Your Story

Sign up as an individual or on behalf of a group:

 

 

 

Or call / O llame al / Ou ligue para / Oswa Rele / फोन गर्नुहोस्:

311 (617-666-3311)

What to Know About the Process

  • After signing up, you will be contacted by a member of the Listening Session Team to schedule your session.
  • Listening sessions will start in April.
  • Sessions will be led by City staff and community members.
  • Sessions will be about 1 hour long
    Sessions will be held with small groups (8-10 people), including the Mayor and a few City staff.
  • Sessions will be held in your preferred language.
  • Sessions can be held in person, over the phone, or on Zoom.
  • A mental health support staff will be available to participants at the sessions.

ADA Accommodations

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov

More Virtual Events & Meetings

Mon, 05/23/2022 - 6:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Condominium Review Board will be conducted via remote participation.
Wed, 05/25/2022 - 12:00pm
This 45-minute session via Zoom will treat you to a playlist of diverse musical offerings: a little jazz, some "oldies but goodies," a smidgen of classical, a dip into barbershop, a trip to Broadway. The music is taped but the experience is live. Your guide is Somerville Resident, Laura Zoll, trained as a medieval musicologist and with a life-long love of all things musical.
Tue, 06/14/2022 - 7:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Somerville Commission for Women will be conducted via remote participation. See description for details.
Thu, 06/16/2022 - 6:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this public meeting will be conducted via remote participation.

 

Thu, 06/16/2022 - 6:30pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be conducted via remote participation.
Mon, 06/27/2022 - 6:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Condominium Review Board will be conducted via remote participation.
Tue, 07/12/2022 - 7:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Somerville Commission for Women will be conducted via remote participation. See description for details.
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 6:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this public meeting will be conducted via remote participation.

 

Thu, 07/21/2022 - 6:30pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be conducted via remote participation.
Mon, 07/25/2022 - 6:00pm
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting of the Condominium Review Board will be conducted via remote participation.

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Systemic Racism Listening Sessions

Tackling systemic racism in Somerville requires input from diverse voices in our community. A respectful, collaborative environment is an important means for gathering input. Following George Floyd’s murder and the nation’s call for those in leadership to listen, Mayor Curtatone has committed to hosting virtual small group listening sessions for anyone interested in speaking, prioritizing BIPOC members of our community. These informal conversations are meant to provide a platform for the community to share opinions, challenges and visions for the future. The Mayor, and possibly other City staff, will listen to, and receive feedback about, what the community envisions for change before deciding on the most effective, and relevant, next steps.

How Will This Work?

  • Listening sessions will begin as soon as possible.
  • A listening session will be jointly facilitated by the Mayor and interested members of the community. City staff will supplement the listening team as notetakers and documenters. We welcome interested members of the community to support at any step in this process.
  • Conversations will not be scripted. The Mayor will be listening for opinions, challenges, and the community’s vision for a future free from racism. 
  • The City will compile what is heard from these listening sessions and share key themes with the public. Anything shared publicly will be made anonymous. Please continue to check this page for updates and next steps.
  •  Listening sessions will be held in any language; English is not required. Interpreters will be provided, as needed.

How to Take Part & Share Your Voice

These sessions are intended for those living and working in Somerville. When scheduling, we will prioritize sessions with persons of color in our community. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts at a listening session, please:

  • Submit your interest to the City using this form.
  • Indicate on this form if you are an individual or if you are part of a group. (We kindly request groups not exceed 10 people to keep discussions focused on what all participants have to say.)

Indicate on the form if you are interested in serving as a community liaison for your group listening session. (This role might include: co-facilitating a small group discussion, debriefing with the listening team following your session, reviewing any internal write-ups or memos from your group’s session.)

How to Log in to the Session

Come back here at the time of the session you would like to attend to join live by:

Join a test meeting ahead of time to make sure you're ready to connect.

If you’re unable to attend live, no worries. You can watch the event later on City YouTube or City Cable TV.

ADA Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Nency Salamoun in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.

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