[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6197999,"mediaKeyId","3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054","parentId",3849710,"title","Needham HRC reviews Race Day, Pride and Juneteenth activities; committee to send thank-you notes to police and select board","audioSeconds",785,"startMs",485000,"endMs",1270000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054&start=485&end=1270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054/thumbnail_485000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197999/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-HRC-reviews-Race-Day-Pride-and-Juneteenth-activities-committee-to-send-thank-you-notes-to-police-and-select-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197999-d6ec2e82fe51d5e8170ea7be02724da8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051795&Signature=m1468K7-zaqRSfJiVgoggqLomg4CAFWLbMp~EKm-4lc8lcItb3XQpcruqMqLPxbtr6R8UNi7u5m8xEFfsK3CPl0JL70p7xfnGWBqM0xXs-M3x1NFvu59rNtVpgns956Jr-6NV~e-lxOGzgfBWQyDnnLzBzcZXGEU06Zmg68vLjN45sf-46jLUV0uXE~S7HfsMnvGoD6RCFLyUva-u4vJcdK1BCltF4THV-dZw-9kH28lH1NczjowlfhrFkNroUaDYxKLJH6pQoa~vJYfkHhasB8wiRutqChIfwEdNBGFfTElX9G3JN-59E6QyXlYv0oIKakYnyOmhz9plcjL3r1jHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-06-17T14:25:36Z","article","Committee members on June 12 reported on several recent and upcoming community events: Race Day, Pride activities and the Juneteenth ceremony.

Race Day: Members estimated Race Day attendance at about 75 people (attendees came and went) and singled out the dedication of a plaque in memory of Richard Frey as a highlight. The event drew broad community participation and support from several town groups including the historical society and Needham Diversity Initiative. Committee members said several select board members attended and that publicity from local media helped increase turnout.

Pride: Committee members noted a post from the Needham Police Department about a special pride patch available for purchase; proceeds were listed as supporting Bagley, described in the department post as an organization providing youth support (as recounted at the meeting). The committee agreed to send short thank-you notes to the select board and the police department recognizing visible support for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Juneteenth: The committee confirmed a Juneteenth ceremony on Needham Town Common for June 19 at 9:30 a.m. Members said the town poet laureate and other readers will participate and that the committee will post event information to the committee’s social channels in advance.

Committee members assigned a volunteer to draft short thank-you messages to the select board and police department for their participation in Pride Month programming and noted that public recognition can help reinforce inclusion work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Human Rights Committee 06/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reported Race Day drew an estimated 75 people and praised expanded participation; they also noted the police department sold a commemorative pride patch benefitting a youth LGBTQ+ organization and confirmed Juneteenth ceremonies on the Town Common.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198004,"Needham group seeks grant-writing help for memorial to enslaved and Indigenous peoples",461,4189000,4650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054&start=4189&end=4650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054/thumbnail_4189000.jpg","/articles/6198004/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-group-seeks-grant-writing-help-for-memorial-to-enslaved-and-Indigenous-peoples","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198004-ccb502d7b9c589ec80e9b5a73c533710/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051795&Signature=CM4qGBhJNcu6dfERxKJGzMZxe4NrUusJZ12c8QQtbs0NDiiN7jZVYkbCrRDqE0Bz9zNgUAdUhagP-9M6JRRqH9tr--KKvIpGk2RRDrYXx00tHaKjmQ31QuLqnXJqEfI8T5p~GqsItr8H-PAlwoN2p-fFWx4AuwmcrojKkb9RL~dffOZvzu223r5l-R9tpbvWJLBu27tfYQwrIO2fjLVjiD-nuwfIwc1IWOso8xOYhXZm8wWVCI0Yd~n75LIXoHmgA~k9W4nVmscVZOCgfYheEzx3rqleNMAUL4OOUxswk-cLRH6YGc~nGhhBPyw2sFa0OC2S9~4uHQYNqHcHSxh5QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Needham Human Rights Committee discussed an ongoing project to create a public memorial to enslaved and Indigenous peoples in Needham and asked the committee for help identifying grant-writing expertise and fundraising partners.

Committee members said a design concept drafted with input from the memorial working group depicts a teardrop with a water element intended to symbolize both sorrow and the possibility of healing. The proposed site under discussion is the First Parish lawn, though members noted the town common might be preferable for visibility but would require longer permitting and planning.

The memorial group said they are exploring grant sources and public-art funding programs and asked for contacts who could help with preparing competitive grant applications. Committee members suggested outreach to local arts supporters and high-school art teachers, and offered to put the group in touch with local contacts who worked on past public-art projects.

Committee members said they would share contact information and help the memorial group build a grant strategy, and asked the memorial subgroup to return with a budget estimate and a short list of proposed funding sources.","The Needham memorial working group is developing a public-art memorial that would commemorate enslaved and Indigenous people; the committee is seeking grant-writing expertise and potential partners to fund and install a water-feature sculpture.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198009,"Resident urges Needham HRC to revise March anti-bigotry resolution and raises alleged discrimination at local upholstery shop",5330,71000,5401000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054&start=71&end=5401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6198009/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Resident-urges-Needham-HRC-to-revise-March-anti-bigotry-resolution-and-raises-alleged-discrimination-at-local-upholstery-shop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198009-7141e25f97a3b1392fc65d4149dc4d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051795&Signature=D7ZVAvqiIiVpFHVK-5R9A1PBfLDf6xC53RZzly-~iExQNbHV0ORgs9UE-PYRclgbH3Wh~L6Ck2z5GesLdaELfhCHRTlVoRMl0C7poM~q52tyDL~I7WvgvhXMl~DGYAV5wvcQVXwsXF1lnGJj~uxwQib5Qvpiq20DR4SGdqwWMSNe-o9Pg-dexHEw5in~uzBrtRBf2NMrMa48zkHjaeWt8QVjMivr6xG76iOXkOrSGY1C3Ltw7e3euD5Etwo8~lKuoXW-CPEYNuf~~Hi0FRjz~F-wbAMDoUjioKQNQBhqJpNQlB9wfw2~0vcXGzuFbzJERWhQ36XbMePdIsEO9PuUXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 12 meeting of the Needham Human Rights Committee, resident David Sherman urged the committee to revisit a March resolution that he said condemns \"various bigotries\" but omits explicit mention of antisemitism. Sherman told the committee he believed withdrawing a prior request for select-board endorsement had been wise given flaws in the resolution, but he asked the committee to revise the document so the town’s existing public statement clearly addresses antisemitism.

Sherman also described an incident he said occurred June 2 at a local upholstery shop. Sherman said he is a medical responder at his synagogue and, concerned about recent firebomb attacks around the country, went into an upholstery store to ask about flame-retardant treatments for sanctuary chairs. Sherman said the salesperson told him, \"I don't wanna hear about it,\" and later replied to Sherman's Google review describing the visit. Sherman said the owner’s reply characterized him as \"a man with a shirt that says God on it\" (transcribed from Sherman's account) and that he was unsure whether the exchange had been motivated by religious bias.

Sherman asked the committee whether the incident could be discussed during the meeting’s unanticipated business agenda item. Committee members acknowledged the comment on the record and said they would follow up: staff noted the committee has a discrimination-complaint form and recommended using that form to provide details that would enable investigation or a formal referral to appropriate town offices. Members said they would take time over the summer to consider clear guidelines for handling discrimination complaints and public statements so responses are consistent and not reactive.

The committee asked staff to collect additional information about Sherman’s interaction with the upholstery business and to advise him on the discrimination-complaint process if he wished to pursue a formal complaint.","David Sherman used public comment to ask the committee to reconsider a March resolution he said failed to name antisemitism, and to request committee follow-up after he says a local upholsterer refused to discuss flame-retardant treatment and replied to his review in a manner he called discriminatory.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198014,"Needham community conversations on race drew about 40 participants; HRC plans follow-up",631,1509000,2140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054&start=1509&end=2140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054/thumbnail_1509000.jpg","/articles/6198014/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-community-conversations-on-race-drew-about-40-participants-HRC-plans-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198014-010f745497882e1118d13342c5cae97f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051795&Signature=VwDt6V0OGdlDNoZoPV63~31mwAos~C5lXzoBRLxk6ehpG-Ys2zkvelfg6FjFJ1zhOBuPrgTmNxPniuwCU2ZZMhxxh4r62-nZVAPF89bAkM1G1rrDcRMNZaNeJ-V7ma9oMUnOIxO2rS6F3VrbfPxwy22Iz5a1YdpJuPSZHHP9TbuGnLwcvWTsuRrZvCidxxsh9GxEBumARE-lL38ZY2Uhb3m2O0ef1BBZyeRHA9LymkJhPXls79piwvrytog0luEbqThpMQ9OisVHrEGja2yepil9h8jXGUrEtQSbAB593BY0LcPHux4Fbh7ZrPr-L~FsP07cvdntzhHmWqjq-3UaEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Needham’s Human Rights Committee on June 12 reviewed the committee’s recent \"community conversations on race\" event, which organizers said drew roughly 40 attendees including students, school committee members and town leaders. Committee members credited facilitator Gary for structuring small-group conversations and producing materials the community can reuse.

Members said the session mixed experienced community participants with people who had not attended similar events before and that the structure — short presentation followed by table conversations — produced candid exchanges about local school experiences and everyday biases. Committee members reported hearing from at least one Asian-descent participant who described an experience where people asked her \"Where are you from?\" and that the group discussed how to respond when such microaggressions occur.

Several members said the format created a sense of trust and helped different age groups talk candidly; students at one table reportedly described incidents at school that drew strong reactions. The committee discussed holding a follow-up session in the fall, noting the town transition in senior staff and recommending a continuing planning role by the Human Rights Committee and a new manager-level lead for logistics.

Committee leaders said they will coordinate with the incoming town manager and other town offices to keep the event in the municipal program calendar, and that ambassadors or on-site volunteers could help with welcoming attendees and increasing interactivity. Members also suggested seeking partners such as Braver Angels for facilitation if the next session is framed as cross-community dialogue rather than a standard HRC briefing.

Committee members expressed particular satisfaction that the session included young people and that the format allowed people to speak openly about difficult topics. They noted the session’s materials and facilitator slides will be shared with committee members who could not attend.

The committee agreed to continue planning and to revisit concrete next steps in September.","Committee members praised facilitator Gary and reported roughly 40 attendees for the recent community conversation on race. Members said the session surfaced student perspectives and local incidents and recommended continuing the series in the fall with town leadership support.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198019,"Needham HRC approves moving forward on \"Human Library\" license pending town approval",1493,2377000,3870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054&start=2377&end=3870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3849710-30157d1899c60b4a015d53d7a06af054/thumbnail_2377000.jpg","/articles/6198019/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-HRC-approves-moving-forward-on-Human-Library-license-pending-town-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198019-e198055547635e1ca7057cda037ca0a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051795&Signature=PB4GxLNTDKAS0IE7tVlkvYx1lKSLVh2gcUvjjFi0wMelsfUAMOj87lR239qL6NIPvY3MXFLe02kRGpJEEKMVAC2pwLCV7gZRIPZ4UlH-rbC48bkYGRcCIULUUQ8FwkLRg0xwFIXCuEZBYoVY9CCnYdYcBKbQLZttWNLwrs0qilj4cxN9ohXk9mKZ-MolriGEjaIkiXsxja2UfTtM-JdLYQ6AFUD53oOSy-gt4MNq0S8uFV88--Pp16WKSc9c-dQPKEe29mlWVgbg3Ona5iHARufOVH~sTMEmNzqavKcGzwZksN2MVBLCXOjBGTqQB5XV7sHCinqMOLtQxnR65CQLUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Human Rights Committee voted June 12 to move forward with obtaining a license and training materials from the Human Library organization, provided the town clarifies whether the town or an affiliated department would be the formal licensee and how liability/insurance issues would be handled.

The committee heard a staff and member briefing on the Human Library concept — an event format in which community members volunteer as “books” to have one-on-one conversations with visitors — and discussed logistics including training, vetting of “books,” sponsorship and costs. Committee members said the program aligns with the committee’s educational goals but flagged questions about who would legally hold the license, how training and participant vetting would be managed, and whether the town’s risk-management office or the library should be the fiscal/organizational sponsor.

Committee members said the Human Library’s published offering includes an organizer orientation, access to training materials and an online training portal for the people who would serve as “books.” The committee noted a license fee reported in internal discussion of about $249 per event, and emphasized that additional costs for materials or local coordination were not fully specified.

Because the committee is an advisory body and not a municipal department, members said it would be prudent to confirm the town manager’s office or the public library as the license holder if the project proceeds. The group discussed partnering with the library and other local organizations for logistics, outreach and volunteer recruitment.

After questions and discussion, a motion to proceed — pending clarification from the town about how the license would be held and administered — was approved by voice vote. Committee members recorded general support for pursuing the license and organizing training, with implementation steps and any payment of fees contingent on receiving town approval and identifying an appropriate municipal sponsor.

The committee directed staff to seek the requested clarification from the town manager’s office and to report back with details on licensing, training timelines and estimated costs before scheduling a public event or purchasing the license.","The Needham Human Rights Committee voted to support obtaining a license for the Human Library program and to pursue training and event planning, contingent on clarification from town officials about which municipal entity would hold the license and related legal/insurance questions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Needham HRC reviews Race Day, Pride and Juneteenth activities; committee to send thank-you notes to police and select board

Needham group seeks grant-writing help for memorial to enslaved and Indigenous peoples

Resident urges Needham HRC to revise March anti-bigotry resolution and raises alleged discrimination at local upholstery shop

Needham community conversations on race drew about 40 participants; HRC plans follow-up

Needham HRC approves moving forward on "Human Library" license pending town approval