75 stories over 25 hours

On November 7-8, people from communities across the area came to Fellowship Hall at Center Church in South Hadley for Our Roots, Our Voices, to tell stories about their families and their histories. Co-hosted by SHDTC and Center Church, the non-partisan, non-sectarian event highlighted the many ways in which people have put down roots and created lives in this nation, now in its 250th year. Over the course of the 25-hour event, listeners heard 75 different stories shared by participants of all ages, from Gen Z to the Post War Generation. Some stories were moving, while others were delivered with humor, but all were unique, and across the hours a shared appreciation of our country's history as a land of welcome and opportunity was evident. The event made clear that in a country with tremendous diversity, Americans have much in common.

• SHDTC Updates Newsletter-Our Roots, Our Voices-112025
• Town Reminder, November 14, 2025: Our Roots, Our Voices (see page 2)
  

"One People"

Our latest Updates newsletter features a poem by an anonymous poet, which was read during a weekly vigil at an ICE Detention Center in Burlington, MA earlier this month. The writer, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is an immigrant who sought and was granted political asylum some years ago. 

• SHDTC Updates Newsletter-One People-111225
• Bearing Witness at Burlington ICE Field Office
  

Tomorrow!

NO KINGS-South Hadley
Saturday, October 18, 2025
11:00am-12:00pm standout
South Hadley Town Commons
and along College Street/Route116
SIGN UP TO COME!

Read for Your Rights!

BannedBooksWeek.org

Frequently Challenged Books Archive

2010-2019: Top 100 Most Challenged Books
2000-2009: Top 100 Most Challenged Books
1990-1999: Top 100 Most Challenged Books

Prime Time, Night Owl, Dawn Patrol or Lunch Bunch storyteller?

 Non-Partisan, Non-Sectarian, All-American.

Considering Constitution Day

Although September 17 is an annual observance commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, many of us ignore this day--possibly because it's not a federal holiday, or possibly because we take for granted the many freedoms granted by a centuries-old document forged to help ensure democracy in our country.

This year, though, as threats to our constitutional rights run rampant, please take a moment to remember the day and the promises we've made as citizens to uphold the Constitution--even when many of our leaders appear unwilling to do so.

See our SHDTC Updates newsletter for more information about the importance of honoring tomorrow's Constitution/Citizenship Day.

• SHDTC Updates-Issue 77-Constitution Day-091625
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
  
• Constitution Day: constitutionday.com
• National Archives: The Constitution of the United States 
  

Upcoming Events

Fall business meetings will be held on at 6:30pm on Thursdays, September 18, October 16, and November 20, 2025 in the South Hadley Library Trustee's Conference Room. Meetings are normally on third Thursdays and hybrid-online; participants may attend in-person at the Library or online via Zoom. To obtain a meeting link, to join our mailing list, or for other information about SHDTC, please email: southhadleydemocrats@gmail.com.

First Friday Breakfast and Conversation
Plan to join us for First Friday Meetups at 8:30am on October 3, November 7, and December 6, 2025 at Tailgate Picnic Deli in the Village Commons (www.tailgatepicnicdeli.com), 7 College Street, South Hadley. Conversation is casual with no set agenda, just a chance to talk about local, national and international affairs and join in community with others, Democrat or not, South Hadley resident or not. Purchase your own coffee/pastries or snacks (cash preferred), all are welcome. 

NO KINGS-South Hadley
Saturday, October 18, 2025
11:00am-12:00pm standout
South Hadley Town Commons and south along College Street/Route116

Our Stories, Around the Clock for 25+ Hours

America has almost 250 years of personal stories.
Seize the moment and tell yours! 

Our Roots, Our Voices is a free, nonpartisan, nonsectarian civic event from 5:00pm on November 7 to 6:05pm+ on November 8, 2025 hosted in conjunction with South Hadley's Center Church. The event will provide a platform for people from all walks of life--including high school and college students, to come together to share their stories, and talk about their roots, their passions, and their dreams. Sign Up to tell your story, or plan to stop by and listen to the American stories of others. For more information, visit www.OurRootsOurVoices.org.

Thinking about our roots

The weather seems to have gone from summer to fall almost overnight, as we transitioned over one long weekend from August to September. After a hiatus over a busy summer, writer Jim Bosman shares some of his family history in a story for our Updates newsletter about some of the risks and hardships his immigrant ancestors faced in coming to this land. 

We've been helping to plan a free, nonpartisan American Stories project to run around the clock over 25+ hours from November 7 to November 8, which has us all thinking a lot about our roots. Save the dates and plan to come, and consider telling your own story. For more details, use the link below to visit the Our Roots, Our Voices website.

• SHDTC Updates-Issue 76-My Roots-090525
• Our Roots, Our Voices: November 7-8,2025
  

Upcoming Events

This month's business meeting is Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:30pm in the South Hadley Library Trustee's Conference Room. Meetings are normally on third Thursdays and hybrid-online; participants may attend in-person at the Library or online via Zoom. Upcoming meeting dates are October 16 and November 2, 2025. To obtain a meeting link, join our mailing list, or for other information about SHDTC, please email: southhadleydemocrats@gmail.com. 

First Friday Breakfast and Conversation
Plan to join us for First Friday at 8:30am on September 5 at Tailgate Picnic Deli in the Village Commons (www.tailgatepicnicdeli.com), 7 College Street, South Hadley. Conversation is casual with no set agenda, just a chance to talk about local, national and international affairs and join in community with others, Democrat or not, South Hadley resident or not. Purchase your own coffee/pastries or snacks (cash preferred), all are welcome. Our next meetup is October 3.

Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 10:00 to 10:30am
Center Church organizes monthly vigils on first Saturdays along College Street/Route 116 near the church. The focus of this month's standout is LGBTQ+ and Reproductive Rights. All are welcome to join. 

Saturday, October 18,2025--Save the date for the No Kings 2!