February 20, 2026: Restorative practice

This Saturday in Springfield at the Hope Center, a multimedia presentation examines the violent history of this country and seeks to repair some of its harm through congregation and art. Ashes to Ashes is both the name of a memorial art work seeking to lay to honor 4000 people whose lives were taken by lynching, and a documentary that parallels it with the life of artist Winfred Rembert, who survived a lynching himself. We speak with artist Dr. Shirley Whitaker, and with bassist Avery Sharpe who composed a work for the original ashes to ashes event about the lynching of his uncle.And in Great Barrington, folx of all walks are coming together to get their hands in the soil and feed their communities. Solidarity Farm and Garden is one of the many facets of Bridge, an public equity and health organization, a passion project of self sufficiency finally come to life, and we’ll chat with Gwendolyn Van Sant CEO and founding director of the organization and Ben Crockett of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures about the equalizing nature of growing together.