Thank you to everyone who joined us for our #MLK#Day event. Being together in community is one way we honor Dr. King’s enduring call to justice, dignity, and shared responsibility. We’re grateful for the conversation, the presence, and the commitment to carrying that work forward together.

Today we pause to remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday, I reflect on this quote on the importance of what brings us together. “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives”

#MLKDay is set aside in the calendar, but the work it points to lives elsewhere. In patience, in standing up for your community, and in the long practice of choosing one another over convenience. On this day, we sit with that idea, and with the unfinished work it leaves us to carry forward.

Hear from our keynote speaker, Dr. James “Jimmy” McCarty, ahead of @cityofsomerville.bsky.social's annual MLK event 👇 We're kicking things off at 11 a.m. tomorrow. There's still time to RSVP: bit.ly/MLK_2026

Roy Wilkins was a major institutional leader who helped translate protest into policy and was a crucial bridge between early civil rights 'legalism' and the mass-movement era that the later period took on. Join us at @cityofsomerville.bsky.social's MLK Day event on Saturday: bit.ly/MLK_2026

As we move toward #MLKDay, we honor organizers like Hamer who insisted that justice must include real access to power, voice, and representation. Join us at the City's annual MLK Day event by RSVPing at: bit.ly/MLK_2026

As we approach #MLKDay, we reflect on voices like Baldwin’s that expanded the struggle for civil rights beyond legislation and into culture, conscience, and everyday life. Join us at this year's MLK Day event: bit.ly/MLK_2026

We're gearing up for MLK Day and @cityofsomerville.bsky.social's annual event coming up this Saturday. Join us all week long for trivia, historical profiles, a message from our keynote speaker, and more! RSVP for the event at: bit.ly/MLK_2026

📣DEADLINE EXTENSION: Youth can now submit essays to the MLK Youth Essay Contest through Tuesday, January 13th! For more information about instructions, submission link, and more, visit somervillema.gov/hrc.

We're still accepting submissions to this year's MLK Youth Essay Contest! The finalists will be announced at the City's MLK Day Event on 1/17 and receive free tuition to an online Human Rights Course. Youth can submit essays through Monday, January 17: form.jotform.com/253513914016...

Our team is hiring for two key positions as we head into the new year. If you're interested in learning more about these positions or applying, visit somervillema.gov/apply.

RSJ is teaming up with the Human Rights Commission to sponsor tuition for two youth who submit a short essay about Martin Luther King Jr. to this year's MLK Youth Essay Contest! For more information about the Youth Essay Contest and the City's MLK Day event, visit somervillema.gov/hrc.

SAVE THE DATE 📅 Join us for the City's annual MLK Day event! We're kicking things off at 11am on Saturday, January 17, with friends and neighbors. Stop by to enjoy the music, speeches, keynote talk, community, and more! RSVP: bit.ly/MLK_2026

The City of Somerville is now accepting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from arts and creative enterprises interested in leasing space at the City-owned Armory at 191 Highland Ave. 🧵

Join us on Thursday, December 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the City Hall Concourse for the Christmas Tree Lighting!

Join us on Monday, December 15 for a ceremonial Menorah Lighting event on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.) beginning at 6 p.m. with Mayor Ballantyne. (1/2)

The Commission for Persons with Disabilities is accepting applicants for open positions on the commission through Friday, December 12! bit.ly/SCPD_seats25 👇👇

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne & the Department of Health and Human Services invite community members to attend Somerville’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience on Thursday November 20, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Council on Aging (167 Holland St). The event is free & open to all.

Yesterday, we celebrated the installation of 10 inclusive swings across playgrounds! Thanks to our Public Space & Urban Forestry & the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities @somerville-rsj.bsky.social, we've increased the percentage of City parks with inclusive swings from 39% to 83%.

It's election day, Somerville! Polling locations are open through 8 p.m. You can find more information, including your polling location, at somervillema.gov/elections

It's election season, Somerville. There are braille embossed and large print copies of this year's ballot questions at polling locations, as well as accessible versions of the charter summary at SPL locations and at City Hall. For more accessibility information, visit somervillema.gov/elections.

The @cityofsomerville.bsky.social's Commission for Persons with Disabilities is recruiting for three open seats. You can apply and find more information online at bit.ly/SCPD_seats25

Join the @cityofsomerville.bsky.social, the Somerville Commission for Women, and RESPOND Inc. at this year's annual Domestic Violence Vigil. You can add the event to your calendar at bit.ly/DV_Vigil2025

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day. On our webpage, we're sharing resources that highlight the history and legacy of Indigenous populations in and around Somerville. Check it out: somervillema.gov/rsj

The RSJ Youth League 25/26 Cohort Application closes next week! This paid program is open to youth from Somerville and is a great opportunity for youth to learn more about civic engagement, tackle issues facing our community, and more. Apply online: bit.ly/YouthLeague_25

We're glad you're our neighbor! As we celebrate Welcoming Week, OHS joins City of Somerville staff to share a warm message of belonging to all our residents. Thank you for your partnership, Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA)! #WelcomingWeek #Somerville #BelongingBeginsWithUs

The 2025-26 RSJ Youth League application is now open! This great paid opportunity is designed to help foster civic engagement and learning opportunities for Somerville youth through a justice lens. The application is open through September 22nd: bit.ly/YouthLeague_25

We were happy to join the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the #DisabilityPrideMonth flag raising last week! It was a special occasion celebrating both Disability Pride month AND the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act 🥳

Due to high demand, the Somerville Human Rights Commission (HRC) is adding new focus group sessions on 8/6 and 8/7. Register for a session and help provide feedback about human rights issues in Somerville and what services the HRC should provide in our City! bit.ly/HRC_focusgroups

The Somerville Human Rights Commission wants to hear from YOU! Attend an upcoming focus group to help them hone in on their mission, share about what issues they should be tackling in Somerville, and more. bit.ly/HRC_focusgroups

Happy #Juneteenth! We were celebrating with community members from Somerville and Medford at the Somerville Juneteenth Flag Raising and the Tufts University "Together We Rise" event. Catch up with the @cityofsomerville.bsky.social Juneteenth Flag Raising: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n7N...

We're joining with the Somerville Arts Council, the Somerville Museum, and @cityofsomerville.bsky.social to kick off Somerville's annual fireworks celebration with a reading of Frederick Douglass' famous address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July." See you there 👋

The @cityofsomerville.bsky.social Juneteenth Flag Raising is next Monday, June 16 from 12 - 1 p.m. Join us as we commemorate Juneteenth, hear from speakers, and enjoy some light refreshments and ice cream.

City Council agendas are now available in braille for every meeting! This year, RSJ received the City's braille machine, onboarded and trained staff (with help from the Commission for Persons with Disabilities), and is looking forward to expanding our braille printing program in the months ahead.

There's plenty of ways to commemorate Juneteenth coming up across Somerville and Medford. This year, we're partnering with the City of Medford, Tufts University, and the Somerville Museum to expand programming in our community. Read more about these events and others and RSVP: somervillema.gov/rsj

Join us on June 16 for the @cityofsomerville.bsky.social annual Juneteenth Flag Raising! We’ll have ice cream, a speaking portion featuring local leaders, and more festivities.

On Saturday, May 31, attend the second annual New England Hong Kong Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Seven Hills Park in Somerville to celebrate the vibrant culture, food, and creativity of Hongkongers across the region. The event is free and open to all. Rain date is June 1.

Join us as we continue our Neighbors Talking to Neighbors community conversation series tomorrow. We'll be discussing immigration. Registration and details available at: somervillema.gov/rsj

Continue celebrating #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth with the Commission for Persons with Disabilities at their Mindful Moods Mingle event next Monday, May 12th!

Attend a "Neighbors Talking to Neighbors" session - @cityofsomerville.bsky.social's new dialogue series bringing together residents from across the City to join in discussion. For more information about the sessions and to register, visit somervillema.gov/rsj.

Statistics show that you can make a difference in helping survivors of sexual assault by greeting them with belief, support, and compassion. #StartByBelieving

Join the Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the first of their #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth events next Wednesday, May 7th. This event will bring together people of all ages to discuss supporting one another and how we can normalize the language of mental health. RSVP: bit.ly/HT_25

The City of Somerville is recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April. We’re highlighting the “Start By Believing” campaign, a push to greet survivors with belief and support. Read more about the campaign, resources in the City, and how you can make a difference 👇

$1M dollars is in your hands, Somerville! Voting is now open for the City's second Participatory Budgeting cycle. Residents age 12 and up can now vote on their favorite city improvement ideas. Voting is open through Wednesday, April 30. Learn more and vote at: somervillema.gov/pb

@mayorkatjana.bsky.social and the @cityofsomerville.bsky.social are joining the national campaign and recognizing today, April 2nd, as #StartByBelieving Day! We're working to change the way we respond to sexual assault and stamp out violence in our community. We're Starting By Believing.

Join us for the Week of the Young Child Celebration on Thursday April 10th from 5:30 PM–7:00 PM at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave).

We hope you'll join us tomorrow as we celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with food, live music, and more at Somernova! RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebratin...

Join us for the annual Women's History Month celebration on Wednesday, March 26th! We'll be joining together to celebrate women, enjoy good food, song, and dance, and hear from a slate of women representing the City of Somerville and Massachusetts! RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebratin...

🌍✨ LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR ALL! ✨🌍 At the City of Somerville, we’re committed to ensuring EVERYONE can access city services in their preferred language! 🗣️💙

Join us for the annual Women's History Month celebration on Wednesday, March 26th! We'll be joining together to celebrate women, enjoy good food, song, and dance, and hear from a slate of women representing the City of Somerville and Massachusetts! RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebratin...