Senator Adam Gomez

06/01/2026

$75,000 secured to support arts, culture, and educational opportunities in Springfield! ✅

Two amendments I sponsored during the Senate FY27 budget debate were adopted to invest in programs that inspire creativity, expand learning opportunities, and enrich our community.

This funding includes $25,000 for Fresh Paint to support public art and mural programming throughout Springfield, and $50,000 for Springfield Museums' Dinosaur Hall to create an immersive educational dinosaur dig experience for students, families, and visitors.

Investing in arts and education helps strengthen our community, create opportunities for young people, and celebrate the creativity and innovation that make Springfield unique. Proud to help secure funding for these organizations and the important work they do.

For more information on these amendments, please visit: https://adamgomezma.com/recent-news/senator-gmez-advances-community-priorities-innbspsenate-fy27-budget-debate.

05/28/2026

$50,000 secured to help address food insecurity in the Hampden district! ✅

Two amendments I sponsored during the Senate FY27 budget debate were adopted to support organizations working every day to ensure residents have access to nutritious food and critical community resources.

This funding includes $25,000 for Gardening the Community to expand access to healthy food and address food insecurity, and $25,000 for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry to support emergency food assistance and related community services.

No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Proud to help secure funding for organizations that are making a direct impact in the lives of families in Springfield and Chicopee and strengthening our community.

For more information on these amendments, please visit https://adamgomezma.com/recent-news/senator-gmez-advances-community-priorities-innbspsenate-fy27-budget-debate.

05/28/2026

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has announced plans for its fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration, bringing together music, culture, and community to honor a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans learned of their freedom, and serves as both a celebration and a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.

Thank you to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, White Lion Brewing Company, 6 Brick’s, Avery Sharpe, and the many community partners helping make this year’s celebration possible. Looking forward to seeing our community come together on June 19 to commemorate this important day.

05/27/2026

$50,000 secured to support community programs serving families across the Pioneer Valley! ✅

Two amendments I sponsored during the Senate FY27 budget debate were adopted to strengthen support systems and expand opportunity for residents across western Massachusetts.

This funding includes support for United Way of Pioneer Valley and HOPE CDC, two organizations doing critical work to connect families with housing resources, economic opportunity, and community support services.

Investing in community organizations means investing in stronger neighborhoods and better outcomes for families across our region. Proud to help secure funding for organizations that continue to make a meaningful difference every day.

For more information on these amendments, please visit https://adamgomezma.com/recent-news/senator-gmez-advances-community-priorities-innbspsenate-fy27-budget-debate.

05/27/2026

Eid al-Adha Mubarak to all those celebrating in Springfield, Chicopee, and communities across the Commonwealth.

As families and loved ones gather, Eid al-Adha serves as a reminder of faith, sacrifice, compassion, and service to others — values that strengthen our communities and bring people together.

Wishing everyone celebrating peace, joy, and blessings on this special occasion.

05/26/2026

Today, our community mourns the passing of Henry Thomas III — a transformational leader whose decades of service helped shape Springfield for the better.

Through his leadership at the Urban League of Springfield, his advocacy for educational opportunity, and his lifelong commitment to expanding access and creating pathways to success for young people and families, Henry leaves behind a legacy that will continue to impact generations to come.

His work strengthened our city, uplifted our community, and reminded all of us what leadership rooted in service can accomplish.

My thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and all those whose lives were touched by his leadership and friendship.

May he rest in peace.

05/25/2026

Honoring the life and legacy of Benjamin Swan — a lifelong champion for civil rights, equity, and community. His leadership, courage, and commitment to justice leave an enduring mark on Springfield and beyond. Deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and all who are mourning his passing.

State Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) released the following statement regarding the passing of former State Representative Benjamin Swan — a towering civil rights leader, community advocate, and public servant whose decades of work helped shape Springfield and the Commonwealth for generations...

05/25/2026

The Swan family announces with profound sorrow the passing of our beloved patriarch, civil rights activist, retired Massachusetts State Representative, former President of the Greater Springfield NAACP, Honorary Paramount Chief of Bo & Kwila, Nimba County, Liberia, and lifelong freedom fighter, Benjamin Swan, who transitioned peacefully this morning at the age of 92.

Born on September 18, 1933, Benjamin Swan lived a life devoted to justice, public service, and the healing of humanity. A steadfast advocate for civil rights and human dignity, he marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and spent decades fighting for equality, economic justice, voting rights, peace, and the uplift of marginalized communities.

Representative Swan believed that government exists to protect those at the dawn of life, our children, those in the shadows of life, the disabled and vulnerable, and those in the autumn of life, our elders. He believed leadership was not about power, but about service. He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw war and tried to stop it. His life was rooted in compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to making the world more just, humane, and equitable for all people.

As a legislator, community leader, and former president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, he dedicated his voice and his influence to confronting injustice wherever he encountered it, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations throughout Springfield, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and beyond.

At this time, the Swan family respectfully asks for privacy as we grieve this tremendous loss and begin preparing arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life and enduring legacy. Information regarding memorial services and final arrangements will be forthcoming.

In honor of Benjamin Swan’s lifelong values and convictions, the family asks that, in lieu of merely offering thoughts and prayers, people commit themselves to helping heal our world by standing for justice, serving the vulnerable, confronting hatred, and working toward peace and human dignity for all.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and compassion extended to our family during this difficult time.

The legacy of Benjamin Swan will continue to live on in every life he touched, every barrier he helped break, and every struggle for justice he helped advance.

The Swan Family

Talbert Swan Hal Swan Virginia Rice Ben Twopointoh

05/25/2026

The Chicopee Police Department is proud to announce the release of our Special Edition America’s 250th Anniversary commemorative patch!

These limited-edition patches celebrate 250 years of American history and honor the spirit of service, patriotism, and community.

Patches are available for purchase Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Chicopee Police Department.

💲 Cost: $10.00 each
📍 Available at: Chicopee Police Department

Supplies are limited, so be sure to stop by and pick yours up while supplies last!

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom comes with responsibility — to serve our communities, care for one another, and uphold the values they fought to protect. As we gather with family and loved ones, let us also take time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the military families who carry their legacy forward.