u/ocean_2021 — reddlx

Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church's Pro-Democracy Team is hosting a lecture as part of their Thoughtful Thursday series:

"This program is an exploration of the changing landscape of local journalism, why it matters for democracy and community connection, and how residents can support trustworthy, community-centered news and public media in places like Melrose and Greater Boston.

Amber Payne is a strategist and storyteller, creating bold content that drives conversation. She currently serves as Chief Experience Officer at Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver, Colorado (where she will relocate to this summer). Most recently, she was Publisher of "The Emancipator," a multi-media digital publication exploring solutions to racial inequity. In 2015, she created and launched NBCBLK, a section of NBCNews.com dedicated to elevating conversations about Black identity, social issues, and culture. She spent a decade at NBC Nightly News producing breaking news and feature stories. Amber and her husband run a small production company specializing in documentary and narrative-driven branded content. There will be time for Q & A.

https://www.melroseuu.org/thoughtful-thursday-may-14-truth-power-and-the-future-of-local-news/

Thoughtful Thursday is a monthly free program at MUUC. Join us on the second Thursday of every month for lively conversation on issues of general community interest that align with our UU values."

Indivisible in Melrose Wakefield & Beyond will hold a standout at a Citizens Bank location on Wed. May 6th from 5:30-6:30pm https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/945932/ Come spread the word about Citizens Bank's involvement with ICE abuses. We are asking people to close their accounts until Citizens Bank stops doing business with CoreCivic and The GEO Group. We'll have signs you can borrow! Parking available on side streets. For more info see https://www.de-icecitizensbank.org/

Citizens Financial Group has been a financier of the private prison and detention industry since at least 2012. In 2019, in response to grassroots activists and shareholder pressure, eight of the country’s largest banks ended their relationships with the private prison industry. But Citizens Bank stayed the course. Since 2024, Citizens has played key roles helping GEO and CoreCivic access more than $2.5 billion in financing, including $100 million in January 2026.