Tag: Events
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August 16, 2025
Federal grant nixed for Springfield violence intervention program for women
About four years ago, Breasia Mitchell was living at a women’s shelter in Holyoke. She had been in an abusive relationship for years, and shelter staff there referred her to a violence intervention program for young women and mothers at Roca. Though Mitchell credits the program with changing her life trajectory, Roca has less capacity to help young women like her, because the U.S. Department of Justice this spring terminated a grant that brought in about $1 million to the women’s program in Western Massachusetts.
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August 13, 2025
More than a dozen high-risk young mothers and women graduate from Roca Springfield
Roca, a non-profit organization, has been working for 37 years to help high-risk young women in Massachusetts find safety and stability. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steep rise in female-perpetrated violence and incarceration,” said Sunindiya Bhalla, Executive Vice President of Women and 2Gen at Roca. Roca’s three-year million-dollar intervention program is making a way to decrease the rise, despite the U.S Department of Justice deciding to terminate tens of millions of dollars in grant funding for community violence intervention programs.
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August 13, 2025
Roca students graduate amid uncertainty over program’s future
Wednesday was an important day for several young women, beginning a new chapter in life after graduating from Roca Springfield. But now, the community violence intervention program is at risk itself as grant funding for these programs across the country have been terminated by the Department of Justice.
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July 29, 2025
MGM Springfield donates to local workforce development programs
MGM Springfield has reinforced its commitment to community support by donating to local non-profits Dress for Success and ROCA.
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May 7, 2024
Once convicted of murder, Nike executive brings message of hope to Boston
Larry Miller — a soft-spoken, self-assured man in his 70s — doesn’t seem like someone who could have written the book on redemption…
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December 6, 2022
Prince William and Kate continue Boston tour
The Prince and Princess of Wales focused on their passion, visiting local organizations that support their communities. Perhaps the engagement that encompassed most of Will and Kate’s interests was Roca, which has supported vulnerable young people for almost 35 years.
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December 2, 2022
Prince William’s and Princess Kate’s Visit to Roca Continues the Legacy of Princess Diana
We wish to extend a warm welcome to the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Princess Catherine, in anticipation of their visit to Chelsea today (Thursday) where they will stop in at the offices of Roca at 101 Park St. in Chelsea Square.
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December 2, 2022
Roca, the Chelsea nonprofit working to prevent violence, gets a royal visit
British royals Prince William and Princess Kate are in Boston this week for the Earthshot Prize, which gives million-dollar grants to people doing important work and environmentalism. During their trip, the Royals will visit Roca, which is based in Chelsea and works to fight poverty, racism and teen violence. Roca’s founder and CEO Molly Baldwin joined GBH’s Morning Edition co-hosts Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel to talk about the upcoming visit.
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December 2, 2022
Smiling Prince William poses for photo with reformed ex-convict at Boston youth center as local man who suffered horrific childhood and addiction issues hails ‘sweet, respectful’ Wales’
Jonathan Williams posed for the snap with William as the Prince of Wales and wife Kate Middleton visited Roca in Boston. The center works to steer disadvantaged young people away from violence. Williams got a job there after turning his life around. Also impressed with the royal couple was Matthew Quinton, 24, who overcame an extremely-deprived childhood.
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December 2, 2022
‘A gift beyond gifts’: Prince and Princess of Wales spotlight grassroots community outreach at visit to Roca
Amid the buzz and bustle of a whirlwind visit to greater Boston centered on the question of how the world can address climate change, William and Kate’s low-profile, hour-long tour of Roca was an effort to spotlight the organization’s innovative approach to rehabilitation and combatting urban gun violence, grounded in the brain science behind trauma and its impact on the developing mind.
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October 27, 2022
Roca Springfield hosts open house event in Springfield
State leaders and local law enforcement were at Monday’s open house at Roca Springfield, highlighting what the non-profit does to help young people at risk.
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June 30, 2022
Grupo busca rescatar a jóvenes de pandillas en Boston
La ciudad de Boston inauguró este miércoles las nuevas oficinas de Roca, una organización sin fines de lucro que rescata a los jóvenes de la violencia.
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June 21, 2022
Roca, a group aimed at violence intervention for women, opens in Greater Hartford
Leaders and advocates gathered together for the official opening of Roca in Hartford.
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June 16, 2017
Seen@ Roca Springfield’s 7th anniversary of service celebration at CityStage
Roca, the leading Massachusetts nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the highest-risk young people and disrupting the cycle of incarceration and poverty, recently celebrated the 7th anniversary of the opening of its…
From: MassLive and The Republican
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June 12, 2017
Roca founder Molly Baldwin to visit Springfield to celebrate anniversary of local chapter
Molly Baldwin, the founder and chief executive officer for Roca, is scheduled to be in Springfield Wednesday night for a celebration of…
From: MassLive
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June 1, 2017
Roca celebrates year’s accomplishments at annual breakfast
Roca’s annual breakfast welcomed a packed house of local official and supporters at the Intercontinental Hotel, including Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; Glenn E. Martin…
From: Chelsea Record
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February 10, 2017
Why are We Stalking You? To Keep You Out of Jail – Tedx Talk
Molly presented a talk about Roca at the Tedx Pennsylvania Avenue 2017. Read the transcript here.
From: Roca
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September 23, 2016
Seen@ Roca-Springfield Reception Honoring Retiring Sheriff Michael Ashe
Retiring Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. is used to getting accolades pitched his way, and Thursday night he scored points for his love of sports.
From: MassLive
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May 5, 2014
Kelord Kynard of Springfield honored at Roca Breakfast Fundraiser in Boston
From: MassLive
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April 25, 2013
ROCA Celebrates 25 years of Changing Lives of Troubled Youth in a Positive Way
From: Chelsea Record
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April 18, 2013
From Newtown to Chelsea, Organizer is a Difference Maker
From: Chelsea Record
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November 4, 2006
Creating wrap-around services for pregnant/parenting teens, their partners, and families
From: 134th Annual APHA Meeting
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November 17, 2003
Healing Circles Intervention with Latino Immigrant Young People
From: The 131st Annual APHA Meeting