Progressive Coalition of Amherst Celebrates Several Wins By Its Endorsed Candidates, Notes Increased Diversity of Incoming Town Council

PRESS RELEASE Contact:  Pat Ononibaku, Chair  (413) 627-0043  progressivecoalition@gmail.com  Nov. 3, 2021  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ellisha Walker, Jennifer Taub and Dorothy Pam (incumbent) to serve on Town Council; Jennifer Page and Ben Herrington (incumbent) elected to School Committee.  The Progressive Coalition of Amherst (PCA) extends congratulations to all of those who were chosen on Monday …

PCA’s School Committee Candidates Endorsed By the Amherst-Pelham Education Association

The Progressive Coalition of Amherst is very pleased that all three of its endorsed School Committee candidates are supported by the union of teachers, paraeducators and clerical staff for the Amherst Regional Public Schools!

On TUESDAY, NOV. 2, VOTE for CHANGE and INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY in AMHERST

Our candidates offer diverse perspectives and will represent our whole community, including working people, families and small businesses.  TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES we endorse: AT-LARGE SEATS VIRAPANH (VIRA) DOUANGMANY CAGE  Former School Committee & School Equity Task Force member Serves on state Asian American Commission  ARHS parent committed to racial, economic & climate justice ELLISHA WALKER  …

Cast Your Votes for An Inclusive, Responsive Local Government in Amherst

ON NOV. 2, ELECT CANDIDATES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY, A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY, AND TO A RESPONSIVE, TRANSPARENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN AMHERST.  AMHERST TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES  FOR AT-LARGE SEATS: VIRAPANH (VIRA) DOUANGMANY CAGE  https://voteforvira21.com/ Vira served on the Amherst School Committee and chaired the school equity task force. The associate director …

PCA Board Encourages A “No” Vote On Jones Library Reconstruction

A more modest approach was never studied but could have included making necessary immediate repairs, repurposing interior space, replacing the HVAC system with a fossil-fuel alternative, and improving energy efficiency.

Progressive Coalition of Amherst Announces Endorsements for Town Council, School Committee Races

After careful consideration, PCA has endorsed for Councilor At-Large: Vira Douangmany Cage,  Ellisha Walker, and Vincent O’Connor; for District 3 Councilor: Jennifer Taub and  Dorothy Pam; for District 4 Councilor: Anika Lopes*. PCA did not endorse candidates in the  uncontested Town Council races, in Districts 1, 2 and 5 and notes that the majority of registered  voters in town will have no meaningful choice about who represents them as District Councilors.  PCA has endorsed Jennifer Page, Phoebe Merriam, and Benjamin Herrington for School  Committee. In addition, Heather Lord and Pamela Rooney have chosen to run as independent  candidates for School Committee and Councilor in District 4.  

*Anika Lopes has chosen to accept an endorsement from the other political action committee in town as well.

PCA Presents Goals for the Amherst Public Schools

The Progressive Coalition Amherst's Executive Board would like to share it views about core changes that are needed to improve the Amherst Regional Public Schools. We call upon the school district, and the community to: Place students' needs, both social-emotional and academic, at the center of district policies and budgets Seat a School Committee that …

Dr. Amilcar Shabazz Joins PCA’s Executive Board

The Progressive Coalition of Amherst is pleased to announce that Dr. Amilcar Shabazz has joined its executive board. Dr. Shabazz is a professor of history and Africana Studies in the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at UMass-Amherst. He served as the department’s seventh chair from 2007 to 2012, and as the Faculty Advisor to …

Pat Onanibaku, Named Chair of PCA

As of today, Sept. 15, 2021, Pat Onanibaku has assumed the role of chair for the Progressive Coalition of Amherst. PCA's former chair, Jennifer Page, has resigned in order to run for School Committee. Pat is a business owner, social justice advocate and community organizer. She has served on the Amherst Regional Public Schools Special …

Standout for Paraprofessionals, Sat., July 24, 10:30 a.m., Amherst Town Common

Paraprofessionals provide crucial support to children in the Amherst Public Schools, and their efforts eased the struggles of remote learning (and then classroom re-adjustment) for many children. We support a living wage for the district's paraprofessionals, and believe their services will be more critical than ever in coming months, when children will return to school …