Category: Press Release

Events, Press Release

YWCA RIBBON-CUTTING TO CELEBRATE YWCA AT HILLSIDE ON DEC.30: ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE HOUSING FOR THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY

Jessica Harrington

Recently in Newbuwyrport…

For Immediate Release:  Dec. 20, 2021

For More Information, Contact:  John Feehan, Executive Director, 978/465-9922

YWCA Greater Newburyport will be celebrating the opening of its newest affordable housing project, YWCA at Hillside, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 30, 2021 at 10:00 AM.  The ceremony will be held in front of the project located at 18 Cottage Court in Newburyport.  After the outdoor ceremony, refreshments and tours will be provided. Masks will be required inside the building.

YWCA at Hillside will provide 10 units of affordable housing to individuals with the lowest incomes in our community.    Rent will be 30% of income for those earning wages below $28,200 per year, while those with incomes above $28,000 but below $47,000 will pay a fixed rental amount.  “The project has a preference to two homeless individuals, one person with a mobility impairment and one with a sensory impairment,” says Margaret McCarthy, YWCA Board President.

YWCA at Hillside was originally proposed by David Hall of Hall and Moskow to give low-income individuals the opportunity to live in an environmentally-sustainable home.  “The building is designed to produce more energy than it consumes,” explains Hall.  “Heating and cooling will be provided by extremely efficient electric heat pumps.  The heating and cooling loads, however, will be minimal as the building is designed to meet Passive House Institute US standards — possibly a first in the national application of passive house design to single-room occupancy dwellings.”  Additionally, the building has been designed to meet LEED Platinum standards.  LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards help ensure buildings have a minimal environmental impact both in their construction and operation.  Hall has donated both the land on which the building sits as well as $300,000 towards its construction.

The building is located close to many employment opportunities in downtown Newburyport and the surrounding area.  It is hoped that tenants will be able to walk to work, further reducing the environmental footprint of the housing.  “It also helps that the project is located less than 1/10th of a mile from the bus route, with access to both the hospital and Market Basket,” says John Feehan, Executive Director of the YWCA.

To bring this project to fruition YWCA Greater Newburyport was fortunate to have the support of the City of Newburyport.  “We were able to access Community Preservation Act funds as well as city HOME funds to help the YWCA acquire the building,” says Mayor Donna Holaday, an outspoken supporter of this project.   “Access to affordable housing in our city is a very high need and this project not only adds 10 additional units but provides a new development model integrating innovative sustainable and environmental design helping Newburyport to move forward on our climate and resiliency goals.”

The YWCA also received funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development and Mass Housings Community Scale Housing Initiative programs.  YWCA will also receive on-going operating subsidies from the state to ensure rents remain extremely affordable.

The Federal Home Loan Bank provided a grant to support the project, combined with a loan from the Institution for Savings. 


“We are grateful to Charlesbank Homes, because without their initial investment, we would have never been able to leverage state and local funding,” says Feehan.

McCarthy noted that “it was the donations of many private donors who made this project come to fruition.  These combined donations allowed us to move forward and take ownership of the property.”

YWCA Greater Newburyport continues to accept applications for this affordable housing program.  For additional information and an application, please see our website www.ywcanewburyport.org/ywca-at-hillside/

YWCA Greater Newburyport is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  We see the creation of affordable housing as central to our mission.  Women and especially women of color are disproportionately impacted by the lack of affordable housing.  For more information about the YWCA, please visit https://www.ywcanewburyport.org.


The public is invited to join us on Dec. 30th at 10 a.m.; please RSVP by 12/27/2021 to Ilene Harnch-Grady at igrady@ywcanewburyport.org or 978-465 YWCA x13.

Press Release

NEWBURYPORT’S ANNUAL WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON LECTURE TO TAKE PLACE DECEMBER 10

Jessica Harrington

Newburyport, MA – Every year, Newburyport celebrates William Lloyd Garrison’s legacy on his birthday with a lecture about Garrison’s life, and how it is still relevant today.  This year the lecture takes place in person at Newburyport’s Old South Presbyterian Church and will be simulcast on YouTube.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2021

Media Contact: Jack Santos, jack@jacksantos.com , 603 674 7454

NEWBURYPORT’S ANNUAL WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON LECTURE TO TAKE PLACE DECEMBER 10

Newburyport, MA – Every year, Newburyport celebrates William Lloyd Garrison’s legacy on his birthday with a lecture about Garrison’s life, and how it is still relevant today.  This year the lecture takes place in person at Newburyport’s Old South Presbyterian Church and will be simulcast on YouTube.

William Lloyd Garrison, Newburyport’s native son, was a driving force in the 19th century abolition movement that led up to the civil war.  One of the first to demand immediate and unconditional freedom for all slaves, he published the Boston anti-slavery newspaper “The Liberator” from 1831-1865.  After the civil war he went on to champion women’s rights and women’s right to vote.

A group of Newburyport residents, calling themselves “Friends of William Lloyd Garrison” formed a coalition to raise awareness of Garrison’s role and national prominence, his birthplace on School Street, and his relevance today.

Jack Santos, one of the “Friends”, said  “In a world where “Back Lives Matter” is still controversial, and the Equal Rights Amendment, drafted almost 100 years ago, is still not a part of the U.S. Constitution, Garrison’s words still ring true. He was a progressive well ahead of his time.”

“Friends” member Mary Anne Macaulay said “Now more than ever, Newburyporters and all Americans need to recognize Garrison, and understand how he laid the foundation for change, change that is still happening.”

Andrea Eigerman, supporter of new signage celebrating Garrison’s birthplace on School Street, to be placed in the “Garrison Gardens” parklet, said “The City of Newburyport and its residents need to celebrate William Lloyd Garrison’s bravery, determination, and, ultimately, success. It is a message as relevant today as it was then. ”

Another Garrison “friend”, Rebecca Regnet, said: “I became intrigued about the life story of William Lloyd Garrison five years ago when I visited Newburyport for business and stayed at the Garrison Inn. As my work brought me to Newburyport to live and work this year, I consciously made the decision to “act” upon this interest.  Putting beliefs into action has meant creating a DEI Council at Newburyport Bank and starting a DEI Book Group that meets monthly.”

The annual talk focuses on Garrison’s life, the legacy of slavery, its continuing impact on the United States, and current issues around diversity, inclusiveness, and LGBTQ acceptance.

This year the talk is given by Edward Carson, the Dean of Multicultural Education at the Governor’s Academy and a leading organizer and activist in the Greater Boston area. Carson will discuss Garrison’s relevancy in twenty-first century issues like voting rights, Critical Race Theory, and Black political thought.

Edward Carson said “In my talk I’ll challenge the greater Newburyport community to learn more about Garrison and understand how to dismantle the remaining vestiges of white supremacy.  Garrison gave voice to twentieth century Black leaders and organizations, such as: W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary Church Terrell, Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP.”

Says Santos: “I am excited about learning more about Garrison, the topic, and hearing this amazing speaker.  In a racially and culturally homogeneous community, a lecture like this that encourages a broadening of horizons while keeping it in the context of the life of an important Newburyport historical figure is a major event in Newburyport. I am so appreciative to all that have made this happen.” 

This year’s lecture is made possible through the support of The Newburyport Daily News, Newburyport Preservation Trust, Old South Presbyterian Church, and a grant from the Massachusetts Humanities Bridge Street fund. Presenting Partners include the Museum of Old Newbury and Amesbury’s Imagine Studios.

More information about the Annual William Lloyd Garrison lecture can be found at http://lecture.porthistory.com .  Last year’s lecture is also available on the website.

The lecture will be held Friday December 10, 2021 7 PM at Old South Presbyterian Church, 29 Federal Street.  Pandemic mask rules will be in effect.  Simulcast on YouTube will be available via the website.