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Celebrating
Fearless Women
At the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO)
“A Woman’s Voice” concert on March 14, the
2026 Fearless Women honorees were celebrated
during a pre-concert reception recognizing
their leadership, impact, and dedication to the
community. Surrounded by their supporters and
past Fearless Women honorees, each awardee
was recognized for their meaningful work they
are doing across industries to uplift others and
create lasting change. Pictured from left: Melina
Phelps (accepting on behalf of Linda Thompson),
Kisha Zullo, Megan Moynihan, Pat Ononibaku,
SSO President and CEO Heather Caisse-Roberts,
Terry Powe, Maeliz Colon, Erica Swallow,
Rongbing Shen, Shannon Rudder, Claudia
Quintero, and Ayanna Crawford.
Rebecca Johnson
Award Winners
The Loomis Communities, in partnership
with Stone Soul Inc., hosted a Women’s
History Month Celebration luncheon at Reeds
Landing in Springfield. At the event, six area
women were honored with Stone Soul’s
Rebecca Johnson Award. The award, named
in remembrance of the first Black principal
hired by the Springfield Public School district,
was given to women leaders who embody
Johnson’s legacy of leadership and service.
Pictured from left: Latonia Monroe-Naylor,
Veronica McNair, Ella Holman, Zaida Govan,
Gloria Williams, and Samantha Hamilton.
Pride and
Representation
DJ Nicki Nell, president of Visual Sound
Productions Inc., a Western Mass.-based
entertainment and event production
company, was selected to perform at
the Boston Celtics game against the
Atlanta Hawks on March 27 at TD Garden.
The opportunity marked a significant
moment for regional representation, as
Nell was chosen to perform in one of the
country’s most competitive entertainment
markets. Boston’s deep roster of local
DJ talent makes the selection especially
notable. The performance was part of the
Celtics’ annual Pride Night celebration,
an event that highlights and supports the
LGBTQ+ community within the sports and
entertainment space.
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