Pioneer Valley Project

Springfield community and city leaders gathered this morning to mark the conclusion of the federal consent decree and the beginning of a new chapter in policing in Springfield.

After years of advocating for reform within the Springfield Police Department, MCAN affiliate Pioneer Valley Project (PVP) and other community organizations are now turning their focus to strengthening the relationships built during this process and advancing the shared work ahead with the department. PVP's community organizing has been central over the last six years in the call for transparency, accountability, and constitutional policing.

Sr. Melinda Pellerin, SSJ, PVP Board Member, said at the press conference, "The Consent Decree may be ending, but our responsibility is not. If anything, our responsibility is greater now. Trust must continue to be built through consistent action over time. This next chapter must be focused on relationships, real relationships, between the police and the people that they serve, because policies don't build trust. People do."

Sharing sacred space in community together tonight at our prayer vigil. We grieved all of the lives already lost at the hands of ICE. We grieved the loss of life by state violence throughout our country’s history. We resist by showing up for each other. We resist by protecting one another. Join us.