As the year comes to an end, community members and leaders are looking toward the new year with hopes and wishes for all of Central Massachusetts, the nation, and themselves. Here’s their thoughts:

Mindy Hall, Outreach Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts

Our world is in need of extraordinary amounts of healing, love, and compassion. Although one person can’t cure the world’s ailments alone, we can do our small part everyday by looking within our own selves to see how we can hate less and love more. Each and every action we take has an impact on the world around us. We can choose to come from love, or we can choose to come from hate. My hope for 2022 is that, collectively, we can work on coming from love and do our part to rid the world of hate and indifference.

Tim Garvin, President of United Way of Central Massachusetts

Here are my three hopes:

* Vaccines for all, bringing the vaccine into all neighborhoods as we work to defeat COVID;

* Applying what we have learned – about community, the importance of lived experience voices, collaboration, and an evolving and new philanthropy;

* Growth of/in civic participation – in voter registration, in voting, in community involvement by volunteering and contributing.

Charles Luster, Founder of 2Gether We Eat

I’m looking forward to next year 2022 to feed more people than we fed in 2021. To collaborate with more organizations next year. That’s about our mission. Wishing that we get some of the ARPA money from the city to help us with our mission in and for our community. By educating, training and feeding people in our community. To make Worcester a safer place for our youth, seniors and homeless.

Echo Louissaint, Founder of A Word by Echo

I am looking forward to continuing to be a strong advocate in my community for those lacking resources and voices. Increasing the number of community fridges in our neighborhoods would be a great benefit to so many, my greatest wish is to see community fridges at some of our public schools. There have been so many effective community projects via mutual aid and grassroots organizations that have given our community a chance to come together and support one another. I think you will find that when given the opportunity to be the change that many people will gladly step up and wholeheartedly participate.  I can’t wait to see how the bond and togetherness of a community can change the landscape of an entire city over 2022.

Lisa Casillo and Ava Dussault, Founders of 2 Mindful Girls

We hope for peace, love, and kindness to shine through in 2022. We hope all children will be able to slow down, take a breath, enjoy the little things in life and reconnect with themselves and others. We hope 2022 is magical. 

Susan Cicconi, Mother of Dominic Killiany of Dominic Creations

Looking forward to networking and career building. Looking forward to Dominic’s new creations. He’s back in the studio. We want a museum to showcase Dominic’s great art, to share his spirit and tell his amazing story. Let’s go 2022!