On April 11, 2026, hundreds of community members gathered in Northampton, Mass. to celebrate 35 years of the Rosenberg Fund for Children and our collective support of generations of activism and resistance. The program acknowledged our nation’s current reality, in which authoritarianism is flagrant and increasingly normalized, anti-ICE protesters face draconian sentences amounting to life in prison, gender-affirming care and reproductive rights are under attack, and the current administration wages war. Given that depressing context, it was especially powerful and moving to come together this spring to try to make sense of this moment and honor those who have resisted and are resisting, winning hard-fought victories across the country and around the world.
The celebration, 35 Years of the RFC: Stronger Together, Solidarity Forever, included poetry readings by Martín Espada from his National Book Award-winning publication, Floaters; remarks from RFC Founder Robert Meeropol and RFC Executive Director Jenn Meeropol; stories of RFC beneficiary families’ targeting and resistance from the RFC’s granting coordinator, Cleo Rohn; and a special statement from targeted activist mom, Kirby Amour, about how affirming and impactful her kids’ receiving RFC grants has been for her family. We closed the program with live music, including a rousing singalong, from award-winning singer-songwriter and jazz musician, Pamela Means. After the event, sponsor ticket purchasers were invited to join performers and RFC staff and Board members at a reception at the R. Michelson Galleries. While we had looked forward to hearing remarks from the incomparable Angela Y. Davis about her decades of powerful activism and resistance during our program, she unfortunately came down with an illness just before the event and was unable to participate.
We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the many hands who contributed their time, expertise and energy to putting on this event: our event’s performers and speakers; Jill Meyers (photography) and Tom Adams/Reel Life Productions (videography); Andy Turrett (sound engineering); Seth Gregory and Rachel Harb (graphic design); our incredible volunteers Elli Meeropol, Alex Gibson, Payton Zahn, Annika Wegener and the RFC Board; our gracious hosts and their staff at First Churches Northampton and The R. Michelson Galleries; and a special thank you to R.O.A.R. (Rainbow Organizing and Response) for ensuring a welcoming, safe and celebratory program for all. Attendees may have recognized the R.O.A.R. team of volunteers by their colorful outfits, rainbow parasols, and the festive atmosphere they created with music and bubbles!
Thank you to everyone who attended and took part in our 35th anniversary celebration – it was inspiring, uplifting and truly unforgettable! For anyone who was unable to attend, we’ve made all program materials (the full event recording, photos & more) available on our event webpage.