Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.
Bystander intervention training to focus on skills to stand up for ‘vulnerable people’
Sometimes bystanders find it difficult to know what to do when faced with a situation that might call for intervention — big or small. Thankfully, there’s training for that.
The Hopkinton Freedom Team is hosting a free bystander intervention training on May 10 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. The event, which is split up into performances from True Story Theater and skills training, will help attendees learn skills for responding to a number of scenarios.
Cathleen Dinsmore, founder and president of the HFT, explained the structure of the training. Members of True Story Theater will act out a scene “of some sort of bias or harm that is done” and show the resulting reactions. In the latter half of the course, facilitators then will work with participants to break down those scenes and learn what tools bystanders can use to respond.
“It can be microaggressions from something you observe at the grocery store … to more major instances,” said HFT member Judith Weinthaler. She noted that the event is analogous to first aid training, though the audience is wider.
“It’s not a training for professionals, it’s for [anybody] to pick up skills in their personal life,” Weinthaler explained.
This event is another in a series of trainings the HFT has offered Hopkinton residents in partnership with True Story Theater. Dinsmore said the hope is that it “gives you some tools on how to talk to someone else through a difficult situation.”
“This is a skill in terms of what we see, how we react … how we stand up for vulnerable people,” Weinthaler added.
The training will begin at 10 a.m. on May 10. Registration is limited to 50 people. Those interested can sign up via HFT’s Google Form. Those with questions are encouraged to email info@hopkintonfreedomteam.org.
Latest News
The Board of Health on Monday heard presentations and objections to a proposed policy that would prohibit the sale of nicotine products to individuals born after a certain cutoff date before voting to move forward with a public meeting on the policy.
Hopkinton High School students recently achieved top awards at the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair, with some also earning the chance to compete at the International Science Fair this May in Columbus, Ohio.
Hopkinton’s Aamir Benincaso hopes his run of the Boston Marathon this year to benefit the Michael Lisnow Respite Center will help make strides toward greater inclusivity in town.
Samantha Purpura, who is running this year to benefit the South Boston Neighborhood House, says it still feels surreal that she will be running the Boston Marathon after growing up close to the start line.
Jonny Wolf’s run of the Boston Marathon this year is a chance to prove he is up to the challenge and an opportunity to give back to his community by raising funds for the Hopkinton Police Association.
Resident Dan Hausermann is returning to marathon running this year raising money for Demons Youth Hockey — a program that his whole family is involved in.
Town meetings tonight include the Appropriation Committee (5), the Water & Sewer Advisory Board (5) and the Trails Committee (7).
Photo of the Day
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (center) directs his attention to a Project Just Because staff member during a tour of the nonprofit’s Hopkinton facility on Tuesday. Others in attendance included PJB president Cherylann Walsh (second from left), state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa (to the left of McGovern) and Select Board member Shahidul Mannan (to the right of McGovern).
PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
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