By Joey Phoenix  It’s the question of the year in a year full of endless questions: Do we send students back to school in person? The answer is undeniably complicated, and there’s little precedent for how to effectively deal with this crisis in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic. Many schools are looking to adopt a hybrid model where

by Joey PhoenixImages by EmVision Productions What do you have to look forward to? What allows you to stay hopeful when the world is turned upside down?  In May of this year, minority-led EmVision Productions released a limited series of videos called #StayHopeful. The series features eight people: an artist-entrepreneur, a student government candidate, an activist-entrepreneur, an author, a hip

Originally Posted on Essex County Createsby Joey Phoenix Since 1993, The Essex Art Center in Lawrence has been offering classes, events, and exhibitions to the public in an ongoing effort to inspire and sustain lifelong growth and learning for a diverse community of artists in greater Lawrence.  Their goal has been to provide opportunities for people of all ages to

by Joey Phoenix When you’re a small business owner, moving to a new location can be harrowing enough. Doing it in the midst of a global pandemic adds a whole new level of difficulty. But for two Salem small businesses, it’s been something to look forward to.  This summer, Kate and Jess Moody of Moody’s Home and Gifts and Matt

by Joey Phoenix February is Womxn* in Horror Month and FunDead Publications is hosting their annual event, Write Like a Girl III this coming weekend on the evening of February 22nd at 7:30 pm at The Witch House in downtown Salem.  This year’s authors include Cat Skully, Nancy Brewa-Clark, Morgan Sylvia, Lauren Devora, and RC Mulhare. The intros and outros

Lucia Gaviria, Michael Dello Iacono, and Alison McCarthy – co-hosts of Beverly Talks. by Joey Phoenix “How well do you know your neighbors, Lucia?”“I don’t know all my neighbors, but I do know a couple.”  Have you ever taken a walk around your neighborhood and wondered what goes on in the houses you see? Have you thought about what kind

by Joey Phoenix When spending time observing birds, it’s important to be quiet, still, and patient – skills useful for reading and writing poetry. Birds are often used as metaphors for disparate ideas like freedom, chaos, beauty, and even the macabre. There’s a bird for every occasion, every state of being, and every emotion. For Joey Gould, they are also

Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts Welcomes New Director Doneeca Thurston At 29, Doneeca Thurston is not only the youngest director but also the first person of color to head operations at Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts. The position was formerly filled by Drew Russo, who became the city of Lynn’s personnel director in April of this year.  For Doneeca, a Lynn native who has

How E for All Lynn helps entrepreneurs take their ideas from formation to fully-fledged businesses with Business Accelerators by Joey Phoenix Entrepreneurs are the people who have new, bold, and often unshakable ideas. These ideas keep them up at night and inspire them to do all sorts of things – some riskier than others – to bring them about. In

By Joey Phoenix Formed in 1922, the Marblehead Arts Association is one of the oldest Arts Associations in the United States and is still active and thriving on the North Shore today. It’s made up of members who both create and support art in all of its forms, individuals who are passionate about what they do and about what they