My name is Joan B. Noble, and I am 85 years old. I was born and have lived in Lynn my entire life. At the age of 6, I was stricken with Infantile Paralysis, also known as Poliomyelitis (Polio), leaving me totally paralyzed. I share this information with you in order to give you some insight into the many, many battles I have fought over the last 79 years.
Bernice Ezell along with her husband Bobby are lifetime members of Mass Senior Action Council. Bernice serves on the board of the Greater Springfield Chapter as the board secretary.
Her work as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in Brightwood Health Center has been instrumental in the chapter efforts to better understand some of the impacts of disparities in our healthcare system. As we know, the first step to taking action on a cause is becoming informed.
Paulette is a woman that hears an issue, and is already ready to sign up for a solution. Her journey started with the Boston chapter of MSAC 6 years ago through chatting with another member about what things are available to do after retirement. She gravitated towards MSAC because she quickly found out that MSAC does not take it, but they take charge!
My name is Joan B. Noble, and I am 85 years old. I was born and have lived in Lynn my entire life. At the age of 6, I was stricken with Infantile Paralysis, also known as Poliomyelitis (Polio), leaving me totally paralyzed. I share this information with you in order to give you some insight into the many, many battles I have fought over the last 79 years.
The United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. was sieged in early January 2021 and will forever be scarred in the memory banks of millions for years to come. Within the broad membership of our socially active Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC), we have one particular member who is originally from the nation’s capital, MSAC Boston Chapter member, Linda Freeman.
Dot Macaione has been an advocate in the community her entire life. At 97 years young, Dot continues to support the Girls Scouts and is an active Shoe City Lions member. Her sister, Bernice Langlois, had been active in MSAC for many years encouraging Dot to join in the action but Dot did not join until she moved in 2010 after her sister passed away.
Dot said she enjoyed the meetings because they are so informative, “so many people have no idea what is going on, things that affect their everyday life, because they are not a MSAC member and do not get the information we receive at our chapter meetings.”
One reason Carmelle likes to be a member of Mass Senior Action because she cares about healthcare. She had a long career in healthcare, working for 25 years as a nurse companion. In this field, she says, she has seen a lot of health misery and suffering, especially in elders. She says, “I see how many seniors in my community are suffering, mentally and physically, and so I know how important it is to try to get services that will be good for seniors.” She knows firsthand how important it is to work together to try to obtain the resources that seniors deserve.
Mattie Lacewell has a history of social activism from her work with Fair Share to serving as the Director of he Upper Hill Resident Council, Inc. She retired from Monson Development Center where she worked as a Mental Health Care Administrator. Mattie has been a lifelong resident of Springfield with lineage roots of Alabama. Her activism was sparked from neighborhood concerns.
