"The State House is the People’s House – and symbols matter. I was inspired by this submission from Julian, Ja’liyah and Adniley, who considered how they themselves could be the face of leadership in our state." -Maura Healey Governor of Massachusetts

Karissa Hand, Press Secretary

Apr. 26, 2023...This idea was proposed in a collaborative essay by Julian Hynes, an 11th grader at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Adniley Velez and Ja'liyah Santiago, both 8th graders at Holyoke Community Charter School.

Samatha J. Gross

Apr. 27, 2023 ... But Healey asked Massachusetts students to help her choose, in the form of an essay contest. She said she was particularly touched by an essay submitted by high school students Julian Hynes of Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, and Ja’liyah Santiago and Adniley Velez of Holyoke Community Charter School ...

A Picture Frame Full of Meaning: Three Local Youths Pen Winning Essay Urging "Blank Slate" to Hang in Healey's Office

May 5, 2023 ... Putting their thoughts into a 600-word essay, “Inspiring Change and Dangerous Hope: Unequal Representation in the Commonwealth” the three students, Adniley Velez of West Springfield, Ja’liyah Santiago of Springfield and Julian Hynes of Amherst, were selected as winners of the statewide portrait essay contest ...

Teens at Climate Panel Speak to Need for Collective Action to Combat Climate Change

Mar. 21, 2023 ...  In terms of making progress on a local level, Hynes observed that action is impeded when municipal officials want to be climate-conscious, but don’t know what steps to take. 

Amherst Educators Decry Low Pay in Stakeout of Town Budget Meeting

Nov. 8, 2022... High school student Julian Hynes said educators are committed to their students. “It’s embarrassing our school district has to have a mini-Survival Center for some of our paraeducators,” Hynes said.

Merry Maple likely gone by fall
Aug 10, 2022 ... ... while Shoshona King voted against their removal, and Chairman Henry Lappen and member Julian Hynes abstained from the vote.

Line item needed to purchase tree
Apr 20, 2022 ... Henry Lappen, Bennett Haslip, Sara Lawler, Julian Hynes, Shoshana King, Gordon Green, Ellen Keiter.

UMass neighbors object to removal of two big tree
Mar 24, 2022 ... ... Gordon Green and Julian Hynes voted in favor, while Bennett Hazlip and Shoshona King voted against, and Chairwoman Sara Lawler abstained ...

'Change coming to Amherst': Newly elected officials expected to ...
Nov 6, 2021 ... A statement issued on behalf of the organization by high school student Julian Hynes expresses hope that the council will take stronger ...

Parents, students denounce school budget cuts in Amherst
Apr 11, 2021 ... Julian Hynes, a student at the high school, said he worries about his peers with the budget plan. “I have many friends who will be going ...

Editor's column: Recording the first rough draft of
Dec 30, 2019 ... We're grateful to live in a community where citizens are so engaged, and no one illustrated that spirit more than Julian Hynes, ...

Students Urge Funding Shift from Policing to Schools

by Toni Cunningham

Salary data presented by ARHS student Julian Hynes showed that the average police staff member earned about $15,000 more than the average school staff member ($72,171 vs. $56,735). Hynes, representing the Sunrise Movement, pointed out that teachers...

Shade Tree Committee Split on Recommendations for the Merry Maple

by Maura Keene

Bennett Hazlip, Julian Hynes (co-chair), Ellen Keiter, Shoshona King, Henry Lappen (co-chair), and Sarah Lawler

Controversy Continues to Plague Town Council Appointments

by Maura Keene

Public Shade Tree Committee: (for terms to expire June 30, 2025):

 • Gordon Green

 • Bennett Hazlip

 • Julian Hynes

Social Justice Committee/DEI Director Clarify Differences About Police Engagement with BIPOC Youth 

by Maura Keene

Public comments from Julian Hynes, Jay Smith Crooks, and Vira Cage voiced concern over...

Opinion: Local and Green. Introducing the Amherst Climate Alliance

by Darcy DuMont

“Though the town has set bold goals, its actions thus far don’t reflect the urgency of meeting those goals,” said Julian Hynes, of Sunrise Amherst.

Plant Medicine Resolution Sent Back to Committee for Reworking

by Maura Keene

In public comment, Marisol Bonifaz and Julian Hynes of Sunrise Amherst spoke in favor of reducing the police department budget in order to better fund education, the CRESS program, and climate resiliency. 

Public Hearing on the FY23 Budget Sparks Public Support for Racial Equity Programs

by Maura Keene

...agreed with the above points, as did a contingent from Sunrise Amherst including Marisol Pierce Bonifaz and Julian Hynes. Hynes also spoke for an increase in EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) staffing...

Council Approves Funds for Reparations, Debates Funding for Community Responder Program

by Maura Keene

Others who spoke for funding the programs proposed by the CSWG were Michele Miller, Mattea Kramer, MarisolPierce Bonifaz, Julian Hynes, Birdie Newman...

Photo of the Week: An Indy Gallery

Sunset At Simple Gifts Farm. Photo: Julian Hynes

Town Council: Regional Schools Anticipate $1.2M Budget Cut

by Maura Keene

...Allegra Clark, Kristin Worgess, and high school student Julian Hynes all spoke against the elimination of the second art teacher at the Middle School. Hynes said students and staff will need extra support next year, and this is a move in the wrong direction. 

High School Environmental Action Club Seeks Suport for Tree Planting in Amherst

by Trent Levakis

Julian Hynes, a sophomore at the high school, has been involved on the project as a member of the EAC for the last two years. While Hynes said...

Progressive Groups Focus on Amherst Budget Values, Priorities

Apr. 20, 2022... Julian Hynes, co-hub lead for Sunrise Amherst, wrote in an email that the discussion will be about how the budget supports Amherst values. That will then be used as the basis of a letter sent to town government.

Generation Ratify Amherst Exposes Gender Pay Gap in Amherst

by Julian Hynes with Kaz Andrews, Cameron Baird, Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, Ada Paessel and Cady Reiken.

Mar. 15, 2023 ... Generation Ratify Amherst is the local chapter of the nation, intersections, youth-led movement fighting for the enactment of...

Julian Hynes, lover of trees, briefs us on everything Merry Maple

Dec. 21, 2022...One of the major health issues facing the tree was “crown die-back, a tree issue that causes the tree to not leaf out anymore at the top sometimes,” Hynes said. “Even though a lot of the outer branches were leafing out, that main leader was not leafing out anymore.”