Nirvani Williams
Reporter/Producer/HostNirvani Williams covers socioeconomic disparities for New England Public Media, joining the news team in June 2021 through Report for America.
Prior to this, Williams was the associate editor of Seema, an online publication dedicated to spreading more stories about women in the Indian diaspora, and has written a variety of articles, including a story about a Bangladeshi American cybersecurity expert and her tips for protecting phone data while protesting. Williams interned at WABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News,” WSHU public radio, and La Voce di New York, a news site in Italian and English.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, where she was the executive editor of the student-run culture magazine, The Stony Brook Press.
She can be reached at nirvani_williams [at] nepm.org.
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![Attorney General Andrea Campbell [right] with members of her office listening to organizer Katie Talbot [left] and activists speak about significant housing violations at Springfield Garden.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e51cb78/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F21%2Fd9%2Fa31fb1144911a88742d2d8c7c079%2Fimg-9669.jpg)
The housing complex Springfield Gardens was involved in a $10 million dollar settlement that her office reached with the building's landlords for significant housing violations. -
![Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey [left] speaking with employees from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee on Monday, following the state's disbursement of SNAP benefits to recipients.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e08ac68/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2Fba%2F15c26da24444be18772574ad8dd9%2Fimg-9638.jpg)
Andrew Morehouse, the executive director for the Food Bank, cited high food insecurity rates, in particular Hampden County and Franklin County, which had the highest food insecurity rates of any county in the state in 2024. -
Though SNAP has been restored and the shutdown has ended, some local restaurants took action to feed residents who relied on this aid and they've decided to continue this work throughout the month of November. -
With the federal government defunding programs that support DEI initiatives, colleges are making decisions on what they want to protect. At Elms College in Chicopee, a junior majoring in biotechnology, was recently awarded a scholarship specifically for Black students looking to go into the medical field. -
The Federal Aviation Administration is cutting 10% of flights at many of the nation's busiest airports across the country starting Friday. This includes Logan International Airport in Boston, which could affect some Massachusetts residents. -
Sciarra won just 76 votes ahead of her opponent Jillian Duclos in Northampton's mayoral contest. -
Lamar Cook, 45, is charged with trafficking 21 kilograms of cocaine and the unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition. -
![Incumbent Mayor Gina Louise-Sciarra [left] will square off against challenger Jillian Duclos [right] in Northampton's mayoral election on Tuesday, November 4th.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e12115e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/702x391+0+54/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2F57%2Ff0e2d32143d09f4d0f919cff299b%2Fduclos-v-sciarra-noho-elex.jpg)
Early voting in Northampton’s local election is underway with ballots being cast before the general election next week. The city’s mayoral candidates are taking on major issues this season, like the city budget, education, and downtown development. -
The morning of May 8th, Rosanne Ferreira-De Oliveira, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Eureka Street in Worcester. It was just supposed to be a normal workday for her as a house cleaner. -
![11-year-old Jayvien Dejesus [furthest left],](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/907948c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F42%2F5b7d85cf4043af3329df3f608adf%2Fimg-9519.jpg)
Superintendent of the Springfield Public Schools, Sonia Dinnall, accompanied the students, teaching them about her job and showing them around the school district office.
![Attorney General Andrea Campbell [right] with members of her office listening to organizer Katie Talbot [left] and activists speak about significant housing violations at Springfield Garden.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5345898/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F21%2Fd9%2Fa31fb1144911a88742d2d8c7c079%2Fimg-9669.jpg)
![Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey [left] speaking with employees from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee on Monday, following the state's disbursement of SNAP benefits to recipients.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/416b321/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2Fba%2F15c26da24444be18772574ad8dd9%2Fimg-9638.jpg)
![Incumbent Mayor Gina Louise-Sciarra [left] will square off against challenger Jillian Duclos [right] in Northampton's mayoral election on Tuesday, November 4th.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40fb6ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/702x391+0+54/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2F57%2Ff0e2d32143d09f4d0f919cff299b%2Fduclos-v-sciarra-noho-elex.jpg)
![11-year-old Jayvien Dejesus [furthest left],](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aedddb5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2246+0+389/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F42%2F5b7d85cf4043af3329df3f608adf%2Fimg-9519.jpg)