About What’s Up Worcester
Community-First Journalism for Worcester and Worcester County
What’s Up Worcester is recognized as Worcester’s first Black-founded news outlet and is now building as a nonprofit community media organization dedicated to providing accessible, trustworthy, and community-centered journalism for Worcester and Worcester County.
We exist to help residents stay informed, connected, and engaged through local news, community stories, civic information, resources, events, and coverage that reflects the people and neighborhoods that make Worcester what it is.
Our work is rooted in the belief that local journalism should be easy to understand, useful to everyday residents, and connected to real community life.
Who We Are
What’s Up Worcester was built in Worcester to help tell the real stories of our city and surrounding communities.
As Worcester’s first Black-founded news outlet, What’s Up Worcester carries a responsibility to make space for local voices, neighborhood stories, and communities that have too often been overlooked in traditional media.
We cover local news, small businesses, arts and culture, community events, public information, resources, youth and family issues, housing, homelessness, recovery support, and the people doing meaningful work across Worcester and Worcester County.
We are community-first, locally rooted, and committed to making sure residents have access to information that helps them understand what is happening, where to find support, and how to stay connected.
Our Mission
What’s Up Worcester is a nonprofit community media organization committed to providing accessible, trustworthy, and community-centered journalism that informs residents, amplifies local voices, and strengthens civic engagement across Worcester and Worcester County.
Our Vision
A Worcester where every resident has access to trusted local news, meaningful community stories, and clear civic information that helps people stay informed, connected, and engaged.
Purpose Clause
The purpose of What’s Up Worcester is to operate as a nonprofit community media organization organized and operated for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
What’s Up Worcester works to provide accessible, nonpartisan community news and information, promote civic engagement, offer educational content and public-interest reporting, amplify local and underrepresented voices, and strengthen public understanding of issues affecting residents, families, neighborhoods, and community life across Worcester and Worcester County.
Our purpose includes producing and sharing local news, public-interest journalism, community stories, educational content, event coverage, resource guides, interviews, videos, newsletters, public forums, media literacy efforts, and other community-centered media that help residents better understand and participate in their community.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall benefit any private shareholder or individual. What’s Up Worcester does not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
What We Cover
What’s Up Worcester covers the stories, updates, and resources that matter to residents across Worcester and Worcester County, including:
Local news made simple
Community voices
Public meetings and civic information
Youth and family resources
Housing and homelessness
Substance use and recovery support
Food access and where to get help
Mental health resources
Small businesses
Arts, culture, and local events
Neighborhood stories
Education and school updates
Public safety updates handled with care
Worcester County connections
Our Community Promise
We are committed to journalism that is accessible, trustworthy, respectful, and useful.
We will work to make local news easier to understand, community stories easier to find, and civic information easier to access.
We will report with care, accuracy, and respect for the people and communities involved.
We will handle sensitive topics, including homelessness, substance use, recovery, mental health, public safety, youth, families, trauma, and personal hardship, with dignity and responsibility.
We will not exploit people’s struggles for attention.
We will focus on verified information, helpful resources, local voices, and stories that strengthen understanding across the community.
Leadership
Jerry Filmore
Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Board President
Jerry Filmore founded What’s Up Worcester with a clear vision: to build a platform that tells Worcester’s story through the eyes of its people.
As Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Board President, Jerry leads the direction, strategy, coverage, and growth of What’s Up Worcester. His work brings together journalism, civic engagement, community storytelling, and local relationship-building to help keep residents informed, connected, and heard.
Jerry is committed to building What’s Up Worcester as a trusted nonprofit community media organization that serves Worcester and Worcester County with accuracy, consistency, and respect.
Reanna Filmore
Treasurer
Reanna Filmore supports the financial health and accountability of What’s Up Worcester.
As Treasurer, she plays an important role in helping ensure that the organization handles its resources responsibly and works toward long-term sustainability.
Board of Directors
What’s Up Worcester is guided by a board committed to supporting the organization’s mission, accountability, and long-term growth as a nonprofit community media organization.
The board helps provide oversight, community perspective, and support as What’s Up Worcester continues building accessible, trustworthy, and community-centered journalism for Worcester and Worcester County.
Current board members include:
Jerry Filmore, Founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Board President
Reanna Filmore, Treasurer
Jacqueline Monteiro, Board Member
Ariana Casasanta, Board Member
Hana Lasell, Board Member
Contributing Writers and Community Voices
What’s Up Worcester believes that strong community journalism includes the voices of the people who live, work, serve, create, and lead in the community.
We welcome community voices, contributors, residents, small business owners, students, artists, nonprofit workers, organizers, and storytellers who care about Worcester and Worcester County.
Every submission is reviewed before publication and may be edited for clarity, accuracy, style, and alignment with the What’s Up Worcester mission.
Built With Worcester
What’s Up Worcester is built with the community, not above it.
We believe residents, small businesses, youth, families, organizers, artists, educators, nonprofit workers, volunteers, recovery advocates, neighborhood leaders, and everyday people all have stories that matter.
Our goal is to create a trusted local platform where Worcester residents can learn what is happening, find resources, share community updates, and see themselves reflected in the stories being told.
Get Involved
What’s Up Worcester is growing, and we invite residents, organizations, businesses, and community members to be part of the work.
You can support What’s Up Worcester by submitting local stories, sharing community events, sending resources, nominating people doing meaningful work, becoming a contributor, volunteering, sponsoring coverage, subscribing to the newsletter, or helping spread the word.
If you know about a local story, event, resource, small business, community leader, youth program, family service, housing support, recovery resource, or person doing meaningful work, we want to hear from you.
Contact
For general questions, email: info@whatsupworcester.com
For event submissions, email: events@whatsupworcester.com
For sponsorship inquiries, email: sponsor@whatsupworcester.com
Follow What’s Up Worcester on social media:
Facebook: WhatsUpWorcester
Instagram: @WhatsUpWorc
This is our city. These are our stories.