The Journey Home
2024-05-29 12:00 - 15:15 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Live Interactive Webinar
Instructor: James Cavitt, M.S.W. and Kristopher McLucas, LCSW, MPH
Level: Intermediate
Reentry and Trauma Informed Approaches: May 22nd, 2024, 12 – 3:15 PM
Reentry and Community Connection: May 29th, 2024 12 – 3:15 PM
CEs: Up to 6 CEs, 3 CEs earned per session
Review CE accreditation and approvals for this course on tab above.
More and more of our incarcerated community members are returning home; however, high rates of recidivism continue to impact our families and communities. Therefore as mental health professionals, we must be equipped to provide social justice-oriented care to our returning citizens that addresses the key factors that contribute to recidivism.
This two part series will educate and empower mental health professionals on how to successfully serve the formerly incarcerated community through a social justice lens. The series is facilitated by James Cavitt, M.S.W., and Kristopher McLucas, LCSW, MPH who have extensive experience working with the reentry population in the greater Los Angeles community. This training series will incorporate perspectives from professional experience, research, theory and lived experience to highlight the best practices to successfully work with the reentry community. It is designed for mental health professionals, program administrators and advocates that want to increase their capacity to better serve the reentry community.

Equity in Mental Health
2024-05-29 09:00 - 12:30
How do systems of inequality and oppression affect mental health, and treatment to that health? What can we do to provide a supportive community where all individuals can find solace, understanding and validation.
Presenter Ysabel Garcia, from Estoy Aqui LLC, has first hand experience, and uses that along with extensive training and education, to discuss this large topic.
REGISTER NOW

This session is part of our 2024 Workplace Equity Series.
Session 3: Examining a Gender Inclusive Workplace
Wednesday June 5th
Presenter: Think Again Training
Session 4: The Future of Equity
Wednesday June 12th
Presenter: NCCJ
Session 5: Cohort Plan Creation
Wednesday June 26th
Presenters: Janine Fondon and Lucie Lewis
Session 6: CLOSING PANEL- Where Do We Go From Here?
Wednesday July 3rd
Moderators: Janine Fondon and Lucie Lewis
Thank You to Our Series Sponsors:

Thank you Annual Sponsors:

First Time Homebuyer Workshop
2024-05-22 17:30 - 20:30
Become a certified first-time homebuyer with Way Finders! Learn from local real estate professionals about the homebuying process.
The course covers finding, financing, purchasing, and maintaining a home. Participants receive a certificate of completion that is necessary to access several down payment assistance programs and special mortgage products.
This is a three-part virtual workshop:
Wednesday, May 8, 5:30-8:30pmWednesday, May 15, 5:30-8:30pmWednesday, May 22, 5:30-8:30pm
Walk-ins are not accepted. Attendance for this workshop will be limited.
Create a Way Finders account at www.wayfinders.org/login to register.
Cost of the workshop is $50 per household, nonrefundable.

New Bedford Hiring Event - Gándara Center
2024-05-22 10:00 - 14:00 | 376 Nash Rd, New Bedford, MA, 376 Nash Rd, New Bedford, 02740, United States
We’re hiring! Join us Wednesday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in New Bedford. Come meet us, learn about the roles we have to offer like the opportunity to be a Youth Mentor or Clinician, and make a difference in our community.

Teen COPER Group
2024-05-21 16:30 - 17:30
Facilitated by Danielle Jones LCSW, The COPER Teen group is for teens who are struggling with eating disorders, anxiety or with other areas of mental health. This group centers around FLIHH’s COPER model which emphasizes the importance of Connection, Optomissiom, Play, Empowerment, and Resilience. This group takes place via Zoom every 4:30pm to 5:20 pm on Tuesdays. Fee for groups is $200 for 6 sessions. Sliding scale and payment plans may be available.
To Register Please contact info@flihh.com

May 2024 Breakfast- Strategic Planning Needs a Redo
2024-05-21 07:30 - 10:00 | Mount Holyoke College Willits-Hallowell Center, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA, United States
Many people dread the strategic planning process for good reasons. Strategic plans are intended to help organizations improve, and yet we use very little of what we know about change management and sustainable improvement in the strategic planning process. This results in a less engaging, more time-consuming, and less effective process. It doesn’t have to be this way.
This session will introduce participants to a more inclusive approach to starting their strategic planning. Jeff Wetherhold is a change management expert who has helped hundreds of teams make and sustain changes to improve client outcomes. Jeff will discuss how the strategic planning process changes when we approach it with a mindset of change management and improvement, and he will share practical ways to improve existing strategic plans that he finds most organizations ignore.

About the Presenter:

Jeff Wetherhold, M.Ed., advises mission-driven organizations who need to see change. He is a trainer and coach with 15+ years of experience supporting hundreds of teams in making and sustaining changes to improve client outcomes. Jeff’s work focuses on the disciplines of strategic planning, motivational interviewing, and process improvement.
Jeff is a firm believer that it is not enough to walk clients through a change process. They deserve to learn from it, and to build skills that they can continue to use throughout their careers.
Jeff has supported a broad range of change initiatives in the health care, education, community services, and private sectors over the course of his career. As the Co-founder and Principal at Ohia Advisors, Jeff partners with organizations seeking to advance the health and well-being of their staff, clients, and communities through process improvement and strategic planning. This includes clients with national, regional, and local scopes of service.
Most recently, Jeff has founded MI for Health to provide accessible and skills-focused training and coaching in applying Motivational Interviewing to improve conversations about change with patients, clients, and staff.
Jeff is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and a faculty member with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, where he supports health care facilities in adopting evidence-based safety practices using improvement methods. He is based on Boston, Massachusetts.
HSF Annual Sponsors:

HSF Breakfast Sponsors:

Immigrant Voices 2024
2024-05-19 19:00 - 21:00
Immigrant Voices: A Celebration of the Arts, our artistic showcase featuring our immigrant students, alumni, and allies returns this year to the Shea Theater in Turners Falls!

This year, Immigrant Voices will feature performers from Haiti, Ukraine, Belarus, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Colombia, El Salvador, and Argentina. Performances include music, dance, and poetry.

Shooting For Success
2024-05-19 10:00 - 22:00
Join us for an exciting two-day event to inspire and educate youth through sports and career exploration! Day one ignites with a unique “media day” at the Basketball Hall of Fame. This special event includes professional photos and launches a focused career readiness component for our young participants. Before diving into the 3v3 basketball tournament, boys and girls in grades 7-12 will engage in a dynamic career exploration event. This jam-packed experience offers networking opportunities, learning sessions, and professional growth opportunities—all essential components to be completed before tournament entry.
The excitement continues with the top four teams from the initial rounds on day two. Beyond the games, students will explore various industries through community partners, collecting stamps from each. Day two will also include an electrifying 3-point contest and enlightening talks from inspiring guest speakers.
Scholarship prizes, alternative prizes, and partnerships with Spalding to feature FMS-themed basketballs will excite the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to join us for two days of sports, education, and valuable insights, promising inspiration and growth!

Outrun Hunger
2024-05-19 09:00 - 13:00
Join Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts to outrun hunger! This year’s 5K race and 1-mile fun walk helps us to race to fill the bowls of those in need! Funds go directly to programs that feed people in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Those programs include 760,000+ pounds of food annually donated and delivered, purchased and gleaned, and our Growing Gardens program, where we mentor and support those most directly impacted by food insecurity to grow their own culturally meaningful and desired food!!! Our goal: Nourish Western MA – one delivery, one glean, one garden at a time.

Northampton Community Baby Shower
2024-05-18 09:30 - 11:30
Get ready for baby and learn about prenatal and postpartum resources!
FREE BABY GEAR FROM THE VILLAGE CLOSET, Sizes NB-2TFREE RAFFLE PRIZES: Drawing at 11:15
Saturday, May 189:30am-11:30amJackson Street School, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton, MA

Massachusetts Landlord Workshop
2024-05-18 09:00 - 14:00
This online workshop includes an overview of basic residential rental property management in Massachusetts that provides an introduction to the Massachusetts laws that govern the rental relationship. Important for all owners of rental properties, including owners of 2-4 family homes.
Topics covered include:
• proper tenant screening• relations with tenants• lead paint laws• types of tenancies• State Sanitary Code• fair housing laws• the eviction process• how to deal with drug problems
Trainer: H. John Fisher
Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the session; this workshop satisfies the course requirement for first-time buyers of multi-family homes.
Registration fee is $119.95 (non-refundable & includes Way Finders’ Property Management Manual, valued at $29.95).
Hours of workshop are 9am-2pm.

The Heirloom Classic 5k
2024-05-18 09:00 - 11:00
The Heirloom Collective is proud to present our THIRD annual “The Heirloom Classic 5K” – a charity run and walk to benefit The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. All proceeds raised from registration fees, donations, and sponsorships will be directly donated to The Food Bank. The course is a challenging but rewarding out-and-back that departs from Crumpin Fox Golf Course and traverses via Purple Meadow Road to the crest of the hill and back. Hydration aid stations will be set up along the way. All fitness levels are welcome and encouraged to join. Run, or walk, just come out and join us for a morning of fresh air for a good cause! Click the link above to register and visit The Heirloom Classic 5K website to learn more about The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and it’s impact on the local community. Sign in begins at 8AM and the race begins at 9AM. Saturday May 18, 2023. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Introduction to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
2024-05-15 12:00 - 15:15 | Webinar
Live Interactive Webinar
Instructor: Alexandra Klein Rafaeli, Psy.D.
Level: Intermediate
May 14 and 15, 2024, noon – 3:15 p.m. ET
CEs: 6
Review CE accreditation and approvals for this course on tab above.
This is a multiple-day session. In order to receive CEs, you must attend both days.
The purpose of this seminar is to provide an introduction and orientation to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). We will study the foundations of IPT through its history, its theory, and its research milestones; learn about recent adaptations and discuss how IPT integrates multicultural and diversity perspectives. The seminar will also include examples of the approach through case presentations and videotape segments, and participants will have the chance to participate in experiential exercises to deepen their understanding of the approach. By the end of this course, participants will have wider knowledge of IPT, including its theoretical roots and treatment phases. They will also gain experience in using core IPT techniques, particularly those focused on communication skills, recognition and regulation of affect and self-advocacy.
Although IPT was originally developed and tested in a Western culture, its concepts and techniques have also been adapted to non-Western and low-resource communities. This seminar will also look briefly at ways in which IPT can address and help in understanding the experience of illnesses such as depression through the lenses of family, community and culture.

Human Services Discussion
2024-05-14 10:00 - 11:30
We are thrilled to announce that our final in-person COSA meeting of the year is scheduled for May 14th from 10am to 11:30am. Mark your calendars and join us for an engaging session where we will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of local nonprofit leaders. They will be sharing their insights on the challenges and successes they have experienced while navigating the evolving landscape of human services over the past few years. This promises to be a valuable and enlightening discussion that you won’t want to miss. See you there!

Tuesday, May 14

10am-11:30am

Haskell Building, 1 Prince Street, Northampton, MA – DIRECTIONS & PARKING

Light refreshments will be available.

Thank you to RSVP of the Pioneer Valley for sharing their space with COSA this month!

Credit Success Workshop
2024-05-13 17:30 - 20:30
Whether you want to buy a house or a car, pay off your student loan debt, or understand how to build your credit, Way Finders is here to help.
Our Credit Success Workshop provides the tools you need to reach your financial goals. Learn directly from a Way Finders’ certified counselor through interactive and engaging activities. After you complete your workshop, you will have the opportunity to meet with a HUD-certified housing counselor to discuss your individual goals.
There is a $10 fee to reserve your seat for the workshop. This fee will be refunded upon workshop completion.
In-person workshop. Registration required.
Way Finders is dedicated to assisting low-to-moderate income clients achieve financial stability and success. You will not be turned away for inability to pay.
To request a one-time time waiver please contact our support department at homeownership@wayfinders.org or 413-233-1621.

Springfield Symphony Chorus “Sing, Praise, Light II”
2024-05-11 16:00 - 18:00

Springfield Neighborhood WALK/RUN FOR ADOPTION
2024-05-11 09:30 - 13:00
Help us spread awareness about adoption
from foster care across the state. For the first
time in the Walk for Adoption’s 15-year-history,
we’re excited to host a local walk in Springfield!
Whether you participate at one of our
Neighborhood Walks or join us at our main
event on May 19th at Jordan’s Furniture
in Taunton, your participation and any
fundraising you do helps to support MARE’s
work to find permanent adoptive homes for
children and teens in foster care.
To register:
• Go to walk.mareinc.org
• You can choose to join a team, start your
own team, or register as an individual
• As part of your registration, you’ll be
prompted to select your Walk Location.
Registration Fees: $35 per adult / $15 per child
Please be sure to register by May 1st to ensure
that we’ll have a Walk/Run shirt for you on the
day of the event!

Lighthouse Open House
2024-05-10 12:00 - 16:00

Tapestry's Annual Auction. An Evening Under the Stars
2024-05-09 17:30 - 19:30
Silent Auction | Local talents | Delicious appetizers

Thursday, May 9, 2024,
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

at

The Penthouse 650
at Tower Square

1500 Main St Suite 650, Springfield, MA 01115

Become part of a vibrant community, making a difference in community health.

May First-Time Homebuyer Webinar Series
2024-05-07 18:00 - 21:00
In this Zoom webinar presented by Valley Community Development:
Get the facts from real estate professionals, including attorneys, loan officers, realtors, home inspectors & housing counselors
Learn tips about how to improve your credit.
Ask questions to help you proceed & protect your own interests as you approach this life decision.
A certified course recognized by MHP & MassHousing, this workshop helps you qualify for special mortgage products.
$50 for two adults in the same household.* Registration is nonrefundable & attendance is required at all three sessions.
May sessions are scheduled:
Tuesday, May 7
Wednesday, May 8
Tuesday, May 14
All from 6pm-9pm on Zoom.
Please reach out if you need reasonable accommodation due to disability or lack of technology access.
If your income is at or below the posted incomes below, and you live in Amherst, Easthampton, or Northampton, MA, you may be eligible to attend this class for free. Contact Donna Cabana 413-586-5855 ext. 180 to schedule a budgeting session prior to the webinar. You will need to complete a household budget, provide pay stubs, bank statements, and participate in budget counseling. Residents of other towns are not eligible.
Household size and maximum income:
1 – $52,750, 2-$60,250, 3-$67,800, 4-$75,300, 5- $81,350

How to Apply for Affordable and Subsidized Housing
2024-05-07 18:00 - 20:00
This Webinar discussion will cover the crucial process of combining available public funds with
realistic family assets to create the best potential for housing options. Although this is a basic
workshop, it highlights all of the important steps to any plan in process, and will be useful even for
those already on the Section 8 list.
Topics include: public funds available to pay for housing; level of support needed; living skills
development; assessment of personal resources; housing models; person-centered planning and
state care support options (including non-DDS) options.

14th Annual Daffodil Run 5k/10k
2024-05-05 10:00 - 13:00
By signing up for the Daffodil Run 5k or 10k, you’re helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County will hold the 14th Annual Daffodil Run in person at the Amherst Town Common, Amherst, MA 01002
It will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Walk or run and invite others to join you in support of mentoring. Register for the Daffodil Run.
This community event has become the first marker of spring for the town of Amherst and draws hundreds of community members to the area to participate and cheer on their family and friends.
Look forward to 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run post-race party with delicious food, and family-friendly fun. The Daffodil Run helps sustain the power of youth mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting adult mentors with young people in our community. Once matched they go on to build a meaningful, positive relationship that empowers the potential inherent in each child.

SquareOne Derby Party
2024-05-04 17:00 - 20:00

Spring into Movement
2024-05-03 18:00 - 19:00
This May, let’s Spring into Movement with It Takes a Village!
It’s all starting Friday, May 3, 2024 from 6pm-7pm! For this first class, we’re partnering with Strong as a Mother Wellness and Easthampton’s Fitness Fusion.
Special fundraiser rate per class is $20 donation.
Proceeds from the class go to It Takes a Village.
And save the date for the next class near you!
Hampshire: Friday, May 3rdBerkshire: Friday, May 17thFranklin: Friday, May 31stHampden County: TBD
We hope you can join us!

Community Action PV Annual Meeting
2024-05-03 07:30 - 21:00

United Way of Pioneer Valley - DDRWLC Speed Networking
2024-05-02 17:30 - 19:30 | White Lion Brewing Company, 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
A light-hearted networking event celebrating friendship, collaboration, and the power of women communing and connecting. Get together with women across the Pioneer Valley through networking and make new friends in the process!

HSF Supervisory Skills Certificate Series Spring 2024
2024-05-02 09:00 - 12:30 | NCYF Building; 203 East St, Easthampton, 203 East St, Easthampton, MA, 01027, United States
This series of workshops is ideal for new supervisors to get the skills and knowledges needed to succeed. A trained supervisory team will improve any organization and lead to higher impact in aiding their communities.
The workshop series takes place from 9am to 12:30pm every week for eight weeks on Thursdays starting May 2nd. Attendance is required at every session for certification.
This is a hybrid series, please select if you are attending in person at our offices in Easthampton, or virtually over Zoom.

Session Topics:
Lead with Influence– Everyone exerts influence, intentional or unintentional. A good leader is aware of how they would prefer to positively impact their team and guides their field in that direction.
Employment Law 101 and 102- This 2 part workshop presents the most up to date laws requarding employment is crucial for anyone who oversees employees. Mitigate risk, learn to avoid litigation and retaliation, and fulfill your legal obligations.
Benefits and Liability- Insurance can be difficult to understand. In this session, gain a better understanding of what liabilities exist for your organization. Also understand what insurance benefits are available to be to make sure your team is making the most of them.
Team Building and Conflict Resolution- Build your team up, making the whole stronger than the sum of their parts. Learn tips and tactics to help drive unity. Be able to address when conflict does happen, leading back to making your team work in harmony.
Cyber Security- Protect your information and that of your organization. Learn what steps to take to discourage hackers and scammers. Learn about the most common forms of attack, and how those attacks are evolving, as well as what the attackers are after and why.
Retention: Rewards & Recognition, Accountability & Discipline- Help build an understanding within your team of their own progress. Be able to have conversations about great performance, and areas of improvement. Build a culture that retains their workforce through active development.
Assessing D.E.I. as a New Supervisor- Where does your organization stand on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? Do you understand your organization’s plan and your place in that plan? Learn to build and foster DEI within your team.
Program Fees:
HSF Members: $500 Not Yet Members: $900
Participants must attend all sessions to receive their certificates. Makeup sessions are not allowed.
Series Sponsor:

HSF Annual Sponsors:

Trauma-Informed Yoga for Therapists and Their Clients
2024-05-01 09:00 - 17:00
No prior training in yoga, trauma treatment, or EMDR is required.

Live Online

May 1, 2024

9:00-5:00 EST

6 CEs, 3 EMDRIA CEs
$160 early bird rate until April 1

This day long workshop includes four 90-minute sessions exploring foundational concepts and techniques for integrating yoga into psychotherapy. Each session explores both practical and philosophical overlap between the practices of yoga and trauma treatment. Students will practice and learn to lead 4 gentle yoga sequences, 4 yogic breathing techniques, and 4 grounding resources for offering yoga safely and effectively to clients with trauma histories. These skills are also useful as self-care to mitigate risk of burnout for those working in stressful environments. No prior training in yoga, trauma treatment, or EMDR is required.
Participants will be able to:

Define Sanskrit terms Yoga, Asana, Ahimsa, Prana, and Pranayama in English and describe how each term relates to trauma therapy.
Choose appropriate timing for utilizing yoga postures, concepts, and breathing techniques in clinical practice, including resourcing/stabilization, during trauma processing, and post-treatment integration. Connections between trauma-aware yoga and the 8 Phases of EMDR will be explored.
Solve trauma related challenges including negative beliefs, difficult emotions, and painful sensations that may emerge during yoga practice using skills of external grounding, window of tolerance, internal resources, non-judgmental awareness, self-compassion, and/or choice.
Understand social justice concepts of empowerment and oppression and how they relate to offering yoga in psychotherapy in a trauma-informed manner.
Practice effectively and safely leading 4 different yoga scripts: Yoga Unites/Trauma Divides, Non-Judgmental Awareness, Finding Our Centers, and Grounding Yoga Sequence.

Early Registration Will Bike 4 Food
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Will Bike 4 Food (WB4F) is back for its 14th year!This fun cycling event raises funds and awareness for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Cyclists of all levels can pedal towards a hunger-free future by joining us for a Century (100 mile), Half Century (50 mile), Quarter Century (25 mile), or the 10-mile Family Fun Ride. Registered riders can also choose to participate virtually by riding their miles any time in September during Hunger Action Month.

2024 NonProfit Innovators Forum
2024-04-29 18:00 - 20:00
