🏳️‍🌈 Safe Homes Gala and upcoming events, ✊ Open Sky Stands with Ukraine

📢 We Stand with Ukraine

A statement from Ken Bates,

President and CEO of Open Sky Community Services

March 1, 2022

As an organization devoted to humanity and support, we at Open Sky acknowledge what is going on in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine who are facing difficult choices of whether to flee their homes or to stay and fight for their survival. For some, there is no choice.

It’s difficult to not be affected by this humanitarian crisis. We know that some in our community are more deeply affected due to family ties or past experience with war-related trauma. Please take time to reach out to friends and family who may be struggling.

Some people have asked where to donate towards humanitarian relief. The button below will bring you to a verified list of charities recommended by Charity Navigator.

Please join me in extending our heartfelt prayers and thoughts for the Ukrainian nation, the Eastern European nations, and the millions of Russian citizens who do not condone the actions of their State and may also suffer consequences such as job loss, poverty and starvation. We all share the hope that this crisis can be resolved quickly so that peace returns.

View the statement on our website.

Donate to Charities Helping Ukraine

🏳️‍🌈 Register for the Safe Homes Gala

Congratulations to our 2022 People of Courage Awardees

The 2022 Safe Homes Gala and

People of Courage Awards will be held virtually on April 8th, 2022!

2022 People of Courage Awardees:

Allyship Award - Stacey Sirois

Community Champion Award - Lynne Dumais

Public Service Award - Thu Nguyen

Volunteer Award - Connor Hayden

Young Adult Award - Lamar Brown-Noguera

Youth Award - Maxwell Farrell

Social Justice Action & Advocacy Award - LGBT Asylum Task Force

Your support of the Gala funds the work of Safe Homes, Open Sky's program for LGBTQIA+ Youth ages 14-23 in Central Mass.

Join us online as we celebrate our awardees. Ticketed and free options available.

📅 Save the Date for these Upcoming Events

Click the name of each event for more information

🎨 ValleyCAST's 9th Annual Art Palette Contest

Opening Night:

Friday, March 11, 2022

5:00 - 7:00 PM

Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery

50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA

Artists of all ages and abilities transformed ordinary wooden art palettes into unique works of art. They are displayed together on the gallery walls for all to enjoy.

From the opening through April 8, 2022, gallery guests are invited to cast a vote for their favorite palettes. Winners receive cash awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize in three different age categories.

Regular gallery hours:

Monday through Friday

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Contact the receptionist to schedule your visit:

508-234-6232, Dorcas.Carlson@openskycs.org

📖 ValleyCAST's 2022 Poetry/Word Series

Saturday, March 19, 2022

7:00 - 9:00 PM

Singh Performance Center

Featured Readers: Jovonna Van Pelt, Karen Warinsky, Paul Richmond

Featured Open Mic Reader: Robert Eugene Perry

Flutist: Terry Bradley

🌷 Yellow Tulip Project: Hope Day Celebration

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Rain Date: April 30, 2022

1:00pm - 3:30pm

Southbridge Town Common

1 Mechanic Street, Southbridge, MA

Parking on Crystal Street

The Hope Day event will bring us together to smash the stigma around mental health, and bring suicide prevention and mental health awareness to the community, in anticipation of Mental Health Month in May.

The Yellow Tulip Project is a youth-driven, nonprofit organization that aims to reduce mental health stigma.