Hello, my beautiful kings and queens. Happy Pride month! Never be afraid of being yourself! You are a rockstar in your own right! As always you are in for a treat! Keep reading kings and queens! |
|
What does Pride Month mean to me & why is it so important to me?
Well, June is so much more than Pride Month to me! To me, Pride Month is about the freedom to be who you truly are without any judgment!
Pride Month is about being heard, showing solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community, and standing up for what you think is right and what you believe in!
Most importantly, Pride Month is a time to celebrate love and happiness!
The Boston Pride Parades are a home away from home for me, and I enjoy every moment of them!
I’ve been going to Pride Parades since 2015, and every year it gets better.
I can’t believe I’ve only missed one so far because of the pandemic!
Just imagine a big and loud party every year which I love so much!
I can’t wait to go back!
One Pride parade can change your life forever!
Why are Pride Month & Pride parades so special to me? First, it’s a beautiful time of year where you can be whoever you want to be!
The moral of the story is never be afraid to be who you are no matter what!
Stay beautiful kings and queens!
|
|
Hello to all my kings and queens out there! I just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention, now more than ever. Even though we are in an unpredictable time right now, I believe that it’s really important to keep an open mind and take the time to do whatever is truly important to you; at the end of the day, you and your well-being are what truly matters. |
|
If you don’t like the path you are on, change it! Never be afraid to! Never stay with something that doesn’t put a smile on your face!
|
|
Calling all June babies! You are something special! Never give up on yourself and your dreams! |
|
Meet MASS Advocates Board Member: Matthew Bander |
|
What do you like to do for fun?
I Like to be with my friends and go to Red Sox Games and go to the Celtics Games and go out for lunch and dinner and go away with my friends and family.
What makes you happy?
When I see my family and my friends and I get my things done and I celebrate the holidays and my birthday.
How long have you been advocating?
I have been advocating since 1986 when I moved and lived in specialized housing in Brookline Mass.
Why do you advocate?
Why do I advocate is to help my friends advocate to help them get what they want like to help them stand up for themselves.
What does self-advocacy mean to you?
To learn how to be a better self-advocate and learn new things on how to be a self-advocate.
What made you want to work at the job you do and why?
I like working for Star Market in Chestnut Hill. I got this Job from the coach that knows the Customer Service Manager at Star Market. I collect shopping carts and bring them into the store from the parking lot. This is a good job that pays the bills and other things that I need to pay for every month.
|
|
The LEND Program is seeking a self-advocate with a disability to participate in the LEND fellowship that runs from September 2021 – May 2022. Massachusetts residents with developmental disabilities who are no longer in school or a transition program can apply.
LEND stands for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. The LEND Program is a joint initiative of Boston Children's Hospital and the ICI. The program provides interdisciplinary training for diverse fellows from disciplines including social work, psychology, developmental medicine, audiology, occupational therapy, nursing, public health, genetic counseling, child development, and education. Participants include parents of children with disabilities and self-advocates (people with disabilities finding ways to increase their independence and speak up for their goals).
|
|
Sex is part of being human... so let's talk about it!
June 8th, from 5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Let’s Talk About Sex! Webinar
Pauline and Oscar will teach about having healthy sexual relationships that feel good. They will talk about sexual acts that people might do together, how to communicate with your sexual partner, and how to prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancy. This recorded webinar is for self-advocates of all identities and will be LGBTQ-inclusive.
|
|
June 22nd, from 5:30 PM-6:30 PM - Let’s Talk About Sex! Questions and Discussion
Pauline and Oscar will host an online meeting for self-advocates to have a conversation and ask questions about sex. Registration for this event will be capped at 30 participants.
|
|
CENTRAL REGION
Regional Coordinator: Sue Moriarty
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Regional Meeting Dates for Central:
Tues., June 22nd, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM:
|
|
Looking for Central Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the green buttons below to view the full Central Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
NORTHEAST REGION
Lead Regional Coordinator: Bridget Crowley
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Drop-in Meeting Date for Northeast:
|
|
Regional Meetings Dates for Northeast:
Wed., June 30th, 2021 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM:
|
|
Looking for Northeast Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the yellow buttons below to view the full Northeast Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
METRO REGION
Metro Regional Coordinator: Francis Seme
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Regional Meeting Date for Metro:
|
|
Looking for Metro Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the pink buttons below to view the full Metro Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
SOUTHEAST REGION
Interim Regional Coordinator: Sierra Weiss
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Regional Meeting Date for Southeast: |
|
Looking for Southeast Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the orange buttons below to view the full Southeast Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
Rainbow Group
Rainbow Coordinator: Pauline Bosma
Rainbow Support: Oscar Hughes
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend and it will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Looking for Rainbow Group Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the purple buttons below to view the full Rainbow Group update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
It’s been a busy time in the West Region! Shortly after our first virtual conference, we said goodbye to Ness Bellini.
Ness had been serving as West Region Self Advocacy Coordinator for almost four years and will be deeply missed, but we wish them
lots of luck.
Amber Pettell, previously the Self Advocacy Facilitator, has stepped into the Self Advocacy Peer Coordinator role. In addition, we will be hiring a second coordinator to work with West Region.
June Meeting Schedule
West Region Self Advocacy will continue to host Zoom meeting on:
June 8th, 5:30 PM
June 15th, 5:30 PM
June 22nd, 5:30 PM
June 29th, 5:30 PM
To join, use the following Zoom link:
or call 1 (408) 638-0968 -or- 1 (646) 558-8656
and enter Meeting ID: 403 979 9018
Special Event
A Discussion of Civil Rights History with Dr. Thomas Gardner
Wednesday, June 16th, 5 pm
(Zoom Event)
Thomas N. Gardner, Ph.D., is a professor of communication at Westfield State University, Westfield, MA., where he has taught courses in public relations, journalism, communication law, and political and persuasive communication since 2001.
A native Southerner, Tom was chairman in the late 1960s of the Southern Student Organizing Committee, a southside organization of students active in the civil rights and anti-war movements. He later became a political reporter, columnist, and city editor at the Pulitzer Prize-winning Montgomery Advertiser. He also served as public relations director for the Alabama State Employees Association.
He holds a B.A. in sociology from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Georgia, a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Please RSVP to Amber by Tuesday, June 15th at 4 pm to receive the Zoom Link.
Amber Pettell, Self Advocacy Peer Coordinator
|
|
YLF is a free conference for Massachusetts youth & young adults with all types of disabilities. Participants build leadership skills and learn about employment, advocacy, assistive technology, and independent living. YLF 2021 will take place virtually!
The Youth Leadership Forum will take place virtual June 14-28th, 2021 in the late afternoons and evenings.
For more information, click below to download the flyer or to register.
|
|
We Want To Hear From You! |
|
Is there anything exciting happening in your life that you are just itching to talk about? Want to share it with the world?!
If so, great because I, Kamisha Heriveaux, am always on the look out for interesting events, your hobbies, and topics that interest you - so please don't hesitate to reach out!
I can't wait to hear from all of YOU! Have a great day and keep on reading!
~ Kamisha
|
|
MASS Advocates Standing Strong |P.O. Box 560100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
