We are delighted 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, 2024

Time: 10am-11:30am

Haskell Building, 1 Prince Street, Northampton

DIRECTIONS & PARKING

Thanks to RSVP of the Pioneer Valley for sharing their space for this meeting!

Learn more.

Last week's favorite click.

Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness Annual Gathering on May 31st

This special event will begin at 9:30am with networking time. The program starts at 10am. Want to see which local legislators will be there? Spoiler alert: Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus is coming. Check out the updated FLYER here!

Got a minute? Join or renew with COSA online.

In partnership with the FrameWorks Institute, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health is now offering training and resources to help you communicate more effectively to boost knowledge, shift attitudes, and build support for mental health in your communities. The training, Communicating for Change: How to Talk About Mental Health to Build Support for What Works, is based on the FrameWorks Institute’s research and expertise related to framing choices, unintentional messaging, and strategies to reframe communications to build support for policy change. While open to all, this training is designed especially for people who communicate about mental health with the public, media, legislators, and others. Please express your interest in attending this training by filling out a short form below.

Training Interest Form

MassBudget Summary of the FY25 MA Budget

On May 7th, the Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee released its proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts in July (FY 2025). Like last month’s House budget proposal, the SWM proposal would make important new investments in education and transportation, made possible through the Fair Share surtax. Read a great summary of what is in the latest proposed budget for our state.

FY25 Budget Summary

Expanding the Child Tax Credit

Don't forget to register for the upcoming webinar about expanding the Child Tax Credit. Join Women’s Funding Network, Economic Opportunity Funders, Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, and Tax Equity Funders Network for a free, virtual event open to all on May 20.

Way Finders Receives Financial Literacy Grant

Way Finders has received a $30,000 grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank.

“Our financial literacy workshops help local families build their credit, find a better job, or become first-time homebuyers,” says Megan Pete, Director of Development.

HSF Breakfast: Strategic Planning on May 21

Many people dread the strategic planning process for good reason. 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. Join Human Service Forum for breakfast as speaker Jeff Wetherhold will introduce participants to a more inclusive approach to starting their strategic planning.

More details here

AEF Mini Golf Event on June 1

Mark your calendar for Amherst Education Foundation's 4th Annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser on Saturday, June 1st!

This is a fun event that will also have raffle prizes and refreshments. All proceeds go towards funding education grants to public school teachers and staff in the Amherst-area public schools.

Info and register

What we're reading this week.

Council of Nonprofits: Addressing the nonprofit workforce shortage crisis

AP News: America's child care crisis is holding back moms without college degrees

Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity: The shelf-life of trauma

Events, webinars, and activities.

May 14: Forbes Library Bike Repair Clinic with Bikes for All

May 14: COSA Meets in-person! Human Services Panel Discussion

May 15: Greenfield Mental Health and Wellness Fair in Energy Park

May 15: MassHire Health Care Occupations Job Fair @ GCC

May 15: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Talking Not Tokenizing

May 16: AGO 101: General information about the State Attorney General's Office

May 16: Office of Housing and Livable Communities Listening Session at GCC

May 18: Northampton Community Baby Shower

May 20: Office of Housing and Livable Communities Listening Session VIRTUAL

May 20: Brazelton Touchpoints Parenting While Black

May 21: Community Action Re-entry Culinary Training Program begin

May 21: Human Service Forum Breakfast: Strategic Planning

May 22: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity FEAST for Habitat

May 22: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Legislative Impact on Equity

May 23: Urban Institute Cash Assistance and Child Well-Being - Virtual Event

May 29: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Equity in Mental Health

May 29: Office of Housing and Livable Communities Listening Session VIRTUAL
May 31: Western Mass Network to End Homelessness Annual Gathering

JUNE

Jun 05: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Gender Inclusive Workplace
Jun 05: Resilience Hub Meeting: Connections & Collaboration at Edwards Church

Jun 06: Health Equity Compact Health Equity Trends Summit

Jun 07: MA Public Health Association Spring Awards Breakfast - register

Jun 10: Senator Comerford People's Town Hall @ GCC - REGISTER

Jun 12: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Future of Equity

Jun 13: ChildTrends Next-gen Leadership for Black Child and Family Wellbeing

Jun 15: Cooley and Bikes Fight Cancer Charity Ride - register

Jun 17: Three County CoC June Forum

Jun 26: Human Service Forum Workplace Equity Series Cohort Plan Creation

Want to join the COSA mailing list? Click here.

Reminder: COSA meets today at 10am - 1 Prince Street in Northampton!