Join us for COSA “orientation” at our October monthly meeting! We will host a special in-person discussion about what the COSA network is, what benefits COSA members receive, and what programming / speakers you and your staff teams may want to see at our meetings this year. If you’ve attended COSA meetings in the past, we encourage you to invite someone new to COSA to attend with you! Bring a friend or colleague (or two!), and know that we will also have time for any announcements from your organization that you’d like to share.

We will answer questions like: how are the COSA speakers and presentation topics chosen? How does someone become a board member? Why are some meetings in person and some held via Zoom? And anything else you might have been wondering about COSA!

Tuesday, October 8th at 10:am-11:30am

Haskell Building, 1 Prince Street, Northampton - MAP and Parking Information

Coffee and light refreshments will be available

The Amherst Survival Center and UMass Amherst are forging a long-term partnership to open a new on-campus food pantry, set to launch in the fall of 2025. This will be a big step forward in addressing food insecurity on campus, which is a crisis both nation-wide and here.

I want to know more

Big thank you to our sustaining members!

We could not do this without you.

Center for Human Development

Transhealth

Got a minute? Join or renew with COSA online.

Last week's favorite click

There was a talent-filled teachable tie for favorite click last week!

413Cares video short about the impact of great resources

Amherst Survival Center is seeking a Food Pantry Specialist

SPIFFY full coalition meeting on Oct 10th

The in-person SPIFFY Full Coalition Meeting is Thursday, October 10th, from 10am to 1pm at the Hadley Library. Lunch will be served. Please REGISTER as soon as possible. Julie Anne Levin, the Director of Curriculum and Grants Manager for the Easthampton Schools, will be giving an interactive presentation titled, "If You Don't Feed The Teachers - Centering Mental Health In Schools." See the attached flyer for more details!

MassMutual funding Way Finders project

Way Finders has announced that the MassMutual Foundation has awarded $2,000,000 to support the expansion of its innovative City of Homes homeownership program, which takes vacant or abandoned residential properties in Springfield, renovates them, and offers them to first time homebuyers for an affordable price.

Read the press release

The Ethical Uses of AI - HSF Breakfast

Human Service Forum is happy to welcome Ankit Virimani, international expert in the field of ethical uses of generative AI. On November 12th, Ankit will be giving a keynote discussing advances in AI technology for use in the non-profit field and on the issues and challenges being discussed on a broad scale.

Details and register

TIHC Resilience Roadshow on Oct 15th

A FREE 90-minute interactive workshop to help civic, social service and faith-based organizations, libraries, non-teaching school staff, businesses, and other community groups and

individuals in Hampshire County better understand the impact of trauma and how to build a more welcoming and resilient community.

QR registration code is here

Join Public Health Institute for Western Massachusetts for a webinar featuring Dr. Jill Walsh, an expert in the field, and Liza Hirsch from the MA Office of Attorney General. In this webinar they will cover the evolving landscape of social media and its influence on young people, potential benefits and risks, the role of parents and educators in promoting healthy usage, implications of the proposed Surgeon General warning, strategies for addressing social media-related challenges.

Info and registration