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On Friday, May 22 from 10:30-11:30 AM, you can join the Massachusetts Council of Nonprofits for their Public Policy Forum with Pat Moore, the First Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts. The discussion will focus on the Attorney General's efforts to block President Trump's executive order restricting mail voting and exerting federal control over elections. This event is FREE for MCN members and $20 for non-members. Sign up to receive the Zoom link. A recording will also be shared after the program.


Last week's favorite click

Listening session May 26th with MA Commission on LGBTQ aging

Incarceration, economic mobility datasets

The Vera Institute for Justice designed this tool to explore the link between mass incarceration and local economic wellbeing. As you may know, incarceration rates exploded over the last several decades—increasing sevenfold between 1972 and 2009—sweeping millions into the system. This trend has disproportionately impacted people of color, particularly Black Americans. Building on Vera's Incarceration Trends Project, their new Incarceration and Inequality Project overlays economic metrics onto five decades of confinement data. By merging these previously separate datasets, the tool fills a critical gap, allowing users to analyze how justice system trends and economic outcomes intersect in one place.

Is data your jam? US Census Population & Housing Unit Estimates

Franklin Hampshire quarterly labor market

The MassHire Franklin Hampshire quarterly labor market report for Q3 of fiscal year 2026 is out now. In this report from MASSHIRE Franklin Hampshire, you will find information about the economic health of the region, industry activity, job posting information, and more. These reports are released each quarter. Click the link below to view their Labor Market Information webpage. Here you will be able to download the full report as well as additional labor market information for the Franklin Hampshire region. Reports for previous time periods are also available.

New report highlights nonprofit burnout

Under significant pressure, U.S. nonprofits remain vital lifelines for their communities. But how are these organizations and their leaders truly faring? What is their outlook for the year ahead, and what do they need donors to know? The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s State of Nonprofits 2026 takes the pulse of the sector, revealing the unique challenges leaders face today and how they are navigating these headwinds.

Are we there yet? Transportation Advocacy

Join the Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network for their 4th Transportation Forum on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Mount Holyoke College. Featuring guest speakers, panels, and networking opportunities, this event brings together advocates, transportation professionals, legislators, and others interested in improving transportation funding and options in the four counties of western Massachusetts.

Worth Reading This Week

Gazette: Northampton weighs easing duplex restrictions to help housing growth

MassBudget: Enrollment decline and fiscal pressure in MA public schools

NPR: About 7 million kids live in a home with a loaded and unlocked gun (study)

AP News: Lawsuit blames Chat GPT maker OpenAI for helping to plan FSU school shooting

Nonprofit Jobs in the Valley

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity

Community Engagement Coordinator - Summer 2026


Community Action Pioneer Valley

Director, Head Start and Early Learning Programs

WIC Nutrition Assistant-Program Assistant


Upcoming Events

MAY

May 19: Child Trends Opportunities for States to Align Policy to Drive Systems Change

May 20: CSO 24th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair in Greenfield

May 20: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity FEAST for Habitat

May 20: Truth School Cultural Humility and Cross-Cultural Communication

May 21: Bipartisan Policy Center Homelessness, Housing Markets & Federal Policy

May 21: Youth Listening Session with Rep. Mindy Domb and FemGen

May 21: Massachusetts Association for Mental Health Annual Awards Dinner

May 21: Massachusetts Service Alliance Conference on Volunteerism in MA

May 26: Office Hours with Rep. Mindy Domb at Amherst Survival Center

May 26: Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Aging Listening Session

May 27: Brazelton Touchpoints Q is for Questioning - free webinar

May 27: Older Adult Behavioral Health Network Aging and Behavioral Practice Conference

May 27-28: Fair Housing & Civil Rights Conference

May 28: 2026 MAAP Summit Building Resilient Asthma-Friendly Learning Environments

May 29: Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness Annual Gathering

May 29: Children's Advocacy Center of FCNQA 8th Annual Golf Tournament

May 29: Office Hours with Rep. Mindy Domb at Amherst Town Hall

May 30: Hampshire County Community Baby Shower at Jackson Street School, Northampton


LOOKING AHEAD

Jun 02: Children's Advocacy Center Fundraiser Concert at Iron Horse

Jun 03: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Orientation

Jun 03: Human Service Forum Academy for Financial Wellness begins

Jun 05: MA Public Health Alliance Spring Awards Breakfast - registration is open

Jun 09: MassBudget Policy Talks Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent

Jun 10: Hampshire County Food Policy Council Network Forum

Jun 11: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Community Celebration - Save the Date

Jun 12: Human Service Forum Signature Breakfast

Jun 12: WMTAN Forum - Bridging Transit Gaps in the 413

Jun 18: Three County CoC 2026 Annual Meeting

Jun 18: The United Arc's 75th Anniversary Celebration

Jun 20: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Orientation

Jun 20: CHD Cancer House of Hope Bikes Fight Cancer Ride

Jul 18: 2026 Mass-Care Medicare for All Conference at Clark University

Aug 18: Child Trends Revolutionizing Math Engagement for Black and Latine Students



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