COSA meets to discuss Food Security on Tue, Feb 13 @ 10am (Zoom)

Speakers will include Koby Gardner-Levine from Congressman Jim McGovern's Office

and Lev BenEzra from Amherst Survival Center.

In 2024 SKI UNITED raised $28,000 for the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region in support of those most in need in our community. Join this year’s adventure and help make 2024 the best event yet! In addition, the Ski United Auction is live with bidding on items from all over the Valley. Check it out.

Learn more.

Human Service Forum's Feb 13th Breakfast: Artificial Intelligence, Human Service.

Thank you to new and returning COSA members!

Your generous support makes all of our work possible.

Jessie Cooley

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts

Collaborative for Educational Services

Got a minute? Join or renew with COSA online.

Governor Maura Healey recently committed resources to support the production and preservation of more than 1,900 housing units in 19 communities across the state. Sites include Valley Community Development's Prospect Place in Northampton and the Library Commons 2 project in Holyoke.

Read the full release here.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank has announced a $10,000 sponsorship of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity's Victoria Bismark Farm project. This vital initiative will support the construction of three single-family homes on Burts Pit Road in Northampton.

Learn more.

Read MassBudget's overview of the Governor's FY2025 Budget Proposal

The first ever HHS Food is Medicine Summit is happening on January 31. This, full-day event is for policymakers, advocates, researchers, and a wide variety of stakeholders with equities in the Food is Medicine space to engage in a substantive conversation about why food is medicine is important, what actions are being taken to promote this concept, and what stakeholders can do to bolster this work.

Learn more.

LifePath announced it has been awarded a grant from MCOA in the amount of $22,900 to support elder dementia programs. This funding will allow us to continue to offer dementia-related services free of charge. LifePath will also use the grant to build capacity to respond to the rising need for dementia supports by training additional staff including at least one Spanish-speaking staff member, allowing them to provide dementia coaching in Spanish.

Join with Amherst College to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day on February 3rd! Amherst College, in partnership with Amherst Recreation, invites the community to join in a celebration of girls and women in sports, fostering a love for physical activity and teamwork. This event is FREE for community members and open to all girls and non-binary youth in 4th through 6th grades. Please register to let them know you're coming.

Learn more & register.