Springing forward Together

Community Action News

March 2021

ALL TOGETHER NOW

As I reflect on the devastation and loss caused in the wake of COVID, I'm also struck by the profoundness of a pandemic which, while mandating so much isolation, resulted in such remarkable teamwork. This includes the efforts of Team WCAC to keep critical programs operating despite myriad new regulations and challenges and our many community partners who rallied together, including via the Worcester Together Coalition, to address the needs of so many. I find myself grateful for new relationships and opportunities to partner, and hopeful for continued momentum to make certain we remain focused on a just and equitable future for our most vulnerable and disproportionally impacted community members. New opportunities such as those you'll read about below including the Worcester Together Reimagining grants and Mobility Mentoring Pilot, among others, reinforce the impact we as a collective community can make when we pool resources, time, and talent. Together we do better.

REIMAGINING TOGETHER

The Worcester Together fund recently announced $1 million in Reimagining Grants to six local nonprofits. Worcester Community Action Council was awarded $175,000 to support the delivery of services to Southbridge and surrounding communities. A joint effort between the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the United Way of Central Massachusetts, and in close partnership with the City of Worcester, Worcester Together has provided over $10.6 million in the last year to Central Massachusetts nonprofits working to help families facing issues such as lost income, unstable housing, food insecurity, and more. The Reimagining Grants are the Fund’s final phase of grant making.

This project will establish a blended coordination of care by leveraging resources, referrals and interventions among organizations in Southern Worcester County and Worcester to streamline access to services. Partners will work to identify our own internal barriers that negatively impact a client’s ability to easily understand and navigate services, and subsequently work to establish policies, processes, and practices so these barriers can be broken down. In cities like Worcester, there is a saturation of organizations that share a cross-section of clients facing barriers to navigation. However, in places across Southern Worcester County, organizations may have less presence making it even more challenging to access services. This project will focus initially on Southern Worcester County with an emphasis on Southbridge and Webster and will work toward continuous improvement in the City of Worcester. The goal is to create a learning and sharing opportunity between the two regions and to potentially mirror services.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated the barriers that many face in accessing services and stabilizing benefits, such as to healthy food, rental assistance and access to good jobs,” said WCAC Executive Director Marybeth Campbell. “With our Reimagining Grant from Worcester Together, we will help more residents break the cycle of poverty by providing a place-based model for coordinated care, connecting all of the providers, leveraging resources, referrals and interventions in order to achieve a better result for everyone.”

Learn more about the project here.

MOBILITY MENTORING PARTNERSHIP

WCAC is pleased to introduce the eight partner organizations joining WCAC for the implementation of Mobility Coaching through the Worcester Mobility Mentoring Pilot: Central MA Housing Alliance, MA Rehabilitation Commission, MassHIRE Central Region Workforce Board, MassHIRE Worcester Career Center , Northeast Business Associates (NEBA), The Community Builders at Plumley Village, Worcester Community Connections Coalition of You, Inc. (an affiliate of Seven Hills), Worcester and Southbridge Family Resource Centers of You, Inc. (an affiliate of Seven Hills), and the Worcester Housing Authority.

WCAC Chief Strategy Officer Charla Hixson said, "We are inspired by these partners’ enthusiasm and support for this innovative model developed by Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath). The model is a shift from case management to coaching in a participant-centered manner focusing on meeting participants where they are, assisting them to meet their goals as they define them, and with ongoing coaching. We are proud to be working with these committed organizations as we collectively move people from crisis to stability, and ultimately to thriving lives and economic independence."

WCAC, on behalf of the Worcester Economic Mobility Task Force, received a $5,000 grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation in 2019. Since then, the eight partners were trained by EMPath in the model, have met monthly in a Learning Community style, and are coaching up to 24 participants. Results of the pilot will be shared in Fall 2021!

Mobility Mentoring® “Mobility Mentoring is a registered trademark of Economic Mobility Pathways, Inc.”