Your Local Nonprofit News

This month's COSA meeting will focus on three unique programs for survivors of trauma and crime: Civil Legal Assistance for Victims of Crime (CLAVC) at Community Legal Aid, TherapyRetreat.Org at Trauma Institute and the Improving Criminal Justice Response project at the Northwestern District Attorney's Office . Our panelists will be as follows:

Catherine Kay is the Senior Supervising Attorney in the Civil Legal Assistance for Victims of Crime (CLAVC) unit of Community Legal Aid. Catherine first joined CLA in February 2016 in the family law unit in Northampton, and previously worked at CLA's predecessor organization, Western Massachusetts Legal Services.

Ricky Greenwald is the founder and Executive Director of the Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute. He is a leading expert on EMDR, the developer of PC, and the developer of this therapy retreat service.

Mary Kociela serves as Director of Projects in the Northwestern District Attorney's Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit, overseeing intervention and prevention programs, including the Domestic Violence High Risk Project and the Domestic Violence Intervention Project. She also serves as Chair of the District Attorney's Task Force on Domestic & Sexual Violence.

As always, our meetings take place at Berkshire Children and Families, 220 Russell St (Rt. 9) in Hadley. The meeting runs 9:00 - 10:30 AM . We look forward to seeing you!

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Massachusetts Nonprofit Network

Light of Dawnn Award

Now in their fourth year, the Light of Dawnn Awards honor Massachusetts nonprofit professionals who demonstrate compassion and unwavering commitment to serving those in need. While we welcome all nominations, we hope to highlight those doing direct-service work in communities, particularly those who may not have prominent or externally facing roles.

Please take this opportunity to nominate a nonprofit professional who works on the front lines and demonstrates what it means to expand opportunities for others. Three individuals are selected to receive a Light of Dawnn Award each year. Those selected will be recognized at a public event and receive a monetary award for their outstanding efforts. Click here to submit a nomination. All applications are due by January 5, 2018 .

Submit a nomination

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Amherst Survival Center Wants Your Feedback

Would you please take 10 minutes - or less - to complete the survey on referring people to the Amherst Survival Center for support?

We are interested to know your experience and the experience of your program participants and clients, and how we can make the process better and easier. Thank you!!

Take the Survey

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New Groups at

THE BRIDGE

Teens in Action

Youth ages 13 to 18 will learn skills to better communicate,make healthy choices, and build strong self-esteem. The group will run for 6 Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30pm, starting January 9th and dinner will be served.

Pre-registration is required.

For more information and to register,

please contact Anna at (413) 549-0297 ext. 6532

Nurturing Fathers

Dads need support to meet the challenges of this very tough job.

Come to this group designed for fathers by fathers. The group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings, 6-7:30pm. A new group is starting Jan. 11th. Dinner and childcare will be provided.

For adult male identified caregivers.

Pre-registration is required.

Contact Kelly at 413-549-0297, ext. 651

Knitting/Crocheting Circle
for Caregivers

Come join us for tea, coffee and good company. We will provide needles/hooks and your first skein of yarn. We met every Friday from 1 - 2 PM

This is a drop-in class. Come for one or come for all.

Call Sylvia Buzzell at (413) 549-0297, ext. 6523 for info.

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If you would like to thank a teacher or staff member in the Amherst Pelham Regional School district, AEF makes it easy!

When you make a donation to AEF through the Stars In Our Schools campaign, AEF sends a note to the teacher(s) and/or staff that you would like to recognize. The messages are sent to the people you designate from you and your student.

The teachers and staff love getting these acknowledgments. One action helps our schools and appreciates those that make our system special.

"I was really moved when I received some Stars in Our Schools cards in my mailbox indicating that the parents of some of my students had donated to AEF in my honor. AEF does very important work to support teachers and programs at ARMS, so a monetary gift is like thanking a teacher twice!"
- ARMS Science Teacher Jennifer Welborn

Participate in Stars in Our Schools Now

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News from

Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose

Representative Ellen Story, in recognition of her 25 years of service in the seat I now hold, was honored with the dedication of the Montague Rd bridge over the Mill River as the Ellen Story Bridge. So many people showed up in the cold to honor Ellen... as we might have guessed! Thanks to all who came and an especially big thank you to Ellen, who was an amazing advocate for our district over her twenty-five years serving in the legislature and has certainly left me with big shoes to fill.

Our first community social, "Politics and Pastries," was a blast! Join me for our second social event, on December 21st from 7-8PM at Share in Amherst Center. There will be a local performer and an update from me about state Healthcare policy efforts. As always, dessert food and beverages are on the house!

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Amherst Community Connections Upcoming Events

1/3 My Jewelry-making Enterprise, Josh Berins

1/10 Legal Trouble? Need Help? Know Your Rights, Attorney Everald Henry

1/17 Loss & Grieving , Maureen Groden

1/24 How to Handle Landlords: Fair Housing, Maggie Curran

1/31 Healing Singing Circle, Helen Fortier

All talks are held from 10-12 at our new office location at

236 North Pleasant St, Amherst MA

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Precision Machinist Training

Advanced Manufacturing CNC Training partnership that is conducted by Greenfield Community College, the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board, Franklin County Technical School, the Franklin Hampshire Career Center, area manufacturing employers and other partners including the Center for New Americans and The Literacy Project.

This 12-week training program runs twice a year and helps unemployed and under-employed adults start on the pathway to becoming a precision machinist - a high-skill and high-wage career.

Since the training partnership launched this CNC training four years ago we have enrolled over 100 students and maintained a graduation rate over 95% and a job placement rate of 85%.

Graduates average a starting wage of over $15/hour and can expect to advance in or compete for jobs paying over $25/hour when they acquire more advanced machining skills with 3-5 years of work experience and further training.

Information Session: Monday, January 8 from 3 - 5 PM

GCC Downtown Center - 270 Main Street, Greenfield

RSVP (413)774-4361 or at

www.gcc.mass.edu/manufacturing

Trainings begin in January 2018

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Puzzle of Parenting Upcoming Classes

Early Reading Skills

Talking, singing, playing and reading with your child all build early reading skills. Join us to learn how you can do more of these activities with your child and how these and other everyday interactions with your child provides preparation for reading. REGISTER

Jan. 10, 10:00 - 11:30am, S. Hadley Family Ctr (register by 1/3)

Hola Amigos y Amigas

Early childhood is a wonderful time to introduce young children to other cultures. This special event introduces the Spanish and Latin American culture, and it includes children's music, stories, games, an art activity, and a special snack. REGISTER

La primera infancia es un momento maravilloso para introducir a los niños pequeños a otras culturas. Este evento especial da a conocer la cultura Española y Latinoamericana a través de la música infantil, cuentos, juegos, actividades artisticas y una merienda.especial. REGISTRACION

Jan. 11, 10:00 - 11:00am, Goshen Town Hall (Register by Jan 4)

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Grant Application Template

Social Solutions

Applying for grants can be a daunting task. Social Solutions wants to make it as easy as possible for you to get more funding for your organization, so we created a grant application template with some of the most common questions asked during the application process.

In this template, you'll find a sample grant application and fill in the blank prompts you can use to lay out your organization's needs in a concise way so you can be well on your way to proving your impact!

Download Now

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Florence Bank Customers' Choice Community Grants

We're donating $100,000 to local non-profit organizations in our Annual Customers' Choice Community Grants Program, and you decide who gets the money! Be sure to vote before December 31st to make your vote count.

Here are the COSA member agencies that will benefit:

Amherst Education Foundation

Amherst Survival Center

Association for Community Living

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County

Cancer Connection

Casa Latina

Center for Human Development

Center for New Americans

Community Action!

Community Legal Aid

Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Family Outreach of Amherst

Friends of Children

Habitat for Humanity of Pioneer Valley

Hilltown Community Health Centers

Northampton Survival Center

Northeast Center for Youth and Families

Safe Passage

ServiceNet

Stavros Center

Tapestry Health

Valley CDC

If you are a customer, VOTE by Dec. 31st

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Amherst Survival Center Gift Program

Every December, children whose families use the Amherst Survival Center's Food Pantry have the opportunity to select NEW children's books, a game and winter accessories (scarves, mittens, hats). These items are supplied by community members, local businesses, local authors. (We even have a section of books donated and signed by local authors!) The program thrives because of community support.

What do we need?

The program relies on donations of new children's books for ages 0-18 years. Games for a variety of ages. Winter accessories for children ages 0-18.

You can bring donations to the Amherst Survival Center at 138 Sunderland Road, or you can bring them to one of the many community collection sites, listed here. If you order items online, you can ship them to the Amherst Survival Center at 138 Sunderland Road, Amherst, MA 01002.

Questions?

Contact Tracey Levy at 549-3968 ext 102 or by email at [email protected].

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January First Time Home Buyers Workshop

Our next First Time Home Buyer Program is just around the corner.

We hope you'll spread the word!

Here are some reasons to come to our 4-part series:

1) Incredible Loans!

Because we offer a certified class, our participants are eligible to apply for competitive First Time Home Buyer mortgages.

2) Access to Down Payment and Closing Cost $$$.

Participants receive the most up-to-date information for our geographic area! (Grants come from a variety of sources and are frequently changing. Income and credit guidelines apply.)

3) Education, education, education!

We know that informed consumers are most likely to make smart choices! Participants hear presentations from home buying professionals that include attorneys, loan officers, Realtors, home inspectors, insurance agents, credit experts and more.

Sponsored by Valley CDC and Berkshire Bank

Jan 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 6-9 PM

50 Payson Ave. Easthampton

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FREE WEBINAR

Going Deeper with Social Media

Dec. 19th, 2:00 PM

Take the next steps toward amplifying your library's social media program! During this third webinar in our social media series, we'll discuss best practices in growing your library's social media program and managing user engagement. You'll learn tips for assessing your library's audience based on their preferred platforms and ideas for converting your in-person library community into an online community

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Opportunities

Berkshire Children & Families

Click here to see all of our job listings

CHD

Click here to see all of our job listings

Collaborative for Educational Services

Click here to see all of our job listings

Community Action

Click here to see all of our job listings

Click here for the weekly job bulletin

Musante Health Center

Click here to see all of our job listings

RN/LPN

Physician Assistent/ Family Nurse Practitioner

Northeast Center for Youth and Families