Your Local Nonprofit News

We are happy to announce the date for our 2018 COSA Breakfast. The breakfast is always a wonderful opportunity to network with the colleagues in the human services sector, enjoy a relaxing start to your day, and honor the hard work being done by so many.

Our keynote speaker this year is Paula Green. Paula Green is the founder and former Executive Director of the Karuna Center for Peace Building, based in Amherst. She has worked for over 30 years on building dialogue and understanding between groups in Rwanda, Serbia/Croatia and in Myanmar. She will speak to us about a dialogue process that started in Leverett after the last election and reached out to a community in Kentucky that voted 80% for Donald Trump.

We hope to see you there.

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Time to Nominate and Acknowledge Your Staff

and Volunteers for a

COSA Award!

The Council of Social Agencies of Hampshire County (COSA) invites you to nominate a direct service worker and/or a volunteer for our annual Awards. The awards are given each year to honor someone who works or volunteers for a human service and/or a community program in Hampshire County*.

What is a Direct Service Worker?

Direct service is about hands-on involvement. A direct service worker works directly with clients in our agencies. A direct service provider's mission is to assist clients with their unmet needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, or medical care.

If you know someone who has demonstrated exemplary achievement and commitment to helping others in need, please complete a nomination form. Our selection committee will follow up each nomination with a phone call to elicit additional details. S end or email this form to: [email protected] or mail to

COSA

PO Box 343

Amherst MA 01004

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Roads To Resilience: Mobilizing For A Trauma-Informed Hampshire County

SAVE THE DATE

October 25

This inaugural conference will explore the pioneering science around adverse childhood experiences and how communities can work together to create trauma responsive approaches that lead to more resilient communities.

Featuring Laura Porter keynote and facilitator Laura Porter is a leading expert in the science of adverse childhood experiences, and a pioneer in leading multi-sector efforts that build strong networks of support and the concept of self-healing communities.

We each play an important role! That's why we are inviting teachers, first responders, social service providers, healthcare professionals and others who care for and about our community.

Registration Information Coming Soon!

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Bridge of Flowers

Road Race to Benefit

Cancer Connection

August 11

The race has a long history of donating race proceeds to local non-profits, and the race currently partners with several charities to use the race as a fundraising platform. Cancer Connection is honored to be a charity partner for this long-standing summer tradition in Shelburne Falls.

Race registration is open! Runners and walkers have the opportunity to support a charity of their choice. If you would like to actively fundraise through a customized pledge page for this year's race, we'd love to help you!

Register here- You can also find information about the race on the Bridge of Flowers Facebook page Cancer Connection will have a team of volunteers at the Bridge of Flowers race. If you'd like to join us, please contact Chantal at [email protected] .

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Available Funding for

Emergency Food & Shelter Programs

United Way of Hampshire County is requesting applications from local agencies to receive federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Local agencies that provide emergency food, shelter, and rental or utility assistance are invited to apply for funding under the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP). EFSP is a public/private partnership that distributes federal funds to local organizations through a competitive process overseen by a local volunteer board. United Way of Hampshire County administers the area's EFSP program.

Local agencies that provide emergency food and shelter in Hampshire County, Massachusetts are invited to apply. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:

1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government,

2) have an accounting system capable of delivering detailed compliance reporting,

3) practice non-discrimination,

4) have demonstrated the capability to provide food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, and

5) if a private voluntary organization, have oversight by a voluntary board of directors.

The application can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YZVPPX8

Applications are due Friday, July 20, 2018.

For complete eligibility guidelines, please contact Erin Cahillane at United Way of Hampshire County, [email protected] or call 413-584-3962 x100.

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Free Yoga & Writing Workshop for individuals with Cancer

Saturday, July 14, 2018

10:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Shelburne Falls Yoga Studio

Promote your own healing and experience the therapeutic benefits of group writing and gentle adaptive yoga! This is a FREE Program* for individuals with cancer, their family members, and their caregivers. Individuals may bring an accompanying loved one.

*If you'd like to register for this workshop, call Cancer Connection at (413) 586-1642.

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SPIFFY News: Summer Youth Leadership Academy

The Youth Leadership Initiative--a partnership between Community Action Youth Programs, SPIFFY, and CTC--is offering a FREE Youth Leadership Academy for Hampshire county youth this summer July 17th-20th 10am-3pm. This 20 hour training is an incredible opportunity for youth ages 14-21 hoping to build leadership skills, stress management skills, connect with an youth across Hampshire county and have a great time.

All participating youth with receive a hundred dollar stipend and completion certificate.

Please spread the word far and wide to any and all youth and families who might be interested. If youth or parents have questions, want to sign up, or need transportation to the event they are welcome to call or email Tyanna Daniel Lionheart at tlionheart@communityaction.us or 413-824-8687.

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PCA &

PCA Employer Job Fair

July 17

Stavros will be hosting a PCA and PCA Employer Job Fair on July 17th, 2018 at 5:00 in our Springfield Office, 227 Berkshire Ave.

The event strives to provide PCA Employers with an opportunity to meet and greet with Personal Care Attendants (PCAs). Often finding a PCA can be a daunting task. This event seeks to ease the anxiety of finding a PCA by creating an opportunity where individuals can network with potential hires and express their needs as an employer within a safe and supportive environment. Stavros fully recognizes that access to dependable, skilled PCAs are imperative to independent living and the overall health of persons with disabilities. We hope to bridge the cap for those in need of a PCA!

Calls regarding the event should be directed to Jennifer Lee at 413-256-0473 x213 or [email protected] .

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NEW Support Group for People Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer

A new monthly support group for individuals living with Metastatic Breast Cancer is being offered at Cancer Connection.

Cancer Connection Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Cahn, shared that "We know that more people are living with metastatic breast cancer and they are living longer. It is important to Cancer Connection to provide additional supports in Western Massachusetts for all those affected by metastatic breast cancer."

The group will be led by Vivien Weiss, LMHC. who has extensive experience facilitating support groups for people living with cancer. In addition to the Metastatic Breast Cancer group, Ms. Weiss facilitates a group for people living with ovarian and gynecological cancer, a group for families and caregivers, and intermittent bereavement groups. In 2009, Ms. Weiss was honored as a "Top 100" by the Massachusetts General Hospital for her extraordinary contributions to the lives of people living with cancer throughout the Pioneer Valley.

The group will be held monthly at Cancer Connection, in Northampton, on Thursday afternoons. Pre-registration is required. To register for the support group, please call (413) 586-1642. This group is offered free of charge. For more information about all the programs and services available at Cancer Connection visit our website: www.cancer-connection.org.

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Family Health Night at Casa Latina

July 22

Casa Latina is hosting our first "Community Bridges" event! We are providing dinner, live music, and visitors from Safe Passage, Tapestry Health, and Cooley Dickinson Hospital will be there to tell you about the resources they have available! This event is FREE and open to everyone; we highly encourage women and families to attend. Come eat, dance, and learn about ways to stay healthy and safe in our community!

Florence Community Center Auditorium

July 22, 5:30-8pm

Cooley Dickinson is sponsoring the event!

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Opportunities

Behavioral Health Network, Inc.

Click here to see all of our job listings

Berkshire Children & Families