by LaMara HunterKelly | Dec 7, 2018 | In The News
Larry Thomas while working at The RECOVER Project on Wednesday afternoon on Federal Street in Greenfield, Nov. 07, 2018.By JOSHUA SOLOMON
Staff Writer
Friday, December 07, 2018
GREENFIELD — People tend to know Larry Thomas as patient, as positive, as the guy who always will stop, say ‘Hi’ and ask how you’re doing.
At a hearing to see if he could secure an apartment, Thomas found himself furious.
“I had to go through this hearing,” Thomas said. “It was difficult. I had two people advocating for me from ServiceNet. My housing coordinator and my therapist. They both know me.”
Thomas had been staying at shelters and surfing friends’ couches, but things had started to turn the corner. He had housing at a halfway house that partners renters with social workers. He had begun to move from a member of The RECOVER Project to a trained recovery coach — a burgeoning profession in the recovery community — and even an employee of The RECOVER Project, where he has grown into a leader in that community.
At the time, he was just on the cusp of having a steady job, but without steady housing. Thomas wanted his own place, but he needed to go before this hearing with letters of recommendation. “It was almost like going to court,” Thomas said. “It was uncomfortable. I kind of got mad about it. The lady kept looking at my criminal record. I said, ‘Ma’am, can you look at the letters?’ This isn’t the 80s. It’s 2017.”
Thomas, like others in the community, especially those in recovery, struggles with finding housing when having a criminal record, albeit sometimes from decades ago. Oftentimes, that criminal record is related to a history with drugs. The criminal record is not necessarily related to violent crimes.
“I’m being judged and looked at again,” Thomas said. “All this stuff I already did time for. We have to do it all over again.”
Change coming?
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Dec 3, 2018 | In The News
Ralph Provost stands for a portrait outside of The RECOVER Project on Friday in Greenfield, Nov. 16, 2018.By JOSHUA SOLOMON
Staff Writer
Monday, December 03, 2018
GREENFIELD — Crawling into the space under the wooden steps of a decrepit Bank Row building, Ralph Provost was shivering. It was snowing and the temperatures were dropping as the sun set.
Before the short, 61-year-old man could squeeze into the dark den, he had to strip away the several coats he wore. Otherwise he couldn’t fit through the opening. Head on swivel, Provost watched as traffic skidded up and down the hill that serves as a main artery into the center of town.
It might have been the dead of winter, but he didn’t want to attract any attention. He waited for a quiet moment to stuff himself unnoticed into that small space he called home for 10 months. When renovations began on what’s now the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office building, Provost finally had to find a new home.
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Nov 20, 2018 | In The News
Peggy Vezina joins the RECOVER Project with over 20 years’ experience in human services. She has worked throughout the Pioneer Valley in many diverse settings. She especially loved working with youth in the Holyoke, Greenfield and Springfield communities. She has a passion for working with families and learning the supports they need to build communities where children are well loved, cared for and thriving.
Peggy feels blessed to be part of a movement of people who are changing the way we look at the world and how we engage and interact in this world in meaningful ways. What excites her about this position is the opportunity to do what she loves the most. She is a strong advocate for elevating the voices of people who have faced tremendous adversity and creating space where they can flourish and lead. She will continue to foster the development of the peer leader model, focus on staff and peer development and hopes to further integrate the RP into the larger community. Peggy strongly believes there is so much to be learned from and shared by the recovery community.
Peggy and her wife are enjoying the birth of their second grandchild. Peggy loves to travel and to be outdoors. She is very devoted to her cats and cannot get enough time to play ping pong where everything is in play!
![The Consortium Welcomes New Executive Director, Kristel Applebee]()
by LaMara HunterKelly | Nov 16, 2018 | In The News
HOLYOKE, MA – The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium welcomes new Executive Director, Kristel Applebee, as successor to longtime leader, Marylou Sullivan. Marylou retired at the end of October, and was at the helm for 38 of the organization’s 45 years. PJ Moynihan, President of the Consortium Board of Directors related, “as we express our gratitude and honor Marylou for decades of tireless and devoted service, we enthusiastically welcome Kristel to lead the agency, and its work, into the future.”
The Consortium was founded in 1975 to support developing community-based models of support, in response to deinstitutionalization. Their earliest mission was clear: to serve as a catalyst for incredible change in the creation and development of community supports. They achieved this by supporting staff to think critically about what positive community supports would look like and to dream about what was possible for people who had been denied the experience of community. From the very start, the Consortium’s role has been unique in cultivating new perspectives, encouraging progressive initiatives, and supporting change.
Kristel has served the agency in myriad roles for more than twenty years and is steeped in the values that have shaped the Consortium community for more than four decades. She truly believes in “creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation.” Her leadership style has been influenced by numerous mentors in Western Massachusetts and beyond. Kristel has served on several local non-profit Boards and as a volunteer and community builder for community groups. She is a fierce advocate for giving voice to the silenced and values being a lifelong learner.
“To have this opportunity to reflect the collective voice of our community through deep listening – to bring a discerning ear and gentle voice, is a sacred gift. My intention is to honor those who’ve come before, are with us now, and those who will join us along our future path – and that is no small task. Indeed, it is what we’re here for,” said Applebee.
Moynihan added, “The Board has been consistently impressed with Kristel’s vision for the organization’s future, and her commitment to the values of The Consortium. We believe she is an ideal fit for this leadership role. As much as we chose Kristel, she also chose us, and we are honored to have such a remarkable woman to lead our work forward.”
Check out www.wmtcinfo.org to learn more about the Consortium’s impactful work, which is connecting with communities across Western Mass and beyond.
Media Inquiries Please Contact: mfarley-dimino@wmtcinfo.org
Photo Credit: Ryan Williams, Four Wings Photography, LLC www.fourwingsphotography.com
by LaMara HunterKelly | Sep 24, 2018 | In The News
[PICTURED] Organizers of last year’s Recovery Jam, run by The RECOVER Project, from left, lead organizer Amie Hyson, Trudy Willis, Pauline Gensen and director Mary Doherty. Staff file photo
Thursday, September 20, 2018
GREENFIELD — For the past 15 years, Recovery Jam, a sober music festival, shows people there is fun in recovery, and celebrates national recovery month in September. The jam is a family-oriented event featuring arts and crafts, activities, music and food.
The 15th annual Recovery Jam sober music festival will be on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at Camp Kee-wanee on 1 Health Camp Road in Greenfield. The event is overseen by the RECOVER Project, a peer recovery center in Greenfield.
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![The Consortium Welcomes New Executive Director, Kristel Applebee]()
by LaMara HunterKelly | Sep 19, 2018 | In The News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest and Healthcare News magazines, the business and healthcare journals covering Western Massachusetts, will honor their 2nd Annual Healthcare Heroes this Thursday, Oct. 25 at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden.
The Healthcare Heroes program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and individuals providing that care.
More than 80 nominations were submitted, and candidates were scored by an esteemed panel of three judges. The stories behind the seven heroes reveal large quantities of energy, imagination, innovation, compassion, entrepreneurship, forward thinking, and dedication to the community. Honorees are profiled in the Sept. 3 issue of BusinesssWest and the September issue of Healthcare News, and are also available on www.businesswest.com and www.healthcarenews.com.
This year’s honorees are:
- The Consortium and The Opioid Task Force: Collaboration in Healthcare
- Mary Paquette, MS, RN, FNP Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider
- TechSpring, The Baystate Health Technology Innovation Center: Innovation in Health/Wellness
- Matthew Sadof, MD Community Health
- Robert Fazzi Lifetime Achievement
- Celeste Surreira, DNP, MS, FNP-BC, CNL Health/Wellness Administrator
- Peter A. DePergola II, Ph.D., M.T.S. Emerging Leader
The Healthcare Heroes Gala on Oct. 25 will begin with a VIP reception at 4:30 p.m. with networking and opportunities to meet this year’s honorees. There will be entertainment, butlered hors d’oeuvres, a lavish plated dinner, and more networking opportunities. Healthcare Heroes is presented by American International College and Baystate Health/Health New England and sponsored by Bay Path University, Elms College MBA Program, National Grid, Renew.Calm, and Trinity Health of New England/Mercy Medical Center.
