Greenfield domestic violence vigil offers ‘survivor-centered space’

Greenfield domestic violence vigil offers ‘survivor-centered space’

A woman photographs messages written on a T shirt at the Clothesline Project on the Greenfield Common Thursday evening. 

By BELLA LEVAVI

Staff Writer

GREENFIELD — In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, two Greenfield-based groups held a candlelight vigil on the common on Thursday to honor survivors, grieve the lives of those lost and connect survivors with social services.

“This is a survivor-centered space,” Katri Schroeder, community organizer with the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), said during opening remarks. “There is nothing in the world like feeling the power of being in a community space where we get to say our truths without shame and without stigma.”

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 47,000 women and girls worldwide were murdered by intimate partners or other family members in 2020. Schroeder noted the U.S. has seen an 8% increase in these numbers over the last decade.

In addition to the candlelight vigil, the event — organized by NELCWIT and the Salasin Project — included a T-shirt display as part of The Clothesline Project. Attendees used markers to decorate T-shirts that were then hung around the Greenfield Common, using an art form to share people’s experiences with gender-based violence…

‘Community Baby Shower’ in Greenfield to share baby items, resources for families

Mollie Hartford, development and outreach director with It Takes a Village, sets up a display at the Community Berkshire Baby Box Shower in 2019. Contributed Photo[/caption]

By MARY BYRNE
Staff Writer

GREENFIELD — A group of local and regional agencies is returning to Court Square on Saturday for a “Community Baby Shower” to raise awareness of the resources available to families with children.

“What’s really great about this type of event is that a family or young parent could come and meet a whole lot of different resources at once,” said Mollie Hartford, development director at the Huntington-based nonprofit It Takes a Village, one of the participating organizations. “It can be really tricky for a parent to navigate finding out about resources on their own.”

The baby shower, hosted by the Franklin County Perinatal Support Coalition, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Court Square. A series of organizations will provide information, raffle prizes, and other free gifts for parents and parents-to-be. There will also be baby clothes and other baby items available for free.

The organizations include: The Birthplace at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Center for Human Development, Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin, Community Action Family Center, Community Action Head Start and Early Learning Programs, Criterion Child Enrichment, Healthy Families, Moms Do Care EMPOWER, the Salasin Project, ServiceNet, Collaborative for Educational Services, Greenfield Health Department, and Women, Infants and Children.

“This event is going to have so many resource agencies from around Franklin County,” Hartford said… [READ MORE]

Art, Connectivity, and Community Bring ‘aWAREness’ to Recovery

Terri Thompson of The Consortium and Abaigeal Duda, Peer Recovery Project Coordinator for the Ware Regional Recovery Center (Recovery Center of H.O.P.E.).[/caption]

By Marcella Comerford, Reporter
[email protected] 

September 8, 2022

WARE, MA – A show solely catering to the artworks of those in recovery does not show up often, yet the community impact of such a show can be enormous, bringing out the faces of addiction in ways unusual and profoundly human, opening channels of communication and understanding through art. Workshop13 and ArtWorks Gallery partnered with the new, soon to be opened, Ware Regional Recovery Center to present “Bringing aWAREness to Recovery Art Exhibition,” featuring artists in recovery from drugs and alcohol.

The opening was held on National Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, 2022, coinciding with the start of National Recovery Month in September. [CONTINUE READING] (more…)

Greenfield resident explores topics ranging from racism to mental health in poetry reading

Greenfield resident explores topics ranging from racism to mental health in poetry reading

By BELLA LEVAVI
Staff Writer
Published: 7/24/2022 3:03:34 PM
Modified: 7/24/2022 3:00:32 PM

GREENFIELD — Kimberly “Kemah” Wilson started her poetry reading by keeping the mood light with a song about meatballs.

From this song, the Greenfield resident transported listeners across a variety of topics including LGBTQ pride, racism and America’s future.

Wilson presented her reading at The LAVA Center on Saturday afternoon. Most people in the crowd knew Wilson personally and said they were touched by her work.

“The pieces had such a span of thought and insight,” commented Wilson’s friend, Mindy Bragon.

[CONTINUE READING]

Human Service Forum’s Community Builders Celebration Recognizes Consortium Community Leaders

Thank you to Human Service Forum for recognizing some of our amazing community leaders at Home and Community Connection, Northampton Recovery Center and the Support Network during their Community Builder Celebration event on May 25th! According to the Human Service Forum, these are people who make all feel welcome, working collaboratively for the good of the community while helping others to be their best. We are SO proud of you all!

Honored as Community Builders in Western Massachusetts:
  • Home and Community Connections employees: Anita Cross, Sharna Pearson and Renee Marshal
  • Northampton Recovery Center employees: John Sullivan, Trevor Dayton and Dan Bickford
  • Support Network employees: Jan Lamberg and Shawna Osman

Learn more about their work in creating conditions for innovation, growth, and connection at their pages below!

Home and Community Connections

Northampton Recovery Center

Support Network