From Executive Director, Kristel Applebee

June 12, 2020

Racism – let’s talk about it.  The Consortium has a 45-year history of creating conditions for community by deeply listening to wisdom gained from those who have made meaning of their life experience, or, what we call lived experience. Our Mission:

The Consortium creates conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams & strengthen our communities through full participation.

speaks directly to lived experience and how our communities are strengthened when people have adequate resources and support to pursue their dreams by experiencing full participation. So, the question is, if this is our mission, what are the hurdles toward enacting it fully?  Why are some people (employees, community members, etc.) left behind from fully participating, and what is our responsibility in addressing these hurdles?

While we strongly value inclusion and actively work each and every day to create welcoming environments that invite a sense of belonging and opportunities to heal, recent racial brutality and the horrific killing of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of a law officer has shown us once again that it’s not enough to merely focus on inclusion.

We must work collectively at valuing a culture of anti-racism as hard as we are at creating conditions for inclusion. We welcome differences and diverse perspectives, as long as those beliefs don’t contribute to the oppression of another, in a society where monoculturalism is the norm.

Since racism is institutional, structural and individual, we must address these complex layers simultaneously to work toward a more just world. Learning conversations need to happen in our work spaces – not just at a diversity training, but in an ongoing daily way. The emotional labor that comes with this work needs to be fairly distributed among all, especially those of us who identify as white, otherwise racism is perpetuated and the work is left to those who experience the oppression. We are reviewing our current strategy, internal plans, trainings and practices related to inclusion to determine how we can incorporate a more intensified focus using concrete skills and action steps toward combatting injustice.

Racism divides – we must unite in combatting it by not being silent, and by investing in educating ourselves, having courageous conversations, and dismantling systems that perpetuate it while assuring measures of accountability are in place and upheld. Today, not only do we re-commit to our work on inclusion – we also commit to actively valuing and creating a culture of anti-racism and vigilantly combatting injustice.

The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, founded in 1975, is a learning organization, committed to creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation. As part of this mission, the Consortium is sharing an anti-racism resources guide compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein. Said guide is meant to “serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now.” Learn, follow through with action, and share widely so others can do the same.

Greenfield Recorder Letter to the Editor – Published: 5/21/2020 9:03:06 AM

… Almost every family has someone who has mental health needs. Those who are close to that person and those who receive services know how important it is for them to have front line advocates, counselors, direct care workers, social workers and a vast array of providers. We write this from a place of respect to honor and thank these staff members who are maintaining relationships with so many people who receive services through vendors of the Department of Mental Health.

The vendors’ staff (including The Western Mass Training Consortium, Western MA RLC, CHD, BHN, Cutchins, NCYF, Gandara, MHA, The Brien Center, Viability, Vibra, Guidewire, ServiceNet, Almadan and CSO) are first responders for people living on their own or those in group living situations who need support and assistance. They have been present for this work and many have extended themselves when someone needs more help during this pandemic by working overtime, and in some cases even temporarily moving into a group home. As many of you know direct care work is invaluable, challenging and vitally important work so we are thankful that it continues in this challenging time. [CONTINUE READING]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Kate Farley-Dimino Western Massachusetts Training Consortium (413) 536-2401 x5511 mfarley-dimino@wmtcinfo.org  

Consortium Partners with Local Businesses to Support Frontline Workers

During a time of economic uncertainty, local businesses support each other as they fight on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOLYOKE, MA April 1, 2020 – With societal crisis comes the opportunity for mutual aid. As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the nation, community members and local businesses have sought opportunities to support each other during this time of need. One such partnership blossomed between the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium and local small businesses including Silk Deli & Bistro on Northampton Street, Simos Produce in Springfield, Fernandez Family Restaurant and the Delaney House in Holyoke. The Consortium provides key community-based support to a number of programs and communities throughout Western Mass and beyond. One program, Home & Community Connections, supports eleven 24-Hour homes for people with Developmental/Intellectual disabilities throughout Hampden County. When COVID-19 struck Western Massachusetts, staff members began working seven-day shifts to minimize exposure both to themselves and to the people they support. Meanwhile, local food producers and restaurants were struggling to keep their doors open as businesses were shut down across the state. Seeing an opportunity to build and support community, the Consortium connected with Silk Deli & Bistro and Simos Produce to deliver prepared meals and boxes of produce to each of the eleven homes. More meals from the Fernandez Family Restaurant, a family-run Puerto Rican restaurant based out of Holyoke, were delivered Tuesday March 31^st, and there is already a plan to distribute ready to eat meals from the Delaney House on 4/7. Kristel Applebee, the Executive Director of the Consortium, expressed her appreciation to both local businesses and Consortium employees supporting people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Consortium has a 45-year history of creating conditions for community, so it only made sense, during this difficult time, to honor community by partnering with local food suppliers who are losing business. Silk, Simos Produce, Fernandez and Delaney House Restaurants are among the local businesses with whom we’ve purchased to bring delicious food to those who are directly supporting folks in our 24-Hour Supported Homes.  For our team members to have a hot meal or delicious produce hand delivered to them with encouraging words, by me and others, sends a message to them that we value their significant contributions at this most pressing time.”

Silk Deli & Bistro shared via Facebook how critical it was to partner with the Consortium, as it meant being able to continue supporting other customers in the community. “Thx to this local Agency, today we can keep our doors open and keep our business running to please our customers Thx a lot[.]” It can be easy to get bogged down with feelings of despair and disconnect from local communities, particularly when practicing “social” or physical distancing. Yet the spirit to connect, build up, and collaborate lives on when channeled creatively. Using strong community relationships, the Consortium provides an example of how fear can be transformed into hope. The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, founded in 1975, is a learning organization, committed to creating conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation. To learn more, visit their website at http://wmtcinfo.org/.