The Voice - Fall 2023

FALL 2023

THE VOICE

Quarterly Newsletter for Consortium Employees

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

Welcome Autumn and the beauty of season transitions and preparing for the winter tuck in…I hope you had time to enjoy some moments of summer like weather by taking in the sun, and were able to enjoy what rainy days invite, too. The sound of rain can be so soothing and the feel of it on our skin can really invites

us to the present moment. As I write this, I am reflecting on the rain that came down as we were graveside for the life celebration of a dear woman, Penelope “Penny” Brodeur, whom we had the pleasure of getting to know over 16 years she was with us in our 24-Hour Supports Model in Home & Community Connections. Our hearts are with all who supported and loved her, as well as honoring the passing in August of our beloved co-worker who worked in the home where Penny lived, Trecetta Hankins. Trecetta’s service was beautiful and she was surrounded by loving family and friends, and was full of pink hues, her favorite color. May Trecetta and Penny rest in peace.

Penny was 75 and enjoyed so much of life, nuances of this were so well represented in her obituary that was beautifully written by Residential Director, Ashia Smith. I had the gift of hearing stories from Penny’s lifelong family friend and guardian, Mary Pat, as well as so many Support Specialists who worked with her each day. What an honor to hear so many loving and character describing stories. May we all have connections where we are really seen, valued and heard by so many who love us.

Speaking of being seen, valued and heard, please check out Reverend Greg’s writing in this edition about listening – it is a great read! And, as we honor Hispanic Heritage Month which was September 15 – October 15, 2023, and the many contributions that our Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made to U.S. culture, our Anti-Oppression Committee hosted a screening of the film “The Last Colony” on OCTOBER 25, 2023, and an open discussion was facilitated by Associate Professor Agustin Lao-Montes from UMASS Amherst. We were happy to have Professor Agustin facilitate this event along with Consortium community members that shared about Puerto Rican History and Political Status.

Monday, October 9th, was recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day, (as identified in our Employee Handbook). We honored those in our community who identify as Indigenous, as well as those who were first on this land on which we exist today. I invite you to learn more about this holiday and hope you enjoyed the time off if you had the day off. There is a new Massachusetts bill that would change the holiday on a state level to be named Indigenous Peoples Day to celebrate those who Christopher Columbus forced out when he arrived in North America. We’re hoping this bill passes and you can read more about it here: https://spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2023/10/03/indigenouspeoples-day-bill-massachusetts.

Thank you to all who attended our annual Employee Appreciation: “Be the Light” Celebration on October 4th! For those who weren’t able to attend, you were in our hearts! We received some amazing feedback from folks while there, check out the pics in this edition! We were happy to share this light with one another, and also our vendors and sponsors. A special “Thank You” to our photographer, Lenny Underwood for these wonderful photos as well as the fun 360 Photo booth.

Troivahn (LaMara’s son) for his great talent, drawing Caricature drawings for folks, our 4 Massage therapists connected with Peoples Medicine Project https://www.peoplesmedicineproject.org that provided a relaxing afternoon helping those that registered and received a massage, a moment to unwind. Grateful for our Board members who joined us in honoring all of our hard work!

For those who couldn’t join us, I want to share a bit of the message that was shared: This coming year we’ll be focusing on four primary areas across the agency: 1. Strategic planning, continuing to deepen our commitment to our mission and vision, engage in an employee opinion survey as part of this planning process, 2. We will continue to learn how to have what we like to call “real talk” – meaning direct dialogue that is also trauma informed – how do we balance these needs?

3. We’ll also focus on employee recognition and reward – how are we determining this and does our current structure meet YOUR current needs? We will continue to assess pay rates and work flow.

4. Finally, we’ll move forward with our new IT system migration, moving to the cloud, and expand our Human Resource Information System to meet our recruitment and current employee needs.

Having the right tools to support our work is critical for us to function and although these can be large budgetary items, they are critical to our sustainability.

Speaking of sustainability, we have grown this past year, in fact over the past 6 years, we have grown by about a million a year! This type of growth takes time to adjust, focus and settle. We are finding our way, collectively, with this growth! We have nearly 30 locations and about 350 employees and literally thousands of people supported and community members. All of this is stunning! Where are we with taking care of ourselves? If we are going to “Be the Light” how are we recharging? And how are treating each other? Are we willing to surrender our own agendas for the sake of what is needed in the moment? The pandemic has taught us to be resilient, but have we learned how to be restful? To lean into the unknown and be still, instead of just pushing through, harder and faster, thinking if only we do one more thing, take one more step, we’ll get there.

Wherever there is. The survivor in us knows this way, to keep it moving, to make it happen, to make sure we have enough. You are the light, and I invite you to BE. Be still, Be present, Be with each other. Let’s see each other, look into each other’s eyes, and as uncomfortable as that can be, see each other’s light. This is the way, everything comes and goes, but our connections with one another, they remain past our impermanence.

My friends and colleagues, you inspire me. You teach me. And I’m grateful for each one of you saying YES to be the light, and to create conditions for a socially just community, each and every day. Thank you!

In Community,

Kristel

National Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated September 15-October 15 and honored Hispanic and Latinx Americans for their contributions to U.S. culture.

In honor and celebration of the diverse contributions that Hispanic individuals have made to society throughout history, the Anti-Oppression Committee hosted a screening of the film “The Last Colony” with an open discussion facilitated by Associate Professor Agustin Lao-Montes from UMASS Amherst. It was a very rich discussion that allowed for folks to learn more about Puerto Rican history and political status.

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FALL 2023

Trauma-Informed Hampshire County would like to give a shout-out to our two interns this year. As part of the Healthcare Pathways Industry Internship program through NHS, we were offered a student placement for 3 weeks this summer. This program offers high school students opportunities to experience the health and public health world, to explore areas of interests for the students as they think about post-high school work.

Jamie Hougen-Smith is a rising 10th grader at Northampton High School and a member of Students Against Sexual Harassment (SASH) there, so he was already coming in with initiative, experience in advocacy and an understanding of trauma-related principles.

Since we are such a small organization, interns can make a huge difference for us and Jamie did an amazing job, jumping right in to research, design and create a tri-fold brochure of parent resources that we put to immediate use as a handout at our Building Resilience for Families presentations. Jamie then created multiple infographics and posts that we can use to populate our social media platforms during the year to increase the visibility of TIHC online, a huge help for us!

This Fall, we are thrilled to have Jessica Cox joining us for the entire school year through the Jadon Activist Fellowship at Smith College! Jess is an Ada Comstock undergrad, with an interest in social work. She is also the parent of a toddler and teen and said this about herself in the Fellowship application: “My passions revolve around advocating for individuals who are impacted by addiction and homelessness, with a particular focus on women in recovery. I believe that these communities often face stigmatization and marginalization, and I am passionate about using my voice and skills to help change this.

Community engagement excites me because it offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. By engaging with local leaders, community organizations, and individuals…I believe that we can work together to create lasting change… and for the sharing of diverse perspectives and experiences, which I believe is essential for creating meaningful and effective solutions.” Hopefully, Jess will also be able to connect with others at the Consortium, to learn more about all the great advocacy work happening here and participate in trainings and the anti-oppression work offered.

Big Thanks to both Jamie and Jess!

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

THE VOICE

The 100 Men of Color Black Tie Gala & Awards recognizes the contributions made by men of color in business, education, entrepreneurship, government, entertainment, service and the impact they have made on the lives of people throughout the State of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts communities.

“On this day, we believe these individuals should be honored for their achievements and celebrated for their accomplishments, along with their family, friends and support networks” says the website for this annual event.

The goal of this is “to provide financial support for programs that support the advancement of young men of color.” A portion of the proceeds from this annual event will support scholarships for young men who graduate from high school and plan on attending College, male leadership and mentorship programs.

A big KUDOS goes to Lamont Stuckey, Program Manager with Home and Community Connections for being honored at this year’s 100 Men of Color Black Tie Gala & Awards ceremony which took place on October 27th at the Bushnell in Hartford, CT. ​ e honor his great work in Human Services as well as his and impact in the W community.

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THE VOICE

By: Alyssa Curran, HEALing Communities:Belchertown/Ware In addition to being classified as a "rural community" within the HEAL study, Ware also falls within a vast "resource desert" that spans from Belchertown to just east of Worcester.

This "no-man's-land" includes the outskirts of Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties.

Folks from Boston Medical Center working on HEAL have conducted several landscape analyses of this area which have shown the stark lack of resources for individuals seeking recovery, specifically providers of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). This issue is compounded by the fact that public transportation is cripplingly limited.

"PhotoVoice is a visual research tool that uses a peer participatory model through photography, digital storytelling and selfadvocacy projects for socially excluded groups. It is both a form of creative expression and a way to record facts. It can describe realities, communicate perspectives, and raise awareness of social and global issues. PhotoVoice works to build a world in which everybody has the opportunity to represent themselves and tell their own story."

For six weeks in September-November of 2022, Ware community members met weekly at the Ware fire department with the goal of identifying barriers and supports to recovery in the Quaboag Hills through photographs around town. In these conversations, four themes emerged; Making Connections, What Addiction took from/gave to me, Barriers to Access/Transportation, and "I remember what our community used to be...". Each week, participants were tasked with photographing images that reflected these topics around the area so that they could be presented and discussed at the following meeting.

Understandably, the HEAL study aimed at collecting mostly clinical data associated with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) within its selected communities.

Through their photographs and quotes, PhotoVoice participants spoke to the importance of gathering other types of data to paint a more complete picture of assets and barriers in Ware. Specifically, they highlighted the sparce recreational opportunities for residents. There are very few cafes, movie theaters, shops, hotels, restaurants and other public meeting areas. These small towns in the Southern Quabbin are very geographically spread out and lack suitable walking areas. The local parks are often under-resourced and overgrown.

PhotoVoice in Ware was the perfect outlet for highlighting the theory that when it comes to BMC's data maps of Belchertown/Ware, that which cannot be seen is just as, if not more important, than that which can.

With a special thanks for DA Sullivan, the Recovery Center of HOPE will be offering another session of PhotoVoice in the near future.

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FALL 2023

The RECOVER Project Commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day To commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day which took place on August 31st, the RECOVER Project teamed with local harm reduction organization Tapestry to host a rally which culminated in a silent, candlelit vigil from Greenfield’s Town Common to the church across the street from the RP. Dozens joined us as, and even more looked on, as we held space for sharing personal testimony about the horrendously painful impact of overdose on our community. Just this past week we received news that several RP community members have died from overdose. The purple hearts on this communitydesigned and created art installation each represent a life lost, a human remembered and still greatly loved. Testimony included soulful songs, and many powerful voices speaking out for all the suffering that is experienced as a result of overdose, with lots of ideas about what we each can do to help.

This year, I was honored to preside over the event, and chose to share some practical information about grief as well as to hold space as people practiced feeling and expressing themselves. I also shared an abbreviated version of the Recovery Dharma meditation “Sitting with Difficult Emotions.”

This time last year I wrote a poem that speaks to the power of remembering we’re all in this together:

It’s all grief.

The human condition is a perpetual state of loss, the very nature of who we are.

Having lost our sense of belonging, we isolate one drop in the ocean of grief and call it home.

My loss, my tears, each wave MY emotion.

There’s nothing around me, I am so deeply wound in.

But when that droplet swells and my loss leaks into yours, I lose track of my tears.

It’s all grief.

- MK

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

THE VOICE

By: Heather Hodnicki, West Region Self Advocacy, Regional Coordinator

As we move from Summer to Autumn, this dish moves with you. Eggplant Caponata is both a Summer and Autumn fav! For the season, substituting Autumn squash and adding a few other Fall-time ingredients, can bring this dish from season to season; bringing some comfort in the months to come!

EGGPLANT CAPONATA INGREDIENTS: 2 - lg. eggplants, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 - med. zucchini, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 - med. yellow, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 - lg. tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 - lg. onion, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 - cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot 3 ½ cups canned plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped 20 green and 20 Kalamata olives, pitted and halved 3 tablespoons capers 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano 1 tablespoon minced fresh flat parsley 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar(or more to taste) 1 teaspoon white sugar (to taste) 1 teaspoon salt (to taste) 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste) ¼ cup water, if needed INSTRUCTIONS: 1. In a lg. pot, with olive oil, sauté cubed eggplant, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and onions and let sit.

2. In a extra lg. sauce pot, sauté with a ¼ cup olive oil, celery, carrot, canned plum tomatoes, green and Kalamata olives, capers, and tomato paste. Add water, as needed.

3. ADD minced garlic, oregano, parsley, red wine vinegar, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Add white sugar, salt and pepper to taste.

4. ADD eggplant, tomatoes, squash and onion.

5. Mix thoroughly.

Serve hot as a warm, fall stew, along with bread or equivalent....ENJOY!

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Spiritual Care & Social Justice

THE VOICE

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LIBRARY

The Ground Breaking: An American City and it’s search for Justice

by Scott Ellis More than one thousand homes and businesses.

Restaurants and movie theaters, churches and doctors’ offices, a hospital, a public library, a post office.

Looted, burned, and bombed from the air.

Over the course of less than twenty-four hours in the spring of 1921, Tulsa’s infamous “Black Wall Street” was wiped off the map—and erased from the history books. Official records were disappeared, researchers were threatened, and the worst single incident of racial violence in American history was kept hidden for more than fifty years. But there were some secrets that would not die.

A riveting and essential new book, The Ground Breaking not only tells the long-suppressed story of the notorious Tulsa race massacre. It also unearths the lost history of how the massacre was covered up, and of the courageous individuals who fought to keep the story alive. Most important, it recounts the ongoing archaeological saga and the search for the unmarked graves of the victims of the massacre, and of the fight to win restitution for the survivors and their families.

In the Cree language Susu Mai- means: “Listen.”

In the Cree teachings, “The Listening” means more than anything else to them. The Cree indigenous people learn how to listen to the environment, to the wind, to the rocks. They learn how to listen to everything. Some of their elders say that their young people need help to get back to “The Listening.”

Listening doesn’t always equate to hearing. Hearing doesn’t always lead to understanding, but active listening helps each person truly “see” the other. ~~~Sanjo Jendayi In our mission here at the Consortium. One of the very first and most important thing is that people are valued, seen, and “heard.” Let us take the time to “Listen” so we all can be “Heard.”

Let us not only be learners, but let us also be listeners.

Both a forgotten chronicle from the nation’s past and a story ripped from today’s headlines, The Ground Breaking is a page-turning reflection on how we, as Americans, must wrestle with the parts of our history that have been buried for far too long.

You can find this and other books in the Social Justice Library located on the 3rd floor of the Holyoke Office.

For more information, please send an email to Rev. Greg Jones, Director of Social Justice and Spiritual Care at gjones@wmtcinfo.org.

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FALL 2023

As

a

part

of

the

Association

for

Developmental

Disabilities Provider’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, ADDP recognizes provider members for the DEI contributions made within their organizations.

Our very own Rev. Greg received the 2023 ADDP DEI Award! Of numerous inspiring applications received, Reverend Gregory Jones, Social Justice and Spiritual Care Director, has been selected as a DEI award recipient this year. The Committee was impressed by the impact of his extraordinary efforts to advance inclusion across all levels of the organization. We extend our congratulations for this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations to our beloved Rev. Greg Jones, Social Justice & Spiritual Care Director!

Kristel Applebee Greetings Consortium Community, I just wanted to share a positive thought with you. What does it take to be our "Best" selves. Well, I've narrowed it down to these three basic things: 1. Work.

It takes constant self-awareness and evaluation in order to correct those things that hinder us from being our "Best" selves. Believe you me, I know personally. Being your best doesn't mean being perfect. No one is perfect.

But being your best self is being "true" about your fears, failures, and your faults. That's what I believe is one step closer to your "Best" self.

2. Authentic Are you being authentic with yourself as well as others? Being authentic also means knowing when you're stuck and need help. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Some think that asking for help means they're weak or they have no understanding. That is far from the truth. Being Authentic is knowing I know what I know, and I know what I don't know. Being Authentic is taking risk, but still believing that you'll be better in the end.

3. Staying Humble Staying Humble means that you have the willingness to always learn and listen to others when they see something that you're not seeing in yourself. We all have things to work on, but we will never be able to work on those things if we allow ego and pride to get in the way. Staying open to honest to sincere critique and never take as an attack on you or your character or that person is somehow is an enemy. Learning about ourselves is hard work, but it's always worth it in the end.

They say sharing is caring. I hope this little bit of information helps.

In Community and Always Grateful, Rev Greg STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

FALL 2023

Welcome our Human Resource Director, Carmen Sikand!

In this issue, we are introducing Carmen Sikand, our new Human Resource Director! Carmen comes to us with many years of experience in the fields of Human Resources, Recruitment, Management, Training, Organizational Development, and more. Throughout her career, she has mastered and displayed expertise in staff, project, and budget management. She has managed teams of from 5 to 20 direct reports. She has coordinated successful recruitment for major organizations such as Home Depot, Milton Bradley, and Costco.

Carmen has administered employee benefits, set up salary levels, and oversaw annual payroll budgets of $25 Million+. A skilled trainer, she has created curriculum and conducted employment-training sessions in technical, non-technical and managerial topics. She has taken part in strategic planning with senior management and facilitated problem-solving sessions related to recruitment, retention, and diversity. Appointed by the Commissioner as Western MA’s representative to the Recruitment, Retention, and Hiring Process Task Force, she also held the role of Diversity Initiatives Coordinator for Western MA and was member of the Statewide Diversity Leadership Committee.

Known for being intuitive, a fast learner, driven, proactive, innovative, passionate about her goals, committed to excellence, a natural problem solver, and able to work well independently or in teams; her positive attitude and ability to find the needs of the workforce and her employers have had a positive impact on the employees and the organizations she has served.

If you have not done so, please stop by 187 High Street to say hi or send an email to connect with Carmen.

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

WINTER 2022

THE VOICE

UWFH is the only flexible funding and convening organization specifically attuned to the needs of Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin Region. They provide general operating support to 64 programs of nonprofit agencies (which includes The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium) tackling the greatest needs of our community. Giving through UWFH allows donors to take a holistic approach to addressing the needs of our community by letting them invest a single gift into multiple programs working on different parts of the same problem.

This increases the probability of real change. To learn more about the United Way of Franklin and Hampshire Region, and our partnership, please visit their website: More information will be forthcoming from our Human Resource team regarding our Employee Campaign.

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WINTER 2022

THE VOICE

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WINTER 2022

THE VOICE

PG. 11

FALL 2023

By Jesse Buckley, Northampton Recovery Center September was National Recovery Month! Recovery encompasses every aspect of one’s life, this includes, mind, body, spirit and community, thus this year’s theme of “Every Person. Every Family.

Every Community.” The Northampton Recovery Center celebrated Recovery Month in community with our Ice Cream Social. It was a huge success and tons of fun, even in 90 degree heat!

Peers at the NRC and members of the larger community, joined for a scoop and a song (thanks to Matt Delaney for the live music) and many tours of the Center were given. We were joined by some community partners at the Division of Community Care (now open at 1 Roundhouse Plaza) and The Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, two great partners serving our Community. The art sale was also fruitful and many beautiful paintings found new homes! Huge thank you to our scoopers Ben and Lisa, and thank you to everyone who came out!

🍦

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

THE VOICE

By: Heather Hodnicki, West Region Self Advocacy, Regional Coordinator

On average, adults spend about 6.5 hours a day sitting — that’s nearly half the day.

One reason: They’re stuck working at a desk. As anyone with back or neck pain knows, sitting for long periods can make your whole body feel achy and stiff and exacerbate pre-existing joint or muscle pain. It’s also associated with a long list of chronic health conditions: obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and even elevated risk of other, more serious illnesses. But luckily, there’s a simple fix to this. Research shows that simply moving more throughout the day can reduce these risks and help your body feel energized and even relaxed instead of achy and tired.

Benefits of Doing Chair Exercises According to Hinge Health, the benefits of chair exercises are: Helps your Heart Boosts Productivity Enhances Mood Lowers Pain Levels While it can be hard to find time in your busy day for movement. One easy and efficient way to move more is to introduce little bursts of activity while at your desk, says Caitlin Shaw, PT, DPT, a Hinge Health physical therapist. It might not sound like much, but it can reap big benefits.

In fact, the exercise equivalent of walking five minutes every half hour can offset some of the most harmful effects of sitting, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Here are some quick and simple things that you can do at either your desk or during breaks that can help to break up your day and keep you active.

Walking: Set up daily or weekly walks during lunch or after work, and even have a walking meeting with a person or as a group.

Stretching: Do a morning stretch right before the start and at the end of your work day.

Seated Chair Exercises: If you’re at your desk for meetings or long stretches – incorporate some of these discrete exercises: Cat/Cow – Sit at your desk, knees together, feet flat on the floor. 1.

Inhale deep then Exhale - put your chin to your chest - crunch your stomach muscles while rounding your spine. 2. Take a deep breath, look up at the ceiling, squeeze shoulder blades together and arch your back stretching your front. 10 reps.

Leg lifts: back straight, stomach in, lift R then L leg.10 reps on each side.

Shoulder press: 10 reps on each side.

Biceps curls: 10 reps on each side.

In addition to these seated exercises, you can also incorporate Wall sit: 30 seconds Marching: 1-2 minutes Here’s to a taking a pause for healthier living as we home from work!

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FALL 2023

Advocacy and Awareness

Advocates in the pictures are Moses Wyrick( left) and Luis Colon (right), along with Amber Pettell, Self Advocacy Peer Coordinator and Heather Hodnicki, Self Advocacy Regional Coordinator

Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW) is a national, nonpartisan initiative to build the power and presence of the disability vote. This initiative is led by the American Association of People with Disabilities’ (AAPD) REV UP Voting Campaign.

There are an estimated 38 million Americans with disabilities who are eligible to vote. Nationally, people with disabilities voted at a 3.6% lower rate than nondisabled voters in the 2022 midterm elections. Additionally, one in seven voters with disabilities reported difficulty voting.

In Massachusetts, the turnout gap between disabled and nondisabled voters is 3%.

Inaccessible polling places, and a lack of accessible information from campaigns and around voting processes are key challenges.

Massachusetts West Region Self Advocacy recently participated in Disability Voting Rights Week by hosting a voter registration drive at the Holyoke Mall on September 13th, 2023. Advocates shared information, and encouraged folks to register to vote.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Held every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) is a fitting time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. The 2023 NDEAM theme is “Advancing Access and Equity.”

NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. The Campaign for Disability Employment encourages organizations of all sizes and in all industries to participate in NDEAM. In celebration of this important month Massachusetts West Region Self Advocacy will be participating in a panel on inclusive employment in collaboration with the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, The Department of Developmental Services Regional Employment Services, Microtek, and Western Mass Employment Collaborative. More information will be forth coming. So stay connected!

STRENGTHENING OUR CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY THROUGH VOICE, CHOICE AND INCLUSION

AWARENESS LEADS TO CHANGE

THE VOICE

COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAN BRING CHANGE. OCTOBER BRINGS A LOT OF AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE SUPPORT.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 11 percent of school-age children.

Symptoms continue into adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases. ADHD is characterized by developmentally impacted levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD associations throughout the country sponsor support groups for kids and adults who suffer from attention deficit disorders. The Support Network offers support and resources to help support children and families with emotional health needs in Western Mass. To learn more, visit their website: https://childrensemotionalhealth.org/

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is recognized each October through educational events, community gatherings, and support groups. In 2018, the Domestic Violence Awareness Project developed a unified theme: #1Thing. The purpose of this campaign is to remind everyone that ending domestic violence starts with just one small action, whether that is seeking help or sharing resources. To learn more about the how the Salasin Project provides support and opportunities to build community connections to survivors of domestic violence and their families, please visit their website: https://salasinproject.org

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

THE VOICE

When you are connected you are empowered with tools, resources, knowledge, and information that can help you to grow. Check out our educational partnership with Springfield College as they connected with employees during our Employee Appreciation.

Don't forget to stay connected and support the work that we collectively do in community.

Don't forget! You can easily share this link to the Consortium's secure online giving platform with folks who want to donate.

STAYED CONNECTED!

Like what you are reading? is it informative and engaging? We'd love to hear from you! In fact, send us an email with your most engaging piece that you read and we will enter you into our quarterly raffle, with a chance to win something worth the read!

To submit an article or story, event or kudos submission, please email us at info@wmtcinfo.org.

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