The Voice Summer/Fall 2024 by The Consortium

Quarterly Newsletter for Consortium Employees

As we say goodbye to Summer and transition into Fall, we reflect and celebrate the harvest of great things going on, and begin a new season of opportunities here at the Consortium!

Summer brought forth wonderful collaborations and partnerships with Recovery in the community. Whether soaking up the sun at the beach and getting a moment to enjoy our surroundings to supporting inclusive spaces, and creating traditions that impact a community, our programs/communities show up time and time again, rising to the occasion and showing that our mission is possible!

Now, looking forward to what’s to come we move with our shared leadership, collective wisdom, and growth opportunities into a season of harvest

In the month of September, we celebrate National Recovery Month and from September 15th to October 15th, we honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! We will also hold our Coffee and Conversation events, with our first on September 18th at the Bowen Center in Springfield

With harvest season in October, we have a host of events and growth opportunities where we can learn, honor, and celebrate together We will have our Agency Orientation on Wednesday, October 2nd – we are still offering it virtually on Zoom If you haven’t attended Agency Orientation before, please join us if you can! We’d love to have the opportunity to hear from you and get to know you better! Then move toward our “Leadership, Equity, and YOU!” training via Zoom on October 16th and 23rd from 10 am – 1 pm And end the month with our Annual Employee Appreciation Celebration at the Log Cabin on October 30th! Please remember to RSVP for our Annual Employee Appreciation Celebration and just a reminder, you can bring a guest if you’d like to enjoy lunch with them – just make sure to include them in your RSVP so we can count them in. This year, we are adding a 4th massage therapist, and another artist to offer caricature drawing, we ’ re excited! And wait until you see the Mission Award recipients, they are incredible!! Keep reading to get the details on how to register for it After that, we’ll head toward turning 50 on March 11, 2025! More to come on that celebration in the Spring

In other news, have you filled out your Employee Engagement Survey for our Strategic Planning Process yet? We sent an email, and also hard copies to your home – we want to hear your important input! Thank you in advance for taking the time to fill it out Meanwhile, I hope this new fall season brings you new opportunities – to learn a new skill, meet a new colleague, task a risk in a conversation, offer a suggestion that is uniquely yours, see the new in the familiar, or perhaps appreciate all of your life experience (even the hard parts) for bringing you to this moment, now

GROWTH: GROWTH:

BY DANIEL BICKFORD, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

THE NORTHAMPTON RECOVERY CENTER

I first landed in Northampton in early 2018 in a men’s recovery home after spending the previous two years attempting to find lasting sobriety Upon arrival to the program, I was fortunate to be met by a great batch of residents who were both recovery-focused and very supportive One of these men warmly suggested that I check out The Northampton Recovery Center downtown; that man was John Sullivan, who today, is our Program Director at the NRC From my previous attempts at recovery, I knew a few things; I couldn’t do this alone and needed to connect with the Recovery community, and I couldn’t just sit around, I needed to get involved.

Having some experience with The Recover Project in Greenfield, I was eager to connect with the Recovery Center in Northampton, so I followed my new friend’s suggestion and checked it out. Upon arrival, I was welcomed in and felt a sense of belonging. I quickly moved from visitor to member, to volunteer, to coordinating the front desk volunteers. More and more over time I truly started to feel like I belonged. The Recovery Center gave me the opportunity and the space to be a peer amongst peers. I was shown that my presence and contributions were valued and I felt valued as a person. I was given trust, and responsibilities even before I might have thought that I was worthy. The community at the Recovery Center saw me before I was able to see myself Through connection and community where everyone’s experience was welcomed and valued, as well as numerous opportunities to get active and be a part of, the Northampton Recovery Center was a foundational element in my journey of finding myself through recovery

After being awarded funding in early 2020 through a grant from BSAS, the Northampton Recovery Center not only expanded to a new space that would better serve our community but was also able to create and offer employment through peer staff positions. I was encouraged by my peers to apply for a position at the center even though I was reluctant and nervous; once again, they saw me and my value before I was able to. With that encouragement, I applied for and was hired into, the position of Volunteer Coordinator later that Spring of 2020 and have gratefully served our community in that role for the past four years. Today, I am happy to move into the role of Volunteer Coordinator at the center and look forward to both the growth of my life in recovery and the continued growth of the recovery center and our community.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15, 2024.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, here are a few traditional recipes from hy-vee.com that may inspire your taste buds! (click image for full recipe)

CHICKEN TINGA

HARISSA CHILAQUILES

BEEF EMPANADAS

S e p t e m b e r i s R e c o v e r y M o nt h ,

a n d t he N o r t ha m p t o n R e c o v e r y

C e nt e r k i c k e d i t o f f w i t h t he i r

a n nu a l I c e C r e a m S o c i a l !

T h e N R C s e r v e d u p F R E E i c e

c r e a m , a n d s ha r e d i n f o r m a t i o n

a b o u t R e c o v e r y M o nt h , a nd t he

w o nd e r f u l p r o g r a m m i ng a v a i l a b l e

a t t he N o r t h a m p t o n R e c o v e r y

C e nt e r .

S t a y t u ne d f o r m o r e i nf o r m a t i o n

a b o u t t he i r p a r t ne r s a nd o t he r

e n t e r t a i n m e n t a s w e c e l e b r a t e t he

m o r e t h a n 2 0 m i l l i o n p e o p l e

a c r o s s A m e r i c a t ha t c o ns i d e r

t h e m s e l v e s t o b e i n r e c o v e r y o r t o

ha v e r e c o v e r e d f r o m t he i r d r u g o r

a l c o ho l u s e p r o b l e m .

Overdose Awareness Overdose Awareness

We certainly know how to have fun at the RP, but that is in part to balance the grim realities we face as a community. August 31 was International Overdose Awareness Day. The Recover Project aimed to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to overdose. We held a vigil in Greenfield Town Common on Friday, August 30. We had time for testimony, invoking the names of individuals to commemorate their lives and raise awareness about overdose prevention. We as a community sought to honor the full weight of our grief and not to attempt to lighten the burden.

We have an Art of Recovery Show at the LAVA Center with a gallery opening on September 7 and a second gallery reception on September 27. Both gallery events will offer opportunities to share performative art such as music, spoken word, or poetry

We will end Recovery Month with our Recovery Celebration on September 20th, 1-4pm at Energy Park in Greenfield It will feature stage performances and testimonials, art and activities, resource fair, and, of course, food There is an open invitation to set up a table to showcase your services and distribute educational and informational materials such as flyers or brochures. Additionally, we would greatly appreciate it if you could promote this event within your community as this is a free community event, and all are welcome to attend.

PURPLE HEARTS FOR RECOVERY PURPLE HEARTS FOR RECOVERY

T he P u r p l e H e a r t p r o j e c t s t a r t e d a s a

r e s p o n s e t o l o s s f r o m o v e r d o s e . P u r p l e

he a r t s w e r e a v a i l a b l e i n t he c e nt e r f o r

a ny o n e w ho w a

O n S a t u r d a y , A u g u s t 3 1 , a t 8 p m , w e t e a m e d w i t h o t he r o r g a n i z a t i o ns i n W e s t e r n

M a s s a c h u s e t t s t o s u p p o r t i t s “ L i g h t i t P u r p l e ” c a m p a i g n , e n c o u r a g i n g a l l c o m m u n i t i e s t o i l l u m i n a t e b u i l d i n g s , l a nd m a r k s , a n d h o m e s i n p u r p l e l i g h t a s a s y m b o l o f s u p p o r t a nd s o l i d a r i t y . T he c o l o r p u r p l e w a s c h o s e n f o r i t s a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h c o u r a g e a n d b r a v e r y , q u a l i t i e s t ha t r e s o na t e d e e p l y w i t h t h e f i g h t a g a i ns t o v e r d o s e a n d a d d i c t i o n . B y l i g ht i ng u p t he i r s u r r o u n d i ng s i n p u r p l e , i n d i v i d u a l s

a nd o r g a n i z a t i o n s s e n t a p o w e r f u l m e s s a g e o f ho p e a nd r e m e m b r a n c e .

Programs and communities posted their images and Live videos to social media with the hashtag #WMALightsItPurpleOverdoseAwareness2024 Communities were also encouraged to share images of their purple-lit environments on social media using the national hashtag #LightItPurple #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose #IOAD2024 fostering a sense of global unity.

The day after the vigil, our community launched directly into September: National Recovery Month. We are doubling down on celebrating our recovery. In addition to the events and activities listed below, our community will be hitting the road! BSAS has challenged us and the other 38 recovery centers in MA to visit as many other centers during their Recovery Month offerings and celebrations. In addition, we will be traveling to Boston for the MOAR statewide Celebration and attending a regional event in the Northampton area Here are the things we are planning as a center- for more information on how to get involved email cmcgale@wmtcinfo.org.

The Support Network’s Margery Jess was honored by the Parent Professional Advocacy LeagueattheirannualconferenceonMay31stfor her lifetime achievement in advocacy for children’smentalhealth!

Margery has worked for The Support Network advocating for families for 25 years! It has been an honor to have her on the Support Network team FirstasaFamilySupportSpecialist,thenas Co-Director and now in her part time role as Special Projects Administrator. She is always a mentor, a wise teacher, collaborative community team member and a lot of fun to have around. She has lifted us up with her wisdom and good cheer. Again, congratulations Margery, we are so honoredtohaveyouaspartofourteam.

CONGRATULATIONSONYOUR RECOGNITION!!

Congratulations to Tammy Breault, our Administrative & Fiscal Administrator on the birth of her wonderful grandson,DominicMichael!!!

Baby Dominic was born 8 lbs., 1 oz. and 19 inches on August 20th,2024!!!

As an employee of the Consortium, you have many benefits available that can help with your everyday life. TotalCare EAP, our Employee Assistance Program, is one of them. As we enter this season where education takes precedence, we can find inspiration and actively seek support in continuing our lifetime of learning whether you have school-age children or grandchildren, or are looking to return to school yourself, find comfort in knowing that there are resources available to you Here is an excerpt from ESI’s newsletter regarding educational supports and resources

BACK TO SCHOOL & LIFETIME LEARNING BACK TO SCHOOL & LIFETIME LEARNING

Many adults carry that “back-to-school” feeling as summer winds to a close. We’re firm believers in “lifetime learning” for personal and professional self-enrichment so August is a good time to get back in gear If you have kids, it can set a super example – you can even study together! Log in to the Self-Help Resource Center to take webinars and trainings, watch videos, use online calculators, and explore thousands of topics Here are some of the great training benefits you will find:

Personal & Professional Development Trainings – Explore thousands of free online personal & professional development trainings in multiple user-friendly formats on work skills, wellness, technology, safety, and more. Try micro-learning in short bursts of 10 minutes or less, or dive deeper on key topics in eLearning of 30+ minutes.

Monthly Webinars – Your EAP issues new webinars on personal and family related topics monthly. Upcoming Webinars are announced in the newsletter each month.

Learning Centers – Every month, a new themed Learning Center is posted in the Self-Help Resource Center, and includes articles, webinars, courses, podcasts, books, and websites Career & Education Resources – Find links to resources for Career Exploration and Planning; Finding the Right College; Financial Aid and Scholarships; and Vocational, Military and Other Career Resources.

Financial Fitness Center – Learn about money matters, from budgeting to investing Explore hundreds of interactive tutorials to help you get answers to all your questions about money!

Personal and Professional Coaching – One-to-one telephonic sessions with professional coaches on a variety of topics for work and home life (Call 800-252-4555 to talk to a Coach)

Administration and Finance Director

Hours: Full-Time, 8 A M TO 4 P M , EXEMPT

Pay: Salary

Location: Holyoke, MA

The Consortium seeks an experienced Administration and Finance Director who is committed to social justice and embraces shared leadership, undoing systems of oppression and creating conditions for community.

The Administration and Finance Director works at the Consortium’s Administrative Offices in Holyoke and reports directly to the Executive Director, with primary responsibility for the overall daily functioning of the offices including, but not limited to: Administrative responsibilities; Financial/Bookkeeping tasks; Operating Budgets, Billing, teaming with Program Directors to meet their fiscal obligations, supporting the Finance Committee, and ensuring related activities align with the agency’s mission and values. This leader has a proactive approach and consistent pulse on the Consortium’s fiscal landscape

Primary responsibilities include supervision of the Fiscal and Administrative Team, including a Fiscal and Office Administrator, Fiscal Coordinator, and Fiscal and Administrative Coordinator. Also, the team with Non-Profit Data Management’s (fiscal outsource co-owned by Consortium) Accounts Manager in monthly finance meetings and weekly payables processing. This person will utilize a shared leadership and traumasensitive approach to ensure a welcoming climate at the Consortium’s administrative offices and with everyone encountered on behalf of the Consortium

Hampden County Community Coordinator

Hours: 25 to 30 hours per week with some set and some flexible hours (some weekend and/or evening availability required)

Pay: $24 - $26 per hour

Location: Holyoke/Springfield, MA

Collaborate closely with the Director of Community Supports to coordinate Wildflower's Holyoke and Springfield centers and related tasks This role includes a mix of direct support with community members and administrative tasks May also include group facilitation, outreach/collaboration with other organizations, event planning and similar

Required Qualifications: Investment in the value of peer support and alternatives to conventional clinical systems; Ability to balance a variety of needs in an active center; Your own experience living through trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, homelessness, problems with substances and/or a variety of other life-interrupting challenges; Understanding and commitment to examining and undoing systemic oppression related to racism, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, etc.; Attention to detail and to be proactive in addressing rising concerns; Ability to simultaneously foster and take part in a community where everyone is able to confidently speak up, offer input and new ideas, challenge and disagree with one another while also maintaining mutual respect and collaborative spirit.

For more information on or to apply for these featured positions, visit https://wmtcinfo.org/employment

Employee Appreciation & Mission Awards Employee Appreciation & Mission Awards

THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024.

Our Annual Employee Appreciation has been a time when we come together to collectively appreciate one another, and the work, through our community connections. Amid obstacles, transitions, devastation, and change; we pivot, hold space, and learn (and unlearn) what we need to become better; this process has been our best growth season.

With our collective wisdom and shared and lived experiences, we create conditions for community members to pursue our dreams. It is through our collective commitment to address systems of oppression and work towards undoing the harms they have caused, that allows us and the community we support, to have a voice, choice, and feel included. Each day, we work towards inclusivity, so that all people can feel included and have a sense of belonging.

Each one of us helps to make our mission possible. This is why our theme for this year’s celebration is “Mission Possible” because we know that no matter how many obstacles we face, our mission is possible and it is because of you! So, let’s honor our commitment and celebrate our accomplishments!

We are super excited about the return of our Mission Awards! Thank you to all that nominated a team member, program or community!

Spiritual Care & Social Justice Spiritual Care & Social Justice

7 Moments in Life When you Need to be Silent.

T he r e a r e s e v e r a l c r u c i a l m o m e nt s i n l i f e w he r e m a i nt a i ni ng s i l e nc e i s

no t o nl y a p p r o p r i a t e b u t ne c e s s a r y .

D u r i ng t i m e s o f c o nf l i c t o r d i s a g r e e m e nt R e m a i ni ng s i l e nt a l l o w s

f o r e m o t i o ns t o s e t t l e a nd r a t i o na l t ho u g ht t o p r e v a i l , f a c i l i t a t i ng a

m o r e c o ns t r u c t i v e r e s o l u t i o n S i l e nc e c a n p r e v e nt e s c a l a t i o n a nd

a l l o w t i m e f o r e m o t i o ns t o c o o l , l e a d i ng t o m o r e c o ns t r u c t i v e

c o nv e r s a t i o n l a t e r

S e c o nd l y , w he n l i s t e ni ng t o o t he r s . G i v e f u l l a t t e nt i o n w i t ho u t

i nt e r r u p t i ng , s ho w r e s p e c t a nd u nd e r s t a nd i ng , a nd a l l o w i ng t he

s p e a k e r t o f e e l he a r d i t i s i m p o r t a nt i n o r d e r t o g a i n a b e t t e r

u nd e r s t a nd i ng o f t he p e r s p e c t i v e s b e i ng s ha r e d .

3 .

2 . I n m o m e nt s o f g r i e f . S o m e t i m e s , w o r d s a r e i ns u f f i c i e nt . B e i ng

s i l e nt l y p r e s e nt o f f e r s m o r e c o m f o r t a nd s u p p o r t t ha n a ny t hi ng

y o u m i g ht s a y .

Whe n y o u d o n' t ha v e a l l t he f a c t . A v o i d s p e a k i ng p r e m a t u r e l y .

G a t he r i ng c o m p l e t e i nf o r m a t i o n b e f o r e c o m m e nt i ng p r e v e nt s

m i s u nd e r s t a nd i ng a nd m i s i nf o r m a t i o n.

4 . D u r i ng p e r s o na l r e f l e c t i o n. S i l e nc e a l l o w s y o u t o c o nne c t w i t h y o u r

t ho u g ht s , e v a l u a t e y o u r a c t i o ns , a nd m a k e m o r e t ho u g ht f u l

d e c i s i o ns

5 . I n p r o f e s s i o na l s e t t i ng s L i s t e ni ng m o r e a nd s p e a k i ng l e s s i n

m e e t i ng s o r d i s c u s s i o ns c a n d e m o ns t r a t e r e s p e c t , a t t e nt i v e ne s s , a nd t ho u g ht f u l ne s s

7 .

Whe n s o m e o ne c o nf i d e s i n y o u . B e i ng a s i l e nt , s u p p o r t i v e l i s t e ne r f o s t e r s t r u s t a nd s ho w s t ha t y o u v a l u e t he i r c o nf i d e nc e a nd a r e

t he r e f o r t he m .

Spiritual Care & Social Justice Spiritual Care & Social Justice

Your Higher Self and its Role in Your Life: Have you thought about what is your true potential?

Your Higher Self is your ultimate guide, constantly nudging you towards your highest potential and greatest good It is the source of intuition, wisdom, and inner knowing that helps you make decisions aligned with your truest self. As you tune into your Higher Self through meditation, self-reflection, or spiritual practices, you'll begin to feel a deep sense of connection and purpose in your life. This divine aspect of yourself empowers you to transcend limitations, overcome challenges, and live in alignment with your higher purpose. By trusting in the guidance of your Higher Self and following its lead, you can experience profound growth, joy, and fulfillment in all areas of your life

Embrace this sacred relationship with excitement and enthusiasm as you embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation guided by the loving wisdom of your Higher Self

In Community and Always Grateful, Rev Gregory Jones

In Madness, Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist Antonia Hylton tells the 93-year-old history of Crownsville Hospital, one of the last segregated asylums with surviving records and a campus that still stands to this day in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She blends the intimate tales of patients and employees whose lives were shaped by Crownsville with a decadeworth of investigative research and archival documents. Madness chronicles the stories of Black families whose mental health suffered as they tried, and sometimes failed, to find safety and dignity. Hylton also grapples with her own family’s experiences with mental illness, and the secrecy and shame that it reproduced for generations.

As Crownsville Hospital grew from an antebellum-style work camp to a tiny city sitting on 1,500 acres, the institution became a microcosm of America’s evolving battles over slavery, racial integration, and civil rights During its peak years, the hospital’s wards were overflowing with almost 2,700 patients By the end of the 20th-century, the asylum faded from view as prisons and jails became America’s new focus

In Madness, Hylton traces the legacy of slavery to the treatment of Black people’s bodies and minds in our current mental healthcare system. It is a captivating and heartbreaking meditation on how America decides who is sick or criminal, and who is worthy of our care or irredeemable.