June 13, 2023

Regional Notebook: June 13, 2023 ($50K Women’s Fund grant to support Community Legal Aid)

BY Greenfield Recorder

$50K grant to support Community Legal Aid
SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts has awarded a $50,000 grant to Community Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts, to support its CORI/Reentry Unit and the development of a Reentry Coalition and Network.

Community Legal Aid’s Reentry Coalition and Network will include a broad range of organizations working to help formerly incarcerated individuals overcome barriers that prevent them from reestablishing a stable life. Their recruitment will focus on women and gender-expansive people who either have criminal records or are formerly incarcerated and are involved with reentry work; medical providers who use a harm reduction model; educational programs that offer support and access to programming post-incarceration; employment support organizations; and housing advocates.

The nonprofit started its CORI/Reentry Unit in 2016 to help formerly incarcerated individuals overcome barriers to safe and affordable housing, secure steady and fulfilling employment, and offer opportunities to reintegrate into society.

“We represent people facing the collateral consequences of the criminal court system,” Alyssa Golden, senior supervising attorney of the CORI/Reentry Unit, said in a statement. “We believe everyone should have the right to housing and steady income, and the opportunity to thrive as individuals, within families and as part of communities.”

“We are humbled by our community partners who work to advance the lives of formerly incarcerated women and gender-diverse people in our region,” Donna Haghighat, CEO of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, said in a statement. “As a public foundation that invests in gender and racial equity, we wanted to invest in the lives of community members who are impacted by the negative effects of incarceration.”

Health institute updates public on vaccines, testing
SPRINGFIELD — In response to concerns identified by social service and health care providers in a recent survey relating to the official end of the COVID-19 national public health emergency, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and its 413Cares initiative are releasing information about access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments.

“Information about who can access free COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatment is currently complex and fluid as the federal and state governments transition these tools to the private market,” Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The following is the most up-to-date information for Massachusetts residents:

■Free COVID-19 vaccinations continue for everyone in Massachusetts.

■Free telehealth services for COVID-19 treatment continue to be available for adult residents; if determined appropriate, Paxlovid is free.

■Free home COVID-19 test availability will change as insurers are no longer required to cover monthly at-home tests and the federal government will no longer supply free at-home tests.

■MassHealth and other insurance companies will continue to cover COVID-19 PCR testing when ordered by a health care provider.

For current information on access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatments, visit 413cares.org/covid-19.

Four Franklin County artists receive $2K grants
SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has selected 20 artists, including four in Franklin County, to receive funding through its ValleyCreates Capacity Program.

The grant program (formerly the Working Capital Grant Program) supports artists who live or work in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. The 20 grantees, who were chosen from a pool of 143 applicants, will each receive a $2,000 grant, along with a coaching opportunity from experts. Additionally, they will gain access to business-planning workshops and will have the chance to convene with other artists and arts supporters in planned community-building events to be hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

“In reviewing applications,” Senior Program Officer Nicole Bourdon said in a statement, “I was truly struck by the amount of such outstanding talent in this area. It was such an incredible window to look through, and our goal should include ways to shine a light on all the amazing artists in this region.”

The Franklin County grantees are: Aliana de la Guardia, of Ashfield; Erica Russo, of Conway; Meegan Schreiber, of Sunderland; and Tomantha Sylvester, of Ashfield.

Civil Air Patrol honors two Greenfield residents
AMHERST — Civil Air Patrol’s Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Pierce Cadet Squadron recently honored two Greenfield residents.

Theo Martini, 12, a cadet member of Civil Air Patrol and a student at Greenfield Middle School, earned his Curry Achievement and was promoted to cadet airman earlier this month. On hand to pin on his new insignia were his mothers, Kate and Josianna Martini.

“Cadet Martini is a dedicated and hard-working cadet who has shown great potential to succeed,” Maj. Steve Lauzon, the unit’s commanding officer, said in a statement. “The Curry Achievement recognizes his positive attitude and desire to contribute to the team.”

The Curry Achievement is named for Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, the Civil Air Patrol’s first national commander at the start of World War II.

Also recognized was senior member and 1st Lt. Amanda Menier, who was awarded the Benjamin O. Davis Award for completing Level 2 (out of five) in the organization’s professional development program. The award acknowledges her understanding of leadership, management and Civil Air Patrol’s missions. Menier, a data analyst and researcher, has been involved with Civil Air Patrol since 2011.

“Lt. Menier is among our best officers,” Lauzon said in a statement. “Her professional education is now catching up to her knowledge and we expect her to complete Level 3 in short order.”

The Benjamin O. Davis Award is named for Gen. Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr., who commanded the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and was the first Black general in the U.S. Air Force.

Civil Air Patrol is the civilian, volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. One of its main missions is to encourage and foster civil aviation in community aerospace education programs. The Pierce squadron meets every Monday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Dickinson Hall at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

8 local students make Fitchburg Dean’s List
Eight Franklin County students were named to the Dean’s List at Fitchburg State University for the spring semester.

They are: Samantha S. Murray, of Greenfield; Benjamin L. Hunsicker, of Leyden; Morgan L. McCarthy, of New Salem; Tyler T. Martin, of Northfield; Vanessa Leh, Chloe C. Taddeo and Tearra L. Verheyen, all of Orange; and Tyssen J. Labombard, of Shelburne Falls.

To be named to the Dean’s List, a full-time student must attain a grade point average of 3.2 of better.