Fall Full Coalition Meeting Oct 27, 11-1 at New Greenfield Public Library

June 18, 2024

Please join us for the Communities That Care Coalition’s Fall Coalition Meeting on Friday, October 27th, from 11am to 1pm at the beautiful new Greenfield Public Library, in their large community room..  Register at https://tinyurl.com/CommunitiesThatCareOct2023 ASAP (by 10/18 if you would like childcare or Spanish translation) and join us! 

We will share the 2023 Student Health Survey Data (with a focus on screen time and social media), vote on our three-year Community Action Plan (check it out in advance HERE and send corrections to kallen@frcog.org), and we will present our Mike Fritz Community Builder Award to the unstoppable Amy McMahan of Mesa Verde!

Lunch will be a combination of Mesa Verde and Chef Tina’s Haitian Food! 

While the meeting is old-school IN PERSON, masks are of course welcome and to-go boxes will be available for those who want to keep their masks on and bring food home.

WWLP Highlight Coalition’s Family Day Efforts

September 27, 2022

WWLP Channel 22, the largest news station in Western Mass, covered the Coalition’s efforts at promoting quality family time on the evening news on Family Day! Check out the coverage HERE.

PEER Ambassadors create videos to celebrate Family Day!

December 20, 2022

In celebration of Family Day, the Coalition’s PEER Ambassadors worked with GCTV to create a video Public Service Announcements – check out the version in English and the one in Spanish! The videos highlight the many benefits of family dinners and quality family time and encourages people to set up routines that include regular time for family connection. National Family Day – which celebrates simple, everyday things parents do to connect with their kids – is the Fourth Monday in September each year. This year Family Day is September 26th. Check out the videos and then celebrate with your Family!!

2022 Parent Guide Released!

September 22, 2022

The Parent and Family Engagement Workgroup’s 2022 Parent Guide was released on Wednesday, September 21. This 16-page insert is distributed through the Greenfield Recorder and the Athol Daily News, and includes valuable information for local parents on topics including substance use prevention, mental health promotion, health and nutrition, online safety, and more, with an emphasis on local resources. This year’s guide has a great cover article on support systems for transgender young people and their families. It also includes lots of photos and contributions from the Coalition’s PEER Community Ambassadors (PEER=Parent Engagement, Enrichment, and Resources). Take a look and share it widely!

Shaundell Diaz Receives Coalition Leadership Award

June 10, 2022

The Communities That Care Coalition was excited to present the 2022 Sara Cummings Coalition Leadership Award to Shaundell Diaz of the Three County Continuum of Care at Community Action Pioneer Valley. Shaundell is also one of the Co-Chairs of CTC’s Racial Justice Workgroup.

Born and raised in Springfield Mass, Shaundell is a Spiritual Latina, married mom of 4, with Lived Experience of Homelessness.  She is currently the Three County Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry Specialist with Community Action Pioneer Valley. Shaundell has worked in many roles over the last 14 years, including as a CNA in local Skilled Nursing facilities and a Skills Trainer and Options Counselor for Stavros.  Shaundell is a fierce advocate in anything and anyone that she can be a voice for.  She co-chairs the CTC Racial Justice Workgroup, is on the Rural Development Inc. Board of Directors, initiated the Hampden County Resource Network, facilitates the COC Equity and Inclusion Committee, and is a consultant for the “Re-Imaging Shelter” Project of the National Coalition for the Homeless.  Shaundell strongly believes that systemic change is needed to end homelessness, promote disability rights, dismantle systems of white dominant culture and oppression, and integrate Racial Justice and Equity into our Social, Economic, and School systems. 

Shaundell is brilliant, dedicated, warm, welcoming, kind, charismatic, and fun. She is a natural-born leader. The Coalition is delighted to present Shaundell with this award.

Regional Snapshot of How Franklin County and North Quabbin Schools are Advancing Racial Justice

September 14, 2022

On June 9, 2022, the Communities That Care Coalition released a report, How Franklin County and North Quabbin Schools are Advancing Racial Justice. Leigh-Ellen Figueroa presented a slideshow summary at the Coalition’s Biannual Meeting at Greenfield High School. The report is based on interviews with 41 key school personnel from all nine local public school districts, including administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses, and students. The report identifies strengths, challenges, needs, recommendations, action steps, and resources.

Please contact Leigh-Ellen (LFigueroa “at” frcog.org) for more information.

You can view and download the report below.

ARJIS Report Final September 2022Download

Recording Available of June 9, 2022 Coalition Meeting at Greenfield High School

June 18, 2024

The Coalition had it’s first back-to-in-person meeting on Thursday, June 9th, from 3:30-5:00 pm at the Greenfield High School Cafeteria.  We had approximately 35 people present in the room and 15 by zoom – with 10 more in the childcare room! And thanks to GCTV, you can check out the video recording that is being broadcast several times on GCTV. 

In case you missed it:

The Brick House will also be holding a follow-up discussion for families on Wednesday, June 15th from 3:30-5:00 with stipends, childcare, transportation, translation, and more.  Please contact Stacey slangknecht@brickhousecrc.org or 413-800-2496 for more information!

The coalition was proud to be able to offer childcare (thank you Greenfield High School), transportation (thank you Brick House and FRTA’s Access program), and Spanish interpretation (thank you Carolina) at this Full Coalition meeting!