Demystifying the MA Legislature

Did you miss the amazing presentation last week by Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Mindy Domb? There were actionable tips and ideas about how to enhance your relationships with your local representatives and advocate effectively for issues that matter to you. A huge THANK YOU to Rep. Domb and Sen. Comerford. If you couldn't be there, they have generously shared their slide deck.

Check out the slide deck here.

Last week's favorite click? New ED at Big Brothers Big Sisters

Be heard! ACT TODAY with Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness: Let’s join our voices with Homes for All Massachusetts and many other partners for this statewide action. Join the Tweetstorm! Contact the Joint Committee on Housing. Share a story from your organization. FULL INFO HERE

2021 PV Habitat Gingerbread-Build-save-the-date-1.png

While folks love to gather in person for this fun event supporting Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, last year’s inaugural Gingerbread Build AT HOME raised more funds than any previous Gingerbread Build! Everyone enjoyed the novelty of having a week to build their masterpieces at their own pace. This year once again, contestants will have a week (Saturday December 4th to Saturday December 11th) to construct their dream confectionary dwellings from the comfort of their homes or offices, places of faith or afterschool programs. INFO HERE

Re-Entry Manufacturing

Coming this Spring 2022

Community Action Pioneer Valley is actively recruiting to set up participants. Initial connections are key to prosperity in the program and provide the best success rate for candidates entering employment. Contact Nafeeza Castro for eligibility, program overview meeting, and placement on the list for spring.

Giving Tuesday November 30th

Resources to help you get ready:

Giving Tuesday website has resources.

Get cool templates for social media from Giving Tuesday's Canva page here.

TechSoup: How to prepare your website for the giving season.

Classy.org Giving Tuesday Toolkit

Causevox 7 Tips for Social Media

Nonprofit Tech for Good 13 Questions Answered about Giving Tuesday

Monte's March on Nov 22 & 23

Each November, WRSI – 93.9 The River’s Monte Belmonte leads his annual Monte’s March against hunger through the Pioneer Valley. Pushing an empty shopping cart from Springfield to Greenfield, Monte is joined by Congressman Jim McGovern, Food Bank ED Andrew Morehouse, and supporters as they raise funds to help provide healthy meals to neighbors at risk of hunger.

REGISTRATION and INFO HERE

Want to join the COSA mailing list? Click here.

MassLive: Northampton hires director for department intended to shift mental health and drug abuse calls away from police

Florence Bank is donating $100,000 to local non-profit organizations in their Annual Customers' Choice Community Grants Program, and you decide who gets the money!

National Council of Nonprofits: report on the scope and impact of nonprofit organization job vacancies in the US. Over a quarter of nonprofits have 20-29% of their jobs posted.

Excellent update from MassBudget: Senior Analyst Colin Jones recently gave an update on the state of K-12 education and federal COVID relief with Massachusetts Jobs with Justice and the Schott Foundation for Public Education. Watch the full recap and learn more in our latest report.

Public Health Western Mass teams with Springfield Museums, bringing accessible pop-up vaccine clinics for kids to the region. UPCOMING NOV and DEC DATES