SHARE:  
Logo7.png

Join or Renew

COSA's Website

Send Your News

The 15th annual Ski United event will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2024 at Berkshire East in Charlemont, MA, which has been a supporter of Ski United since the start. In 2024 SKI UNITED raised $28,000 for our United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region in support of those most in need in our community! Be sure to get your tickets early and support this popular event.

Last week's favorite click

Amherst Survival Center has an open Human Resources Manager PT position open.

CLICK HERE to renew online with COSA.

As the new two-year legislative session has just begun in Massachusetts, the February COSA meeting will be focused on legislative advocacy. Many COSA member agencies have an interest in advocating for public policy that affects your programs and the people you serve. At this meeting, we'll be talking about effective strategies for engaging with legislators, answering your questions about how to get started, and sharing tips for strengthening your advocacy efforts. We are grateful to our guest speakers for joining us: 


Pamela Schwartz, Director

Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness

Laura Sylvester, Public Policy Manager

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts


We will learn from Pamela and Laura about their organization's top legislative priorities as well. We can all be powerful advocates by taking action to support legislation, budget items and policies that will impact social services in our region and statewide. Join us on February 11th to learn more!

Don't miss Tuesday, February 11th

Big Love Little Performances on Feb 13th


The electrifying 3rd Annual, 21+ Lip-sync & Karaoke fundraising event benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County. It will be held at the newly renovated Iron Horse Music Hall on Thursday, February 13th, A Valentine's Day Celebration with BIG LOVE.

Details and tickets

Funding for Behavioral Health students


The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that they have issued $12.4M through the Behavioral Health Trust Fund to 37 colleges and universities to financially support behavioral health students completing unpaid internships and field placements. These grants are part of the state’s efforts to grow a culturally and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce in Massachusetts. 

Read the full press release for details

Northampton Community Health Survey is still open


The Northampton Department of Health and Human Services has launched a comprehensive community survey as part of the Healthier Northampton initiative. Whether you're a teen, a parent, a senior, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to make your voice heard and help shape the future of health in our city. The survey will only take about 12 minutes to complete.

Share you thoughts

Podcasts highlight multi-sector housing approach


The Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have announced the release of a jointly produced five-part podcast series available starting next week on OSAH's podcast page! This special series highlights the multi-sector impacts of affordable housing.

Hear the podcasts on SoundCloud

MassHire Job Fair with nonprofits on Feb 6th


Looking for a new challenge in the Valley? MassHire is hosting a job fair on February 6th. Agencies looking for new talent will include BHN, Community Action, DIAL/SELF, EOHHS, Gandara Center, LifePath, ServiceNet, and UCP of Western Mass. Check it out!

Get all the details

What we are reading this week

WBUR: The case for - and against - Gov. Healey's proposal to tighten shelter rules

MassBudget: MassBudget reacts to the Governor's FY2026 Budget

Vox: How we measure poverty matters - and we can do better

AP News: MA Governor plans graduation requirement council after voters nix testing


Job Postings in the Valley

Amherst Survival Center

Campus Pantry Manager (FT, $61,500-$66,500/year plus differential and benefits)


Community Action Pioneer Valley

Executive Assistant (PT, Temporary)


Way Finders

Regional Property Manager

Events and Webinars

JANUARY

Jan 28: Behavioral Health Network Job Fair at Homewood Suites in Hadley

Jan 28: Trauma Informed Hampshire County Conference Planning Meeting

Jan 29: Urban Institute Using Demographic Data to Advance Health Equity

Jan 30: Children's Mental Health Campaign Lunch and Learn

Jan 30: Candid - Founding a Nonprofit as a Black Leader - Webinar

Jan 30: Amherst Survival Center Lunar New Year Community Lunch

Jan 31: Human Service Forum Legislative Reception on Zoom

 

UPCOMING

Feb 01: Laurel Street (Northampton) Housing Lottery is closing today

Feb 05: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Training

Feb 06: MassHire multi-agency Job Fair with local nonprofits

Feb 06: United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Ski United

Feb 06: The Truth School War and the Climate Crisis

Feb 07: Public Health Institute Webinar: Understanding the New Gun Safety Legislation

Feb 07: Northampton Neighbors Conversation with Smith College President on Zoom

Feb 07 & 08: Community Action presents Lights, Community, Action!

FEB 11: COSA meets on ZOOM at 10am - Legislative Advocacy

Feb 11: The Truth School Digital Privacy and Security: What you need to know

Feb 12: Brazelton Touchpoints National Substance Use Disorder Summit

Feb 13: Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Love Little Performances 3.0 at the Iron Horse

Feb 13: Trauma-Informed Hampshire County: Special Presentation by Longer Tables

Feb 15: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Training

Feb 24: Brazelton Touchpoints Parenting While Black series returns

Feb 26: MNN Public Policy Forum with Michael T. Caljouw, Commissioner of Insurance

Feb 27: Greenfield Community College Building Bridges & Belonging - A Celebration

Feb 27: The Truth School Creative Community Building

MAR 11: COSA meets on ZOOM at 10am

Mar 24-27: NLIHC Housing Policy Forum and Capitol Hill Day

Mar 29: CES Transforming Education for Social Justice

Mar 31: Funding Forward for LGBTQ Issues begins

Apr 04: Tapestry's Annual Fundraising Gala at The Log Cabin - save the date

May 11: Cancer Connection Mother's Day Half Marathon

May 17: Friends of Children "Fore the Children" Golf Event

JUN 06: Massachusetts Public Health Alliance Spring Awards Breakfast

Jun 12: Equity in the 413 - save the date

COSA Meeting Calendar
Want to join the COSA mailing list? Click here.