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February 2022 MASS Flash
📢MASS Conference Schedule for Feb. 19, Feb. 22, and Feb. 24

🎟️ Join us and make "Your Ideas Count" at the 23rd Annual MASS Self-Advocacy Conference! Everyone that attends will be entered into raffles to win exciting prizes through the conference!

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Kamisha's Corner
Self-Advocate Story of the Month
The 44th Annual Legislative Reception

United by Crisis, Uniting for Change:
Our Services and Supports Can't Wait.

Wednesday, March 9 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
This event will be held virtually.
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities
Council Legislator of the Year:
Senator Cindy Friedman
The Arc of Massachusetts
Legislator of the Year:
Representative Michael J. Finn
Please join us for a VIRTUAL joint legislative reception of The Arc of Massachusetts (The Arc) and the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 10:00 -11:00 AM. The theme for our 44th annual Legislative Reception is â€śUnited by Crisis, Uniting for Change: Our Services and Supports Can't Wait.”
 
We anticipate several hundred citizens, family members, and staff in the field will attend virtually, as well as numerous elected and appointed officials. American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided, as well as CART and Spanish interpretation. Accommodations must be requested by February 22. We hope you will join us in honoring our community’s champions!
 
#MALegRec22 #ChangeCantWaitMA
Self-Advocacy Impact Lab
Introducing the Self-Advocacy Impact Lab!
Massachusetts West Region Self Advocacy in partnership with Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong is excited to introduce Self-Advocacy Impact Lab, a hands-on intensive experience in which self-advocates can learn and experience the power of social change communication by creating change from the ground up. Participants will have a chance to engage in a discussion and start learning some of the unique strategies and tools that this group will use to create meaningful campaigns for change. Bring your ideas and be ready to learn!

Meetings will be on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

Wednesday, March 23 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm:
Project Updates
OVW Grant Update
Let’s give a shout out to Mass Rights For Change, our OVW project! We received an award for 2021 from the VERA Institute for Justice! Our award came under the "Authentic Voice Award". When they presented the award, they said that our team has from the beginning, worked with the motto “Nothing About Us Without Us”. They said self-advocates are not only at the table, but are part of everything we do and have a voice just like everyone else, always. They said our team has created amazing products and especially the Survivor Support Packet and MASS' mandatory reporting policy, as an example of working together to help survivors with I/DD. Some of the other awards were Most Patience, Keep Calm and Carry On Award, and also Innovation. As they said, many could have gone into multiple award groups, and we could have been in every one of these!!

Thanks to the Mass Rights for Change Team for all of their hard work. You can learn more about the Survivor Support Packet at the upcoming MASS Conference!
Join the DPH Advisory Group!
Would you like to help the state understand the experiences of people with disabilities? The state Health and Disability Program needs your help to make sure they're doing their work right. Join the Health and Disability Partnership and come to our meetings! You can share your thoughts so the state gets it right. For more information, please email Kimberley at Kimberley.Warsett@mass.gov.
CENTRAL REGION
Regional Coordinator: Sue Moriarty
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link.
Regional Meeting Dates for Central:

Tuesday, February 8th from 3:30pm - 5:30pm:

Tuesday, February 22 from 3:30pm - 5:30pm:
NORTHEAST REGION
Lead Regional Coordinator: Bridget Crowley
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link.
Regional Meeting Date for Northeast:

Wednesday, February 9th from 4:00pm - 5:30pm:

Wednesday, February 23rd 4:00pm - 5:30pm:
METRO REGION
Regional Coordinator: Valerie Horn
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link.
Regional Meeting Date for Metro:

Thursday, February 17th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm:
SOUTHEAST REGION
Regional Coordinator: Sarah Binney
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link.
Regional Meeting Date for Southeast:

Thursday, February 17th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm:
Rainbow Group
Rainbow Coordinator: Pauline Bosma
Rainbow Support: Oscar Hughes
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Click the link next to the date you want to attend and it will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link.
Rainbow Group will now meet twice a month! Here are our upcoming meetings.

Wednesday, February 9th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm:

Tuesday, February 22nd from 5:30pm - 7:30pm:
We Want To Hear From You!
Is there anything exciting happening in your life that you are just itching to talk about? Want to share it with the world?!

If so, great because I, Kamisha Heriveaux, am always on the look out for interesting events, your hobbies, and topics that interest you - so please don't hesitate to reach out!

I can't wait to hear from all of YOU! Have a great day and keep on reading!
~ Kamisha
MASS Advocates Standing Strong |P.O. Box 560100
Medford, MA 02156| WeAreMASS.org