January 2024 Newsletter

You're Invited to Celebrate Black History Month in February

at Open Sky's CARE Chat!

Join us for a presentation from Robert T. Jones on Wednesday, February, 7th at noon!

CARE Chat is Open Sky's monthly lunch and learn to discuss race equity topics led by the Committee Advancing Race Equity (CARE). In February, CARE Chat will be open to everyone in the community to celebrate Black History Month together.

New Year's Eve Fun!

Peer staff, Rachel Harvey, Heather Mattison, and Colin Sullivan, hosted drop-in hours in the Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS) office in Leominster for people looking for some safe fun on New Year's Eve. 

Individuals had plenty of activities, games, and crafts to choose from. They even took some fun New Year's Eve photos to kick off 2024!

Because of supporters like you, programs like ACCS can expand opportunities beyond regular programming, and other elements of whole person health.

Save the Date - Safe Homes Gala Returns on April 12th

Dust off your dancing shoes and practice your moves for a night of inspiration and community!

Join us at the Safe Homes Gala and People of Courage Awards on April 12, 2024 at the AC Hotel by Marriott Worcester.

Proceeds from the event will support LGBTQIA+ youth in Central Massachusetts through the Safe Homes program. We will also recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in the LGBTQIA+ community. Stay until the end for a dance party with DJ Joslyn Fox!

Tickets will be on sale in mid-February.

Removing Barriers to Career Advancement in Human Services

Thirteen employees from Open Sky and eight employees from Seven Hills are starting their first semester at Framingham State University to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors!

With support from Accelerate the Future, Commonwealth Corps, Mass Hire, Open Sky, and Seven Hills Foundation, we are helping employees remove barriers to advance in their careers through a Master's program in Counseling Psychology at no cost.

To better serve our community, this pathway program will help fill the need for more diverse clinicians in human services by uplifting BIPOC and underrepresented groups. Participants have committed to working at Open Sky for at least 3 years upon graduation.

This is a combined cohort program with Seven Hills Foundation and part of the Central Mass Behavioral Health/Human Services Career Pipeline Collaborative. Classes are taught at Seven Hills' Hope Ave office, and a second cohort will start in Fall 2024.

Congratulations and GO RAMS!

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15th

Staff and individuals joined EPIC for a Day of Services at the Pakachoag Center in Auburn to decorate lunch bags for Meal On Wheels, assemble activity books for children and resource books for families, and make no-sew scarves for those in need.

The 39th Annual Community Breakfast honoring The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held at Assumption College on Monday, with more than 600 people in attendance. Representing Open Sky were Ken Bates, Stephen Osei-Bonsu, Maria Caicedo, Liz Olivera-Mustard, Ryan Johnston, Moses Osagie, Lorie Martiska, Jennifer Galbraith, Lisa Jeronymo, Kelley Gamble, Jonida Duque, and James Castell. The messages from speakers such as Congressman James McGovern, keynote speaker Dr. Vincent Rougeau, president of the College of Holy Cross, and emcee Dr. Debora Jackson, Dean of the Business School at WPI were inspiring.  

What's Going On at Open Sky?