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April 2024 

Agency Newsletter
The entrance of the previous DEAF, Inc. headquarters on 215 Brighton Ave with the organization’s former logo displayed above the door.

Our old office's entrance in Allston, MA!
A transparent image of DEAF, Inc.'s current office building at 50 Hunt Street

Our new 50 Hunt Street office!

DEAF, Inc.’s office building since the organization’s establishment has been 215 Brighton Avenue in Allston, MA. The building was originally owned by Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission but they found the building was not wheelchair accessible.


The lease was offered to DEAF, Inc. and it has been with the organization since October 3, 1977. DEAF, Inc. moved to 50 Hunt Street, Watertown MA in 2023 to a wheelchair accessible building and a space suited for its services today!


Thank you, 215 Brighton Avenue, for all the memories!

AGENCY NEWS

JOB OPENINGS
The image is a thumbnail for a video, likely related to a job opportunity or a recruitment campaign. It features Nayo in a casual blue button-up shirt. She is smiling and making a thumbs-up gesture with both hands, signaling positivity or success. The background is a simple, textured blue with text that reads “WE ARE HIRING ADVOCATES” in bold, capitalized yellow letters, indicating a call for applications or interest in advocacy-related positions. The overlay of a large red play button suggests that clicking on the image will play a video, possibly containing more detailed information about the hiring process or the roles to be filled.

Advocate

Community Education Manager *NEW*

Health Advocate

Health Care Access Project (HCAP) Specialist *NEW*

DBCAN Provider

Local American Sign Language (ASL) Instructors

DEAF, Inc. Receives $2 Million Gift

From the Yield Giving Open Call
Video thumbnail with a blue gradient background. PRESS RELEASE and DEAF, Inc. logo both in the center. A red play button is in the middle.
A rectangular graphic with an off-white background and thin green lined flairs on the top and bottom corners. “LEVER FOR CHANGE” logo at the top right. “Yield GIVING OPEN CALL” logo in the center with a thin dark blue divider line and “AWARDEE” in green next to it.

DEAF, Inc. has been awarded a $2 million gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. Selected from over 6,353 applications, this generous award will allow us to focus on unmet needs in our Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened communities, including:

  • Increasing the capacity to provide services and engage in the community by providing self-advocacy training and improving access to information across underserved language and educational backgrounds

  • Providing awareness of the Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened communities, which are historically excluded and overlooked due to unintentional access barriers

  • Reducing misconceptions by fostering a more inclusive society through resources, training, classes, and community events

For more information, read our press release or learn about Yield Giving and their impactful work! Handwaves!

Goal Getters 5K Walk/Run Fundraiser: 

POSTPONED TO JUNE 1, 2024
5k Walk/Run Postponement Announcement

Click above to view the ASL video

EVENTS
Image description: A dark blue flyer with the DEAF, Inc. logo at the top. The following information is found, “The New Bedford staff invite you to our MONTHLY SENIOR SOCIAL For Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened older adults & seniors Light refreshments & drinks will be provided Hosted on every second Tuesday of the month Tuesday, April 9, 2024 10 AM - 12 PM EST New Bedford Office 888 Purchase St, Bay 1 New Bedford MA, 02740 Garage & Street Parking available for $2/hr For more info, or to request accommodations, contact hello@deafincma.org or 617-505-4823.” At the center of the flyer is a group of senior citizens playing card games around refreshments.

Click above to view the flyer

New Bedford Office's Monthly Senior Social

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 10 am - 12 pm EST

888 Purchase St, Bay 1 New Bradford, MA 02740


Join us for our monthly Senior Social hosted by the New Bedford staff!


For more information or to request accommodations, contact hello@deafincma.org or 617-505-4823
Image Description: Forrest green background flyer with a brown strip layer at the bottom titled, How to Grow Your Own Food & Herbs.” With the following information below, “Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm EST Zoom ID: 918 8838 8357 | Password: brainfood www.bit.ly/DEAFIncWellnessWorkshops ASL/English Interpreters are provided.” In the center of the flyer is the image of a woman outdoors with black hair in green overalls, she is harvesting different vegetables and putting them in her basket. Below that is a photograph of Angela Panks and the following words, “Angela Panks, a third-generation farmer from southern Oregon, born deaf, promotes regenerative living. She co-owns Home Grown ORX, aiding deaf patients seeking holistic remedies. As CEO of 'Deafining", she teaches regenerative farming and sign language, bridging the education gap for deaf communities worldwide. Angela is a passionate activist and respected leader in the regenerative movement.” At the very top of the flyer is the dark blue wellness workshop strip, to the left of the words is the DEAF, Inc. logo and to the right is the image of a multicultural group exercising.

Click above to view the flyer

How to Grow Your Own Food & Herbs

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm EST


Ready to turn your thumb green? On April 23, 2024, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm EST, join us for a transformative session with Angela Panks on how to cultivate your own garden of food and herbs! 


Whether you are a novice or a seasoned gardener, this Zoom workshop is ripe for learning. 


Click the link to join: www.bit.ly/DEAFIncWellnessWorkshops or enter zoom information below:


Zoom ID: 918 8838 8357

Password: brainfood 


Your journey to sustainable living starts here!

a flyer for a "REGIONAL LISTENING SESSION" hosted by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH). The session is an in-person regional listening event where feedback shapes the future of MCDHH's services and programs. It emphasizes that participant input matters and is part of positive change. The details of the session are as follows: Date: Tuesday, May 7 Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Region: Southeast Region Location: Fall River Public Library, 104 N Main St, Fall River, MA 02720 RSVP is required one week before the event to prepare for an inclusive and meaningful discussion. Accommodations like ASL interpreters and CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) will be provided. Participants who need additional accommodations, such as tactile interpreters, are advised to contact MCDHH at least two weeks in advance. Additionally, there is a QR code that likely links to more information or a registration page, indicated by the "Register here" text next to it. There are icons for an ASL video and closed captioning, suggesting that the event will be accessible for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The contact information provided is an email address: heather.l.daley@mass.gov and a phone number: (857) 491-0750.

Click above to view the flyer

MCDHH Regional Listening Session: South East Region

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm EST

Fall River Public Library, 104 N Main St, Fall River, MA 02720


The session is an in-person regional listening event where feedback shapes the future of MCDHH's services and programs. Your input matters and is part of positive change.


RSVP Required: Please RSVP one week before the event.


ASL Interpreters and CART will be present. If you will be attending, and require any other form of accommodation, such as tactile interpreters, please contact MCDHH at least two weeks in advance.


Watch the ASL vlog

ASL Program

ARE YOU REGISTERED?

The Deadline for ASL Class Registration Approaches!

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 12:00 pm EST

Available Courses to Enroll

Enroll Now!

https://www.deafincma.org/services/asl/classes

DeafBlind Community Access Network (DBCAN)

DBCAN EVENTS
Image Description: Black and white BASH HOUR flyer with white DEAF, Inc. logo at the top. WHERE? Sunnyside Bowladrome Inc, 176 Water St. Danvers, MA 01923. WHEN? Saturday, April 20, 2024, 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM. Come join us playing small ball (candlepin) bowling! Touch you there!

BASH HOUR


WHERE?
Sunnyside Bowladrome Inc

176 Water St.

Danvers, MA 01923


WHEN?
Saturday April 20, 2024

10:30 AM - 3:00 PM


Come join us playing small ball (candlepin) bowling!


Touch you there!

 
Image Description: Black and white BASH HOUR flyer with white DEAF, Inc. logo at the top. WHERE? Strawberry Picking at Wards Berry Farm. 614 S. Main St. Sharon, MA 02067. WHEN? Saturday, May 4, 2024. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Lets hope for a beautiful day to go out and walk around the strawberry farm! Please make sure you bring enough cash/money to do strawberry picking and buy whatever you would like there!

BASH HOUR


WHERE?

Strawberry Picking at Wards Berry Farm

614 S. Main St.

Sharon, MA 02067


WHEN?
Saturday May 4, 2024

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM


Let's hope a beautiful day to go out and walk around the strawberry farm!


Please make sure you bring enough cash/money to do strawberry picking and buy whatever you like!
Image Description: Black and white BASH HOUR flyer with white DEAF, Inc. logo at the top. WHERE? 23rd Annual DBCAN BBQ. TBD. WHEN? TBD. Location, Date, and Time will be announced when we confirm the location. Look out for the next NL for more details!!

BASH HOUR


WHERE?

23rd Annual DBCAN BBQ

TBD


WHEN?
TBD


Location, Date, and Time will be be announced when we confirm the location.


Look out for the next NL for more details!!

Support Groups for DeafBlind and Providers

DBSG
May 1, 2024 TBA 


We will be providing 2 time slots of DBSG:


12:00 PM- 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM! 


12:00 PM – 2:00 PM will be held in different regions each month. Please look at which region each month will be held at. 


5:00 PM- 7:00 PM will be held virtually through ZOOM. We will provide interpreters!! Please book for a Communication Facilitator if you need one for ZOOM.


Touch you there!

Advocacy, Resources, and Education Services

Food Label 101: A Deep Dive Into Food Ingredients Wellness Workshop with Rochella Jones of Blue Organic Kitchen
Rochella Jones presenting using a PowerPoint slide titled, “Food Label 101: A DEEP DIVE INTO FOOD INGREDIENTS.” To the left of the slide is the following information, “BLUE ORGANIC KITCHEN PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTS THAT WORK; HOLISTIC CONSULTING SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOU; AND RECIPES MADE WITH LOVE. EST: 2014.”
A slide with an image of a nutrition facts label on the right, the slide says, “UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION FACTS LABEL Per Serving (2/3 cup) Calories amount per serving What is daily value? Although, Holistic approach experts like to know what is food in it and where they come from sourcedz; read food ingredient list and/or call food companies.”
A slide with following information, “Good food makes your mind work better. Sleeping gets easier when you eat right. Eating healthy can reduce your body's pains. Healthy eating leads to a better life. The right food helps you stay strong and happy. ROCHELLA JONES, CHNC” The slide is also titled, “FOOD FOR THOUGHT” with Rochella Jones signing below it.

Thank you to everyone who attended our DEAF Inc. workshop, Food Label 101, on March 19, 2024 with Rochella Jones!


We learned a lot of fascinating facts, such as that 87% of the deaf community doesn’t understand food labels.


We’re thrilled to be able to share more knowledge with our workshop with @blueorganickitchen


Check out these food shopping tips:

  • Never go grocery shopping hungry

  • Buy food with one ingredient

  • Avoid shopping in middle aisles

  • Meal plan weekly


We enjoyed this workshop and hope you all did, too!


This event was made possible by Massachusetts COVID-19 Community Grants.

March 30, 2024: Peabody’s Health & Wellness Expo at Northshore Mall
Image Description: Todd and Nayo at Peabody’s Health & Wellness Expo at Northshore Mall on March 30th, the two are standing at the table with the DEAF, Inc. logo draped over it. The table also has flyers, T-shirts, and items introducing others to DEAF, Inc. You can see people also in the background of them advertising other organizations.
DEAF, Inc. Contributions/Donation Appeal Video

Click to watch the video

SUPPORT DEAF, Inc.

Take this opportunity to support DEAF, Inc. with a voluntary donation!


Any amount helps us! Proceeds will be used to expand our services and advocacy for our community.


Your donation will be confidential. You will not be denied services if you choose not to donate.
Donate

STAY UP TO DATE WITH DEAF, Inc.

Follow us on our social media and website.

www.deafincma.org
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Any Questions? Feedback?

Please contact the front desk at
617-505-4823 or frontdesk@deafincma.org.

DEAF, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) agency funded through government contracts, private funding and donations. This newsletter developed with support from: MA Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, City of Boston’s Office of Jobs and Community Development Block Grant, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, City of Boston’s Age Strong Commission, Cummings Foundation Grant and United Way Massachusetts Bay/Merrimack Valley (in the Greater Attleboro/Taunton Region), Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Coastline Elder Services, Inc., Federal Administration for Community Living, HRiA - MA COVID-19 Community Grants, USCIS Innovations in Citizenship Grant, Massachusetts Service Alliance, HealthCare for All, MassHealth, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission – Title VII Part B, Liberty Mutual, Sanofi Genzyme, Boston Evening Clinic, Bushrod Campbell, Association for the Relief of Aged Women of New Bedford