Dear David,

I have often thought that the level of activity of our crisis communications practice, in relation to the other aspects of our business, is a good barometer for what is going on in the broader world. That has certainly been true of late. We supported roughly 10 new crisis management clients in the last few months.

While we make a policy of never talking about our crisis engagements, in a general sense they reflect some of the global, national and regional issues that one reads about every day. Companies and nonprofits challenged by labor relations matters due to a higher cost of living; sustained workforce shortages impacting the operations of health care providers; organizations seeking to create sound messaging in response to contentious issues.

Our boutique consultancy cannot turn disorder into order. We can, though, help organizations adapt to the vast challenges these issues present by ensuring that communications are ordered…and strategic, direct and powerful. We cannot hide from the current reality, and in some very small way, we can work to overcome it.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving.

When Middlesex Human Services Agency (MHSA) found out that it would need to relocate its daily soup kitchen and weekly food pantry after 20 years in the same Waltham location, the organization knew it could turn to the supportive community surrounding it to find a new home.

But how to the get the word out? Word of mouth can work wonders when people start talking and sharing. And emails to friends of the agency and posts on social media can create a digital grapevine. But why not also take the story to the media?

MHSA worked with us to develop a detailed press release, announcing its urgent need to find a new home for the Bristol Lodge program due to a planned renovation of the church building it had long used to serve hot takeout meals and distribute donated food. The story was picked up not only by local media but by major outlets including MassLive, Boston 25, and WBZ NewsRadio.

“We see an awful lot of families coming in, a lot of young moms trying to make ends meet,” MHSA CEO Bob Mills told Boston 25. “It is a tremendous resource so it’s very important that we find a new home to keep helping folks.”

The agency had a backup plan to make the food pantry mobile and find other food resources for individuals served by its soup kitchen. However, the media coverage helped raise awareness and it wasn’t long before another Waltham church stepped forward to host the program.

In a message to the MHSA community, Mills made note of the happy ending to this news story: “All services will continue without interruption.” 

The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts recently made news by advocating for legislation that would enable the development of statewide standards for private well water quality. Prior to testifying in a public hearing, the Worcester-based foundation hosted a legislative briefing at the State House where it released compelling poll results showing broad support among Massachusetts residents for strengthening drinking water protections for private wells.

The survey data was reported by multiple media outlets including GBH News, State House News Service and WWLP-TV. Foundation President and CEO Amie Shei discussed the issue on WBZ News Radio’s “What’s @ Risk?” program and the Boston Globe published an editorial in favor of the legislation, under the headline, “Everyone deserves safe drinking water.”

The Association for Developmental Disabilities Providers honored members for their important and impactful diversity, equity and inclusion work during its annual membership meeting in September. News about the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award recipients was published by media outlets across the state including the Fig City News in Newton, Holyoke Sun, Mass. Nonprofit News and the Worcester Business Journal.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, the nonprofit grantmaking and research organization, announced the 2023-24 class for the Massachusetts Institute for Community Health Leadership. The group of 18 health professionals will advance their leadership capabilities – under a new leader of the MICHL program, Sharon Bueno Washington.

The Providers’ Council announced a major leadership transition, with Chief Operating Officer Bill Yelenak taking over as president and CEO from Michael Weekes after his 25 years at the helm of the human services membership association. In its announcement, Board chair Sandra McCroom noted how Yelenak, a 16-year veteran of the Providers’ Council, is “fueled by his pure passion for the human services profession and the members of the association.”

The news was reported by the MetroWest Daily News, MassNonprofit News, Politico Massachusetts Playbook and State House News Service. We thank Michael for his service to the profession and congratulate Bill and wish him all the best!

Bridgewell, the human services provider based on the North Shore, called attention to its professionals who serve people with disabilities and other life challenges. The Salem News and The Sun (Lowell) newspapers published letters to the editor from CEO Chris Tuttle focused on Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (Sept. 10-16).

The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts called for “bold action” on the state’s housing crisis in the Boston Herald. In an opinion piece, HBRAMA’s leaders explained that accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are the “low-hanging fruit” of solutions that can be implemented statewide to create much-needed housing units as soon as possible.

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, which is working to end the opioid epidemic, expanded funding for its harm reduction training program that supports specialized internships for social workers. The Harm Reduction Training (HaRT) Scholars program is now operating at Westfield State University, in addition to the initial programs at Boston College, Bridgewater State University and Simmons University.

Skilled nursing facilities affiliated with Marquis Health Consulting Services continue to deliver high quality care, with several gaining heart-failure certification from the American Heart Association, including the 5-star rated River Terrace Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Central Mass.

A pair of Saturday morning news anchors from WBZ-TV enjoyed a special Charles River ride-along with SailBlind, a program offered by The Carroll Center for the Blind. Reporters Anna Meiler and Tiffany Chan hopped aboard a sailboat with SailBlind participants and volunteers for an up-close experience for their feature segment about the program that gives visually impaired people the opportunity to learn the sport of sailing.

The Carroll Center’s “Cane Quest” contest for students was also recently featured on WBZ NewsRadio.

The mobile health tech company UTMHealthcare has been busy rebuilding its web presence and rolling out a new version of its remote patient monitoring solution so that it can fully integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems used by hospitals and health systems to manage patient data.

Ball Consulting Group Sponsors New England Council's Annual Celebration

Ball Consulting Group was proud to sponsor the New England Council’s 2023 Annual Celebration on Oct. 26 in Boston’s Seaport.

The Council honored New England of the Year awardees Latoyia Edwards, anchor at news stations NBC10 Boston and NECN; Dr. Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program; Pamela D.A. Reeve, chair of the board of American Tower Corp; and the Honorable Martin J. Walsh, executive director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and former mayor of Boston.

Congratulations and thank you to all of these honorees.

PR BOUTIQUES INTERNATIONAL

Ball Consulting Group is a proud member of PR Boutiques International, a global association of independently-owned, boutique PR firms.