Central Mass Housing Alliance
Monday, April 8 from 3:00 - 5:00pm
6 Institute Road, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Homeless Prevention Programs/Services
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Recognizing the dignity of all, CMHA leads a collaborative response to homelessness that fosters long-term housing stability through prevention, quality services, education and advocacy.
CMHA formed in 1994 as the result of a merger of two longstanding housing organizations: The Housing Information Center began as a tenant's rights organizing group; the Worcester Committee on Homelessness and Housing formed in the early 1980's just as homelessness was becoming a visible issue on the streets of Worcester, and resulted in what is now a well-coordinated homeless shelter and service network.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Thursday, April 18 from 9:00 - 11:00 AM
91 June Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Homeless Prevention Programs/Services
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The
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (IHN) works in partnership with the faith community to provide shelter and assistance to families with children who are homeless. The program’s primary goals are to assist families in increasing their income and to help them secure permanent housing, while providing the critical support services necessary for them to succeed. IHN serves families who do not qualify for state-funded Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter, making it a critical program in the community safety net for families that are homeless.
Dress for Success Worcester
Monday, April 22 from 9:15 - 11:00am
Denholm Building, 484 Main Street, Suite 110, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Adult Job Training/Placement/Supports
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The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Salvation Army - Worcester Citadel
Tuesday, May 7 from 9:00 - 11:00am
640 Main Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Homeless Prevention Programs/Services
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The Salvation Army has been supporting those in need for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless (Sally's Place) and opportunities for underprivileged children.
Latin American Health Alliance
Thursday, May 23 from 9:00 - 11:00am
27 Vernon Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Substance Abuse/Recovery Programs/Services
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The mission of LAHA is to identify and address the significant health disparities that exist for Latinos/Latinas living in the Worcester area. LAHA advocates for the Latino Community by identifying and addressing service gaps. There are two facets of the LAHA program that make it unique: First housing, LAHA runs the Hector Reyes House; and second, job training, through Café Reyes.
Creative Hub & Main IDEA
Tuesday, May 28 from 4:30 - 6:30pm
653 Main Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Creative Arts Education/Youth Enrichment
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CREATIVE HUB WORCESTER, founded in 2016, is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible opportunities in the Arts for all Worcester area community members, with a focus on at-risk and under served youth. Creative Hub began offering afterschool and summer programs in 2018.
MAIN IDEA was founded in 2011 when a group of artists, musicians, and dancers came together to form an arts community for youth in the Main South neighborhood. Main IDEA has expanded to multiple programs year-round for youth and teens ages 6-12, empowering over 300 youth every year.
Net of Compassion
Saturday, June 1 from 11:30am - 1:30pm
674 Main Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Hunger Programs, Homeless Prevention Programs/Services
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Every Saturday since 2010, Net of Compassion has served over 300 hot meals right on the street in Main South. Through its street outreach model, volunteers help form a safety net of support for those in need, providing peer support, detox placement and many other services. Additionally, Net of Compassion runs Hotel Grace, an emergency winter shelter.
Preservation Worcester
Tuesday, June 4 from 8:15 - 10:15am
Levi Lincoln Chamber, City Hall, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Historic Preservation
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Preservation Worcester was founded in 1969 by interested local citizens who were increasingly concerned about the future of Worcester’s architectural heritage in reaction to urban renewal projects. Over the years, Preservation Worcester has been instrumental is safeguarding important structures, and provides a broad range of educational programs to educate community members of all ages about the story of Worcester.
Mentorship Program Roundtable
Wednesday, June 12 from 5:00 – 7:00pm
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, 370 Main Street, Suite 650, Worcester
Sign up to attend!
Youth mentorship programs have proven themselves time and time again to be tremendously meaningful and impactful for both the young people and the adults who take part. At the Foundation, we recognize the value of this work, which is why we annually fund a range of mentorship programs, and support organizations that include mentorship as part of their program/service mix.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL?
Providers face a range of challenges, including: recruiting, training, and supporting both mentors and mentees; the need for thoughtful program/curriculum development and evaluation; the demands of accountability and supervision that come with youth work; and more.
Come learn from the experts what it takes, and why funder support is so vital.
Participating organizations (subject to availability): Mass Mentoring, African Community Education, Best Buddies MA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central MA, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Fathering Fathers, Friendly House, Girls Inc. of Worcester, LUK, Quinsigamond Community College, YWCA of Central MA.
Light refreshments will be served.
EcoTarium
Wednesday, July 10 from 9:30 - 11:30 AM
222 Harrington Way, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Science/Children's Museums; Early Childhood/Youth Family Supports
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The EcoTarium's mission is "to inspire a passion for science and nature." Our vision is "to be a national leader in engaging communities with science and nature." A science and nature museum and the nation’s second oldest natural history society, the EcoTarium boasts a 40-acre campus and a three-story museum, changing interactive exhibits, historic collections, native wildlife, digital planetarium, and more.
In addition to meeting with organizational leaders, visitors will receive a guided tour, observe a preschool program, and maybe even get to ride the train.
Worcester Interfaith
Wednesday, July 24 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM
TBD, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Community Organizing, Youth Employment
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Founded in 1993, Worcester Interfaith is a broad-based community organization, comprised of 26 member institutions that reflect the religious, racial, ethnic and geographic diversity of the city. Worcester Interfaith combines faith values with community organizing techniques to mobilize large numbers of people to work on issues of common concern that disproportionately affect low-income, minority and newcomer residents of the City.
YouthConnect
Wednesday, July 24 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM
TBD, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Youth Development, Summer/Supplemental Programs
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YouthConnect Worcester provides high quality, year round, neighborhood-based youth development opportunities for recreation, education and culture to isolated and underserved Worcester youth age 5-24 (focusing on the middle school years) who reside in Worcester’s most at risk neighborhoods.
The program started (and continues) with summer programming, but through the years has expanded its scope and reach through the establishment of a seamless, inclusive youth-serving consortium, modeled on best practice, utilizing a common system of measures to drive efficient use of resources for impact, and built on a framework that delivers positive outcomes in the areas of health, education, and family stability. Partners include: Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Friendly House, Girls Inc. of Worcester, YMCA of Central MA, Y.O.U. Inc., YWCA of Central MA, and Worcester Youth Center. The program runs under the auspices of the United Way of Central MA.
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Thursday, August 1 from 9:00 - 11:00 AM
65 Tainter Street, Worcester
AREA(s) OF INTEREST: Youth Development, Supplemental/Afterschool/Yearround Programs
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The Mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester is to help youth, especially those with the highest need, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and community leaders, through caring professional staff who forge relationships with our youth members and influence their ability to succeed in life. The Club believes in: hope and opportunity for all young people; the importance of fun in the lives of children and their right to a happy, joyful childhood; the transformational power of ongoing relationships with caring adult.