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April 2023 Newsletter

Images from April 4th session.

Leaders in various roles at Open Sky and Seven Hills shared their professional experiences.

BIPOC Clinical and Leadership Pathway Program Launches

On March 23rd, the first cohort of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Clinical and Leadership Pathway Program launched in collaboration with Ascentria Care Alliance, Open Sky Community Services, and the Seven Hills Foundation. The initiative is part of the Central Massachusetts Human Services/Behavioral Health Career Pipeline Project.

This 8-week program is intended to address systemic causes of disparities in diversity at middle to upper levels of management at human service agencies and to help address the need to increase the supply of diverse clinical staff.

Participants are paired with mentors based on their career interests and attend professional development sessions. Working with Career Navigators, participants develop a career plan and define actionable steps to achieve their goals. Participants also receive wraparound supports to help with the costs of childcare, transportation, courses, certifications, and more.

Learn More About the Central Mass Career Pipeline

The Human Services Career Support Program, another Central Mass Career Pipeline Initiative, is now recruiting for the July 2023 session. This training program is intended for those entering the human services field for the first time and offers job placement upon successful completion. Refugees and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Interested participants can email Omo.Fagboore@openskycs.org.

View the flyer here.

Celebrating One Year of CARE Chats at Open Sky!

Open Sky's Committee Advancing Race Equity (CARE) celebrated one year of CARE Chats on April 5th. We are excited to continue offering this educational opportunity to the entire agency.

CARE Chats are a chance for staff to discuss various race equity topics such as microaggressions, growing up Black, unconscious bias, stereotypes, and more.

These dialogues are a chance for staff to learn from each other and share diverse perspectives, experiences, and resources.

CARE Chat Topics

Open Sky Community Services is committed to becoming anti-racist, celebrating diversity, and creating an environment that provides a safe, inclusive, and equitable space for all by fostering growth and healing. We will create, promote and uphold policies, practices, attitudes, and actions that create unbiased power and access to opportunities for our community.

Learn more about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) at Open Sky by clicking the link below!

Learn More About Race Equity at Open Sky

Successful Safe Homes Gala & People of Courage Awards

The Safe Homes Gala was held last Friday at the AC Hotel by Marriott Worcester and was very successful, raising over $150,000 for Open Sky’s Safe Homes program, a drop-in center for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Seven individuals and organizations were honored with People of Courage Awards for their contributions to the local LGBTQIA+ community.

The event was emceed by Jorge Sanchez from UMass Chan’s ForHealth Consulting, and Che Anderson from UMass Chan.

Many Open Sky staff were in attendance, and it was a fun evening for all!

Open Sky Events COMING SOON!

Click image to view flyer

Threads Pop Up with Love Your Labels

We are very excited to share this opportunity for LGBTQIA+ youth, young adults, and their allies ages 14-23! Safe Homes is partnering with Love Your Labels for a series of fashion and art workshops.

Coming up on Thursday, April 27th, Sam Donovan from Project Runway will lead Fashion Sketching & Collaging. This will be during the Safe Homes Worcester weekly drop-in from 5:30pm - 8:30pm.

The next workshop will be in June. Stay tuned for more details!

Family Fun Fishing Day - 

Saturday, May 6th (rain date 5/7)

Family Fun Fishing Day is returning to River Bend Farm (247 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA) on Saturday, May 6th (rain date: May 7th) from 10am to 1pm.

Please join us for a FREE fun-filled day of fishing, family, and friends! All ages and abilities! Prizes will be awarded! Rods, bait, and instruction are available with pre-registration.

This is a great opportunity for individuals served who love nature/outdoors! Enjoy Food and Ice-cream Trucks, Face Painting and more!

Click image to view flyer

Valley Friendship Tour -

Saturday, June 3rd

Registration is now open for the 38th Annual Valley Friendship Tour! All proceeds from the Tour fund essential programs at Open Sky.

Participants are invited to walk, jog or pedal through the Blackstone Valley on one of three non-competitive routes: a Golden Mile walk, a 5K walk/run and a 30 Mile cycling option. The choice of routes means that people of all ages and abilities, those with and without disabilities, are able to come together as equal participants.

All routes begin and end at the Alternatives Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, MA, where participants come together to enjoy lunch, live entertainment, raffles and family-friendly activities.

Anyone who registers by May 5th will get to spin our prize wheel at registration to win a mystery swag item and other exciting prizes.

Events in the Community

Supportive Resources Fair

Tuesday, April 25th, 10:30am-2pm

Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room & Banx Room

Meet community service providers and learn about resources in Worcester including:

housing supports
mental health services
substance use services
human services
fuel assistance
...and more.

The purpose of the event is for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability or in need of resources to speak with agency representatives regarding eligibility, services offered, and service enrollment on-site, if possible.

More information.

Inclusion Matters: How Community Organizations Become Disability Inclusive in their Practices - Workshop

Thursday, April 27th, 9:30am-2:30pm

Pakachoag Center, Auburn, MA

Join us in an exciting workshop provided by MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting and guest speaker Nate Johnson of North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy on Thursday, April 27th hosted by Pakachoag Center in Auburn, MA. This professional development opportunity is sponsored by the Arc of Massachusetts’s Pathways To Friendship Project, partnering with Open Sky and North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy. Participants will represent recreational, cultural, enrichment, faith-based, or any community organization/business seeking to create a culture of inclusion.

Learn more and register here.

Furniture Drive

April 28th & 29th, 9am-2pm

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 6 Institute Road, Worcester, MA

Extra Furniture? Moving Out? Drop off clean, gently used furniture in good working condition to be donated to those in need in the Worcester area! Limited pick up times available. To donate, complete this survey or call 508-410-8689.

View flyer here.

Uxbridge Community Resource Fair

Thursday, May 11th, 4pm-6pm

Taft Parking Lot, 16 Granite St, Uxbridge, MA

The Taft Early Learning Center PTO and Uxbridge Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) are having a community resource fair. Learn more about programs and resources for children and families. Open Sky will be present to share about our services. Enjoy a performance from the Toe Jam Puppet Band.

View flyer here.