The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) creates conditions that support healing and wellness at both the individual and community level.

 Our community is made up of many individuals including those who:  

• Have experienced or are experiencing extreme emotional states, mental health diagnoses
• Are survivors of trauma
• Are struggling with addictions and/or substance abuse
• Have a desire to find healing and wellness for any part of their lives or being
• Are allies or who have genuine interest in learning and/or adding to the community

We approach our mission by:

• Providing trauma-sensitive peer supports
• Fostering mutuality and connection building
• Offering opportunities for learning and teaching
• Developing a regional network

What we offer:

The Western Mass RLC offers a number of different supports to individuals, providers and the general community.  These include:

• Peer-to-peer support by phone and in person
• Four peer-run centers (Holyoke, Springfield, Pittsfield, Greenfield) that provide access to computers, a lending library, resource information and a place for community to grow
• Wellness supports like yoga, acupuncture and reiki and including the new Bowen Community Wellness Center in Springfield
• Access to local arts, including art shows, workshops and writing groups
• Social opportunities like movie nights, beach trips and beyond
• Consultation and training for providers and schools on topics such as person-centered approaches, hiring peer workers, recovery principles and language
• Learning opportunities on many relevant topics including wellness planning, advocacy, SSI/SSDI benefits and more
• Networking opportunities for peer workers and individuals interested in a variety of issues
• Coordination of events open to the communty including film screenings and presentations with nationally and internationally recognized speakers
• Support groups like Hearing Voices, Alternatives to Suicide, Women's Self-Care and peer facilitator groups in the community and in local hospitals
• Coordination of new projects impacting the recovery community including warmline and peer respite development
• A wide variety of volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved

Our History: 

The vision of the RLC was built upon the work of years upon years of advocacy by individuals both locally and nationally who have lived experience with mental health diagnoses, extreme states and/or trauma.  Together, they argued that peer supports should be valued monetarily and funded throughout the state.  In 2006, the Transformation Center supported individuals with lived experience in Western Mass to form the Guiding Council of Western Mass (GCOW).  GCOW was made up of individuals with lived experience who worked and/or lived in Western Mass and who were interestered in shaping the vision of the RLC's, then just a possible project the state was considering funding.  GCOW members worked together for over a year to develop a mission statement, core values and a structure for the RLC in their region.  When the Department of Mental Health released the RLC grant in December of 2007, GCOW took leadership in developing a grant proposal and voted to partner with the Western Mass Training Consortium as their partner agency. 

GCOW and The Consortium were awarded the RLC grant in May of 2007.  They opened the doors of their first Resource Connection Center (RCC) in Holyoke in July of that same year, followed by Pittsfield (October, 2007), Greenfield (January, 2008), and Springfield (May, 2009).  Development of physical spaces has continued with a move by the Pittsfield RCC from donated space in a church to independent space in September of 2009, the opening of the Greenfield Recovery Annex space in July of 2010 and the addition of a Community Wellness Center in Springfield in November 2010.  However, focus on community supports and development has also continued to grow outside of the centers, with groups, workshops and events regularly held in a variety of settings and individuals from the RLC community being supported to build connections throughout the region.

The Western Mass RLC is now one of six Reecovery Learning Communities funded throughout the state of Massachusetts.  Visit the Transformation Center's website to learn more about other RLCs.

Our Funders:

The RLC is largely funded through a grant from the Department of Mental Health.  However, the RLC continues to seek additional funding opportunities and has also received funds through arts councils, community development block grants, individual donations and local foundations.  All funders and donors play a crucial role in supporting the RLC to reach as many people as possible, to offer stipends to individuals in recovery who take on valued roles within the RLC, and to offer a wide variety of free offerings to individuals who would otherwise not have acccess to wellness activities like acupuncture, reiki, yoga, computer classes and more. 

Visit our donations page to make a contribution!

Our Umbrella Organization:

The RLC has found its home with the Western Mass Training Consortium.  The Consortium creates conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation.  They have over 20 years of experience in supporting community development, peer work and peer participatory processes.

Other peer-to-peer communities supported by The Consortium include:

*  The Women's Resource Centers of Western Mass

*  The RECOVER Project

*  The Support Network for Families of Western Mass

*  The Self-Advocacy Project

Visit The Consortium's website to learn more about their offerings!