Western Mass RLC - 187 High Street • Suite 303 • Holyoke MA • 866.641.2853

Guiding Council

nicole — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:47:45 -0400

The Guiding Council of Western Massachusetts (GCOW) serves as the advisory council to the Recovery Learning Program (RLC), a program that provides peer supports and seeks to build a strong peer network throughout Western Massachusetts. For those in the area who identify as being someone with lived experience in mental health and would like to have a voice as an advisor to the Western Mass Recovery Learning Program, please come join us for our next GCOW meeting!

Free Cell Phones!!

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:58:33 -0400

For people who are income eligible, you can receive a free cell phone and 80 free minutes per month by going to:

www.safelinkwireless.com

Please spread the word!

*This is a general community resource and not sponsored by the RLC!

Resources in Your Community

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:53:24 -0400

Career Initiatives

Career Initiatives, like the RLC, is a program of the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium. Career Initiatives has collaborated with the RLC on several projects, including the opening of our new Springfield Center.

Next Guiding Council Meeting!!!

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:47:50 -0400

The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 6th from 2pm to 4:30pm at the Holyoke RCC!!

Come and get your voice heard and give input on the future of the Western Mass RLC! All are welcome!

Special Movie Night: "Mad in America- Finding Sanity in a Crazy World"

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:42:45 -0400

Wednesday, April 22nd from 4 to 6 pm.

"Mad in America: Finding Sanity in a Crazy World" features 45 minutes of footage of Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America and Oryx Cohen, RLC Co-Director, from a February 2009 talk in front of around 100 Holy Cross Colelge Psychology Students. In the talk, Bob and Oryx discuss the voice of people with lived experience from a historical and personal perspective, up to the present time.

Springfield Site Update!!!

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:39:36 -0400

As you may have heard, the RLC will be opening a new center in Springfield at 340 Main St. We hope to be open 3 days per week with a particular focus on accessibility for Hispanic and young adult members of the community.

We have decided to name the center the "Bowen Resource Center" after the late Shelley Bowen of Springfield. It was her dream to open a center in Springfield.

Volunteer Training

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:36:59 -0400

Thursday, April 2nd, 10 am to 3:30 pm.
340 Main St., Springfield
(Training begins promptly at 10 am!)

Join Sera, Amanda, Oryx, Danielle, Briana, and others from the RLC and Career Initiatives at this volunteer training designed to give you an overview of the RLC and Career Initiatives programs and prepare you to take the next steps to becoming a volunteer. Gain confidence in talking about and representing the RLC and/or Career Initiatives, providing support in person and by phone, etc.

Call to sign up!

New WRAP Classes!!

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:33:32 -0400

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) is a peer-lead process that encourages each individual to use his or her own wisdom to create a personal plan for wellness. Level I classes help you get familiar with all the components of WRAP and get you started with creating your own WRAP!

Northampton: Join Maura and Karen for a new 10-session Level I WRAP on Thursdays beginning March 26th from 1:30-3:00 pm, Forbes Library, Watson Room, 20 West Street, Northampton. The last day to join is April 2nd.

read more

RLC Welcomes Deaf Community

sera — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:28:18 -0400

As a community, we do our best to be as accessible as possible to diverse communities. When we first opened our doors almost two years ago, we heard loud and clear that the deaf community had been denied access to supports in the past and that they wanted to connect with hearing communities.

We have come a log way in two years and we believe there are still many things we can do to break down barriers.
read more

Weather Cancellations: Guiding Council & Women's Group

sera — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:36:59 -0500

Due to worsening reports of snow and bad travelling conditions for Monday, March 2nd both the Guiding Council of Western Mass (GCOW) meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon in Holyoke and the Women's Self-Care Support Group scheduled for Monday evening in Greenfield WILL be cancelled.
GCOW will resume its normal meeting schedule on the first Monday of April, and the Women's group will resume its normal schedule next Monday, March 9th.
Thank you and stay safe!