Family Services for Western Massachusetts
By: Pam Preston and Elise Weller, Program Directors, Child Care We are celebrating ten years with Katie in our Child Care Program. Katie is committed to providing the children and our staff with a nutritionally balanced and creative menu. Katie’s love of cooking shines through on the faces and in the bellies of our kids. …
Continue reading "Staff Spotlight, September 2020: Katie Haviland"
18 Degrees continues advancing social justice as we wrapped up our first year of running a leadership development program for young women of color in greater Springfield called the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC). The program, funded in partnership with The Women’s Fund of Western MA, and developed through the national Young Women’s Initiative, consisted …
Continue reading "Young Women’s Advisory Council Explores Solutions to Social Justice Issues"
There have been many conversations about school over the past months. In-person, online, hybrid, home-schooling. Truly, how are families to decide what will work best for them? How do you choose between your child’s education and work that provides your housing, food, and healthcare? At 18 Degrees, we are looking at ways that our staff can support and advocate for families …
Continue reading "18 Degrees is Ready to Help Navigate Remote Learning"
By: Cassandra Pugh, Program Director, Family Resource Center Marisa Papallo started her journey with 18 Degrees on December 5, 2016, and what a journey it has been! Staff quickly recognized her potential as she performed various tasks, which led to wearing many hats without skipping a beat, and with dedication and pride. Marisa approaches each …
Continue reading "Staff Spotlight, August 2020: Marisa Papallo"
By Courtney Clark, Artistic Director The mark of a great team is having not just one or a few people that stand out and contribute to its overall success, but having a team of the most caring, dedicated, and motivated individuals who go above and beyond every day. Not because they have to, but because …
Continue reading "Staff Spotlight, July 2020, KIDS 4 HARMONY"
Pittsfield Community Connection, a program of 18 Degrees, has been awarded nearly $600,000 through the MA Department of Public Health Gun Violence Prevention Program (GVPP). These funds will expand our work with young people in the City of Pittsfield and explore and challenge existing systems and practices that contribute to youth involvement in criminal or gang-related activities including gun violence. The communities most affected by violence have long histories of …
Continue reading "Pittsfield Community Connection Challenges Status Quo with New Funding"
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic we have maintained our commitment to our communities, our staff, and mission delivery. We have operated with these clear goals in mind: keeping services running and accessible to the full extent possible; keeping our staff employed and paid; continuing on our mission, every child in a family, every family in a community, now and for …
Continue reading "18 Degrees Delivers on our Mission During a Pandemic"
While we understand the deep need for the return to the normal routine for many of our community children who enjoy the quality learning environment and comradery of licensed child care, we, 18 Degrees, the Berkshire Family YMCA and the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, will not be able to reopen on Monday, June 8. …
Dear Friends, I am a black woman, the daughter of a black man, wife of a black man, and mother of black sons. I am other things, including President and CEO of 18 Degrees, a social services agency that promotes the well-being and strength of children, adults, and families to build better communities. I mention …
Continue reading "A Statement from Colleen Holmes, President and CEO on Recent Incidents of Racism"
