CISA seeks storytellers for ‘Field Notes’

NORTHAMPTON — Through Jan. 12, the South Deerfield-based nonprofit Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) invites community members to pitch a story for the live storytelling show “Field Notes,” which returns to the Academy of Music in Northampton on March 10.

Eight storytellers will be selected to share stories from their experience with local food or farming. This year’s theme is “In the Weeds.”

According to CISA, Field Notes aims to empower people across western Massachusetts to share what life in the local food system looks like through their eyes. Past stories have included a single mother facing food insecurity whose life was changed by a farm share, the chaos of herding sheep and children at a summer farm camp, and fried green tomato hornworms.

For storytellers, this beginner-friendly event is aimed at building confidence in public speaking and telling personal stories. Group workshops and individual coaching will be provided. Stipends for participation and child care are also available. New this year, CISA is also guaranteeing Spanish interpretation for all activities, with additional languages accommodated, if possible.

Anyone interested in pitching a story is encouraged to contact jacob@buylocalfood.org to talk through this opportunity. Pitches may be submitted in writing on CISA’s website at buylocalfood.org/fieldnotes or by calling the pitch hotline and leaving your name, contact information and a brief story outline. For English, call 413-247-4153. For Spanish, call 413-453-9245‬.

Scholarships available for environmentally related studies

The Henry David Thoreau Foundation will be awarding four-year scholarships of up to $26,000 to eight students who are graduating from public or private high schools in Massachusetts.

These select high school seniors may enroll in any college and university in the world while they major or minor in an environmentally related field. Henry David Thoreau Scholars are encouraged to enroll in internships or study abroad to broaden their awareness and understanding of environmental issues.

Henry David Thoreau Scholars have studied a wide variety of environmentally related areas, including biology, epidemiology, oceanography, international affairs and environmental law, and upon completing their undergraduate degrees, they become members of the Henry David Thoreau Society. The Henry David Thoreau Foundation further assists its scholarship winners by identifying environmentally related internships, offering internship stipends and providing networking opportunities.

To learn more about the Henry David Thoreau Foundation and the Henry David Thoreau scholarships, visit thoreauscholar.org. Students have until Feb. 1, 2024 to apply.

413Cares platform receives $200K in state funding

SPRINGFIELD — Local legislators recently presented a $200,000 check from the state to the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts to support its 413Cares initiative, which connects people with the resources they need in an online portal. The event took place at the institute’s offices at 127 State St. in Springfield.

The funding was secured for 413Cares in the fiscal year 2024 state budget as the result of a legislative earmark sponsored by Rep. Michael Finn and Sen. Adam Gomez. Funding was secured through the Department of Public Health.

“413Cares has truly modernized and expanded how residents access resources here in western Massachusetts,” Finn said. “Their easy-to-use and central location provides information about countless different programs, dramatically simplifying a once daunting task for those seeking help. I am proud to have joined my colleagues to support this invaluable asset for our region in the FY24 budget.”

Launched in 2019 by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts with support from Baystate Health, 413Cares.org is an online community resource database for the region. The platform has reached more than 100,000 searches and more than 111,000 interactions with programs. Top searches are for housing, food resources and health-related resources.

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts has received funding from the state in the past two legislative budgeting cycles to support 413Cares. Due to promoting awareness of the portal and building partnerships, in 2023 413Cares saw a 234% increase in website traffic over the previous year, and a sharp increase in referrals through the website to community-based organizations.

This year, the state resources are funding three new regional partners to provide outreach, promotion and support of the platform: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Quaboag Hills Community Coalition and the Hilltown Community Health Center. This is in addition to existing regional partner Community Action Pioneer Valley, funded by Baystate Health.