Published: 10/24/2021 4:00:32 PM
Franklin County developing Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter A Franklin County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace — an Idaho-based nonprofit made up of volunteers who build, assemble and deliver bunk beds to children that need them — is being formed, meaning bed builders and bed delivery volunteers are being recruited in Orange, Athol, Gardner, Winchendon, Greenfield, Deerfield and the surrounding areas.
Scott and Tammy Hubbard in Orange will lead the chapter and have delivered more than 50 beds so far. Beds will be delivered to Franklin County and Worcester County children in need.
Contact Tammy Hubbard at tammy.hubbard@shpbeds.org or Scott Hubbard at scott.hubbard@shpbeds.org.
‘Finding Inner Peace’ workshop set for Tuesday The Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention will offer a free, virtual “Finding Inner Peace” workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. for those in Western Massachusetts who have been impacted by a loved one’s suicide.
To register, visit bit.ly/3b80YVL. With questions, email director@avoiceatthetable.org.
Community Foundation supporting BIPOC arts through new partnerships The Springfield-based Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has partnered with the Barr Foundation and Ford Foundation to form the Creative Futures Collaborative, an effort that seeks to build capacity for an inclusive, equitable arts and creativity sector in Massachusetts.
Powering Cultural Futures, the first initiative created through the Creative Futures Collaborative that is seeded with $5 million each from Barr and Ford, will connect and serve 15 organizations across the state — including the Ohketeau Cultural Center of Ashfield — in their work to increase access to art and cultural expression of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. According to a Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts press release, the initiative explores ways that philanthropy can shift power to provide more equitable, flexible and long-lasting support to organizations that play a crucial role as art producers and presenters, cultural hubs and training grounds for new artists.
“This new partnership with the Barr and Ford foundations is a powerful example of reimagining a more equitable future — for the arts sector, philanthropy and our community,” Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, said in the release. “It brings large national funders together with local and regional funders to blend resources and expertise, centers the work of BIPOC arts organizations, and provides the patient capital needed to amplify and extend their critical roles in our communities. We are grateful for the trust extended to us by Barr and Ford, and we are delighted to play a part in supporting these efforts.”
A second phase of work will get underway this winter, the release states, with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts leading research to inform, test and shape more equitable philanthropic practices to strengthen financial support for the BIPOC arts ecosystem.