Page 49 - BusinessWest March 17, 2021

WNEU Center for Social Justice
Receives HNE Mini-grant
SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England Univer- sity (WNEU) School of Law’s Center for Social Justice was awarded a $6,000 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclu- sion, and Belonging) mini-grant from Health New England (HNE). The grant provides funding to local nonprofit organizations that are actively addressing racial health equity and disparities, and at least one of the CDC’s social determinants of health (SDOH). These are conditions in the places where people
live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes; these include healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stabil-
ity, and neighborhood and built environment. The grant seeks to dismantle systemic racism in two ways. The project will first educate the WNEU community about the connection between racism and health dis- parities and the structural barriers to equity that exist across society, and then will work to facilitate racial healing and relationship building between the insti- tution and the local community through healing-cir- cle conversations. Since its launch in 2019, the Center for Social Justice has been a key stakeholder in the pursuit of social justice in its community and beyond. In the last year, the center has sponsored or hosted more than a dozen events, including various know- your-rights trainings and programming, panel discus- sions addressing the racial disparities of COVID-19, and lawyering in the time of Black Lives Matter, as well as speakers like Evan Wolfson, who is considered an architect of the marriage-equality movement. Its work is entirely grant-funded from supporters like HNE and MassMutual, as well as individual donors.
Visiting Angels West Springfield Wins Provider of Choice Award
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Visiting Angels West Spring- field received the 2021 Best of Home Care Provider
of Choice Award, which is granted to the top-ranking home-care providers in North America according to Home Care Pulse. The Provider of Choice Award rec- ognizes Visiting Angels’ dedication to client satisfac- tion and commitment to offering quality, affordable in-home care services. Visiting Angels West Spring- field was established in 1999 and has served the elder population of Western Mass. for more than 20 years. It has grown to provide more than 70,000 hours of care annually by helping seniors to maintain a sense of independence, dignity, and quality of life in their own home. Visiting Angels strives to foster lasting client-caregiver relationships by offering family-like compassionate care and dependability.
AIC Named to 2021-22 Military Friendly Schools List
SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced it has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation. Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earning the designation. The 2021-22
Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology and criteria were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher-education and military-recruit- ment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources within a log- ic-based scoring assessment. The institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan-default rates for all students are measured.
Team 413 Moves to William Raveis Real Estate
EAST LONGMEADOW — Shawna Gutowski and
Heidi Pafumi, founders of Team 413, announced
their move to the East Longmeadow office of Wil- liam Raveis Real Estate. Team 413 finished 2020
top five in sales volume for all real-estate transac- tions in Hampden County. When asked why they decided to move their team, Gutowski noted that, “as we quickly grew from two to 16 agents, we realized a partnership with a name and reputation like William Raveis was the next step. Using their structure, tech- nology, and years of experience, we plan to continue to exponentially grow.” In the previous four years, Team 413 has consistently ranked in the top 1% of Hampden County teams, with more than 500 trans- actions and $100 million in closed volume. The team has sold homes in more than 30 towns across Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Team 413 prides itself on its cultural diversity, as well as its extensive resources, spanning from contractors to interior designers.
ACC Designated as 2021-22 Military Friendly School
ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College announced that, for the 14th year, the college has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designa- tion. Institutions earning this designation were evalu- ated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earn-
ing the designation. Asnuntuck has had nearly 300 active-duty and/or veteran students enrolled during the last three years. The college offers a multitude
of services to these students. Asnuntuck and other campuses in the North-West Region worked with Resilience Grows Here to each offer a “No Wrong Door” training at the campuses last year. Asnuntuck, in partnership with Tunxis Community College, has done community outreach by sponsoring the Hart- ford Yard Goats Military Family of the Game for each of the baseball team’s home games.
Holyoke Hummus Food Truck Comes to Resinate Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — Holyoke Hummus and Resinate Northampton recently announced a new partner- ship. The Holyoke Hummus food truck is now serving in the parking lot of Resinate at 110 Pleasant St. in
Northampton and is open Wednesday through Sat- urday from noon to 7 p.m. Holyoke Hummus serves falafel, hummus, and other Middle Eastern treats. Delivery and online ordering are available at holyoke- hummus.com. The truck is also available for special events and catering.
Girls Inc. of the Valley
Receives Amelia Peabody Grant
HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley received a $145,000 grant from the Amelia Peabody Foundation, which
will enable the organization to further develop its vir- tual programming, help prepare for the time when in-person programs may resume, continue its Learn- ing Pod collaboration with Holyoke Public Schools, and ultimately bring staff together in one building,
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fostering even greater creative and collaborative syn- ergies. The foundation awarded $25,000 to Girls Inc.’s general program and $120,000 to its comprehensive campaign, “Her Future, Our Future.” This commit- ment will help Girls Inc. to establish a new, permanent home and provide the space, resources, and oppor- tunities needed to enable more girls to participate in the transformative Girls Inc. experience. The grant will support both program planning and implementation; funds will be used for staffing, expanded outreach, and program supplies. Additionally, the grant will facilitate bringing all Girls Inc. staff together under one roof to create greater collaborative and economic efficiencies.
Christina’s House Gets a Hand with Giving a Hand Up
SPRINGFIELD — The Davis Foundation recently awarded Christina’s House with a $15,000 grant to do what it does best — giving a hand up to homeless and near-homeless women and their children. A largely underserved population, these women and their fam- ilies will stay with Christina’s House for 18 months to two years while they establish healthy living habits, become employed, and earn a GED or job training for upward mobility in the workforce. Paul Belsito, executive director at the Davis Foundation, and Mag- nus Monroe, grants and project manager, met with the organization in early fall to better understand how the foundation could support Christina’s House. The Davis Foundation, long known in the community for its educational agenda, found a fit, and the board voted to approve and provide much-needed funds
to help the organization through a tough year. Chris- tina’s House provides transitional housing and social services for homeless or near-homeless mothers
and children. It educates, embraces, and encourages families in the program with the life skills needed to become self-sufficient as they transition from home- lessness to stable environments. The organization also helps each mother seek, obtain, and maintain employment once accepted into the program, and promotes occupational advancement through résu- mé writing and job-skills training.
People
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worked at NUVO Bank and as a team leader at Westfield Bank for 11 years. Seyler is also an active member of the community as a volunteer and former board member for the Drama Studio in Springfield, as well as a board member
and past president of the East Long- meadow Rotary Club.
•••••
TUCKed In Eldercare, Care Manage- ment and Consulting recently wel- comed Katie Krupka, gerontologist, certified senior advisor, and certified dementia practitioner, to its care-
management team serving Western Mass. As a geriatric care-management company, TUCKed In offers guidance to support clients to live their best lives as they age. Services include act- ing as a support system, making home visits and suggesting needed services, arranging and overseeing support
services and outside agencies, coor- dinating medical services, coordinat- ing transportation needs, evaluating alternative living options, providing caregiver stress relief and education, and advocating for the client and his or her family.
COMPANY NOTEBOOK
MARCH 17, 2021 49
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