Advocacy in the Pioneer Valley.
The area host a vast number of organization interested in cultural issues and advocacy for specific groups as well as social and business organizations which attend the needs of various groups The area is rich is it emphasis on service and community activism and we hope to provide you with some of that information below—go ahead , reach out, get involved!
African American / People of Color
Children & Youth Resources
Ethnic Origin Resources
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Information
Hispanic / Latino(a) Organizations
Organizations Fighting Racism
Religious and Spiritual Organizations Resources
Women's Organizations
Social Justice Groups
African American / People of Color
Dunbar Community Center, Inc.
Natasha George
33 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
413.788.6143
Provides opportunities to understand youth and families through social and cultural development, education, recreation, advocacy and support, mentoring and access to technology.
ALAANA (Asian, Latina, African American, Native American and Allies)
Franklin Community Action Corporation
Aida Martinez
413.774.7028 / amartinez@fcac.net
Focused on creating a safe place for young people of color
Martin Luther King Junior Community Center
Dora Robinson
3 Rutland Street
Springfield, MA 01109
413.746.3655
Comprehensive youth and community development programs.
Project 2050 of the New WORLD Theatre
http://www.newworldtheater.org
Uday Joshi
100 Hicks Way, Room 16 Curry Hicks,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
413.577.2990
A multi-year exploration of the year when it is projected that people of color will become the majority in the United States. Addressing the issues compelled by these changing demographics, the project engages professional artists, youth communities, scholars, and community activists in civic dialogue and artistic creation.
MLK Jr. Committee of Amherst, Inc.
P.O. Box 3211
Amherst, MA 01004-3211
Holds an annual breakfast to celebrate community members who are carrying Dr. King’s work forward today.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Amherst
Bill Norris P.O. Box 175 Amherst, MA 01004
413.253.9842 / william.norris4@verizon.net
Afro-American Cultural Center
Box 7A
1000 State Street
Springfield, MA 01109
413-747-6400
Blacks Interested in Communications
1482 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02905
410-941-9370
Minority Employment Program
2345 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01107
INGnews.com
http://www.inqnews.com/Inquirer.php
New England’s largest African American newspaper
Springfield City Library
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/blackhistory.html
2006 Theme: Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social, and Civic Institutions
Greater Springfield Association of Black Journalists
Rhonda Swan
Springfield Union News
1860 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01101
Phone (413) 788-1338
Fax (413) 788-1301
Connecticut Association of Black Communicators
P.O. Box 535
Hartford, CT 06141
UnityFirst
http://www.unityfirst.com/ufthisweek.htm
African American /Diversity Newswire
Pan African Historical Museum U.S.A.
1500 Main St.
Springfield, MA
masslive.com - map & directions
http://www.masslive.com
Children and Youth Resources
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke
Holyoke, MA
413.534.7366 / lmillman@hbgc.org
Holyoke Youth Task Force and Youth Commission
Holyoke, MA
413.322.5578 / jkumble@ci.holyoke.ma.us
Reducing racism as a barrier to academic success among Holyoke youth.
Youth Leadership in the Arts
Florence, MA
1.800.850.3880, ext. 3313, youth2lead@hotmail.com
Young artists and activists working for change in their communities
GRACE (Get Real and Create Equality), Franklin Community Action Corporation
413.774.7028, ext. 106, jjakowski@fcac.net
Weekly drop-in group led by peer leaders on social justice and conflict resolution. Mon. and Wed. afternoons, ages 12-18.
ALAANA (Asian, Latina, African American, Native American and Allies)
Franklin Community Action Corporation
413.774.7028 / amartinez@fcac.net
Focused on creating a safe place for young people of color
Holyoke Youth Task Force and Youth Commission
Holyoke, MA
413.322.5578
Working to reduce racism as a barrier to academic success among Holyoke youth.
Martin Luther King Junior Community Center
Springfield, MA
413.746.3655
Comprehensive youth and community development programs.
Project 2050 of the New WORLD Theatre
http://www.newworldtheater.org/
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
413.577.2990
A multi-year exploration of the year when it is projected that people of color will become the majority in the United States. Addressing the issues compelled by these changing demographics, the project engages professional artists, youth communities, scholars, and community activists in civic dialogue and artistic creation.
Organizations Fighting Racism
Undoing Racism Organizing Collective (UROC)
Ann, 413.736.5136, Lisa, 413.367.2190, Marco 413.746.1960, or Mary, 413.586.9988
A network of anti-racist organizers in Western Massachusetts whose mission is to organize, educate, communicate, and provide resources to undo racism in our families, communities, and institutions. Every October, UROC hosts an Undoing Racism Organizing Training by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond.
European Dissent – Uprooting Racism in our Community
Greenfield, MA
Sharin Alpert 413.625.2951 / shen@crocker.com
Self-education, discussion, and action group for anti-racist whites in Greenfield/Franklin County area.
White People Addressing Racism – A Twelve Step Approach
Judith S.
C/O Skillings
P.O. Box 503
Leverett, MA 01054
413.549.4837 / skillingsj@netzero.net
A twelve-step approach to addressing addiction to the white comfort zone and/or the false entitlements of white privilege.
Western Mass. A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Organizing Center
413.538.8537 / wmassiac@hotmail.com
Information, activism, and resistance to U.S. militarism, sinking with struggles against racism and oppression
within the United States.
Greensboro Justice Fund
http://www.gjf.org
P.O. Box 1594
Northampton, MA 01061
413.584.1079 / Toll-free: 877.585.6606 / martygjf@attbi.com
Educates the general public with regard to the origins, symptoms, manifestations, dangers and injustices of discrimination and supports organizations in the south that work against discrimination by providing direct charitable aid.
Gay and Lesbian Organizations and Information
Out Now!
Holly Richardson
125 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01105
413.736.4610
An LGBTTSQQA youth organization of greater Springfield. Holds regular group meetings on Fridays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
PrideZone
Northampton
GLASS (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society)
413.774.7028
A group for young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans gendered or questioning, and their allies.
The Stonewall Center
http://www.umass.edu/stonewall/
A Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Trans gender Educational Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Phone: 413-545-4824 | Fax: 413-545-6667
GLAD—Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
http://www.glad.org/
The Freedom to Marry Coalition in Massachusetts
http://www.equalmarriage.org/links.php
Edge. Your life with an edge
http://boston.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=boston&zu=http%3A//www.gaynewengland.net/
Resources and news about gay New England
Gay Straight Alliances: A Student Guide
http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/GSA/Intro.html
MLGBA
http://www.mlgba.org/
Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association
P.O. Box 9072
Boston, MA 02114
ANGLES
The American Network of Gay and Lesbian Law Students
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/electronic/email/angles
National Journal of Sexual Orientation Law
http://sunsite.unc.edu/gaylaw/
Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
http://www.glad.org/
Boston’s GLBT-law and HIV-law non-profit organization
Lamba Legal Defense & Education Fund, a national GLBT-law organization
http://www.lambalegal.com/
Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, lobbyist/activist organization
http://www.mglpc.org/
Mass Equality, organization working on making same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts
http://www.massequality.org/
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (national organization, with Boston-area office)
http://www.ngltf.org/
Bay Windows Online (GLBT newspaper)
http://www.baywindows.com
Innewsweekly Online (GLBT newspaper)
http://www.innewsweekly.com/
Boston Phoenix (GLBT-friendly newspaper)
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/
Fenway Community Health Center (predominately GLBT)
http://www.fchc.org/
AIDS Action Committee (provides services and does education)
http://www.fchc.org
Student resources for Gay , Lesbian and Trans gender students
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/gay.phtml
More National information and links
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/
Hispanic and Latino/a Organizations
Casa Latina
Florence Community Center
140 Pine St., Room 6
Florence, MA 01062
413.586.1569 / casal@map.com
Promotes Latino empowerment and cultural pride in Hampshire County through service, education, facilitation, dialogue and action.
La Clave
P.O. Box 546
Holyoke, MA 01040
413.218-7936 / laclave@comcast.net
A free publication serving Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Amherst and Northampton
Nuestras Raices
http://www.nuestras-raices.org
329 Main Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
413.535.1789
A grassroots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke.
Pioneer Valley Project/Proyecto del Valle Pionero
235 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
413.827.0781 / pvp.general@verizon.net
A membership organization of congregations, unions, and community groups working to relieve conditions of poverty, racism, discrimination, dependence, unemployment, and to prevent further deterioration of our communities.
Solidaridad Colombia
http://www.westernmassafsc.org/colombia/index.html
413.584.8975
Supports Colombian and U.S. efforts for justice and peace.
Nueva Esperanza
401 Main Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
413.533.9442
Community development corporation dedicated to neighborhood revitalization and community education.
Spanish American Union
2335 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01107
413-734-7381
Religious and Spiritual Organizations Resources
Buddhist
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
New England Regional Office
Maia Duerr
413.563.5197 / ne-bpf@bpf.org
Pioneer Valley Chapter
Emilie Woodward
413.586.0474 / emiliewoodward@hotmail.com
140 Pine St., Rm. 10
Florence, MA 01062
Committed to examining our own privilege and internalized oppression and to fostering public dialogue and deep listening. Open to all Buddhist traditions.
Zen Center
http://www.zenonmain.org
Catherine Hondorp
78 Main St., Suite 209
Northampton, MA 01060
413.586.8222
Intentional and conscious exploration of race and privilege, and how it manifests in our communities.
General Information: Christian
Christian
Christ’s Community Church of Chicopee, UCC
Rev. Kelly Gallagher
103 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
413.592.6007 / kgaljcom@crocker.com
A United Church congregation seeking to be a relevant voice for justice and peace in the community of Chicopee.
Mount Toby Meeting of Friends (Quakers)
194 Long Plain Road (Route 63)
Leverett, MA 01054
Meeting phone: 413.548.9188
Clerk: David Ahlfeld, 413.253.5687
All welcome. Has a strong peace and social justice mission.
Northampton Interparish Social Concerns Committee
Sarita Hudson
413.732.3175 / s.Hudson@diospringfield.org
All Soul’s Unitarian Universalist Church
Social Action Committee
Molly Chambers
Northampton Meeting of Friends (Quakers)
43 Center Street, 2nd Floor
Northampton, MA 01060
Meeting phone: 413.587.4622
Clerk: Jenny Foster, 413.585.0863
All welcome. Has a strong peace and social justice mission.
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
1154 Blue Hills Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002
860.243.5778 / bachurch01@snet.net
Islamic
The Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts
377 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
413.788.7546
Jewish
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, Western Mass. chapter
Co-chairs: Nancy Felton and Carolyn Toll Oppenheim
Carolyn: 413 540 0149 / ctollopp@publicpurposecommunications.com
Nancy: 413 584 1299 / nancy.f@rcn.com
A national organization of American Jews deeply committed to Israel's well-being through the achievement of a negotiated settlement to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Unitarian
Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence
Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
220 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413.584.1390 / office@uunorthampton.org
Ethnic Origin Resources
Asian
South Asia: Organizations, links contacts
http://www.project-impact.org/index.html
http://www.garamchai.com/index.html
Asian American Resource Workshop
Job Postings
160 Kneeland Street
Boston, MA 02111
617-426-5313
Springfield Vietnamese Civic Association
433 Belmont Avenue
Springfield, MA 01108
413.733.9373
A community-based civic association offering services and cultural outlets.
Asian Organizations in New England
http://www.aapkamanoranjan.com/asian_organization.htm
East Coast Asian Students Association
http://www.ecaasu.org/index.php?category=ecaasu411§ion=39
Native American
Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs
Western Massachusetts Region
Troy Phillips, Commissioner
154 Carson Ave. Apt #B
Dalton, MA 01226
413.684.3227 / T3runwolf@aol.com
Native American Directory
http://www.powerplace.com/atpost/nativeam.html
http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/indices/NAstudent.html
http://www.jammed.com/~mlb/nawbt.html
Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
http://www.mcnaa.org/contact.html
Palestinian
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, Western Mass. chapter
Co-chairs: Nancy Felton and Carolyn Toll Openheim
Carolyn: 413 540 0149 / ctollopp@publicpurposecommunications.com
Nancy: 413 584 1299 / nancy.f@rcn.com
A national organization of American Jews deeply committed to Israel's well-being through the achievement of a negotiated settlement to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Social Justice Groups
Alternatives to Violence Project
Amherst, MA / claudetellier@hotmail.com
Provides workshops in prisons by training teams of community members and prisoners.
American Civil Liberties Union of Western Massachusetts
http://www.aclu.org
Florence, MA 01062
413.586.9115
Anti-Displacement Project
http://www.a-dp.org/
Springfield, MA
413.739.7233 / info@a-dp.org
A membership organization of low-income families building new institutions they control
Arise for Social Justice
http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/arise/
Springfield, MA
413.734.4948 / arise@riseup.net
A low-income rights, anti-oppression membership organization in western Massachusetts.
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Northampton, MA
413.582.0110 / info@bordc.org
Encourages local communities to take an active role in working for civil liberties
Center for Popular Economics
Amherst, MA
413.545.0743 / Programs@PopularEconomics.org
A non-profit organization that teaches economic literacy to activists for progressive social change.
Coalition for a Safe Community
413.774.7469 ext. 13
Established 12 years ago in response to increased violence in Franklin County, the Coalition sponsors a Week of Awareness each spring, including a Take Back Our Lives March and Rally and other events focused on prevention of violence, primarily violence against women.
Community Crisis Support Service
413.772.0582
The CCSS is a team of trained volunteers who provide support and assistance to communities and groups affected by violence, crime, and other tragedies.
Franklin/Hampshire Health Coalition
413.586.0345
Meets the third Tuesday, 7:30pm, Community Room of the Cahill Apartments, Northampton; working for Working for Single-Payer Health Care legislation.
Mass Justice Project
Holyoke, MA
Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty
Longmeadow, MA
413.567.3451 / mcadp1@aol.com
Root 9 Collective
413.586.4792
A local activist/artist collective engaged in social justice struggles.
Social Workers for Peace and Justice, Pioneer Valley Chapter
Northampton, MA
413.586.0345 / almasiano@hotmail.com
Works on issues that promote peace and justice in our society and world.
Springfield Harm Reduction Coalition
413.348.8234
A statewide network of groups and individuals working to reduce drug-related harms, to individuals, communities and society and to oppose all prison expansion.
Western Mass Committee on Corporations and Democracy
413.540.0149 / ctollopp@publicpurposecommunications.com
Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice
Springfield, MA
413.262.7689 / wmjwj@hge.net
WMass Jobs with Justice is a grassroots, non-partisan coalition of over 40 union, student, faith-based and community organizations and individuals working together to build unity and support for the struggles of working class people.
Active Ingredients
http://www.activeingredients.org
Greenfield, MA
413.773.5018 / mchambers@fchcc.org
Local web site with activist resources.
National Priorities Project
http://www.natprior.org
Northampton, MA 01060
413.584.9556 / info@natprior.org
Offers citizen and community groups across the country tools and resources to shape federal budget and policy priorities that promote social and economic justice.
Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Pagoda
http://www.peacepagoda.org
Leverett, MA
413.367.2202
The Nippozan Myohoji is most well known for their construction of Peace Pagodas throughout the world. They build these pagodas as offerings for world peace, and think of them as “a prayer of the spirit made manifest form.” Locally Nipponzan Myohoji initiates state-wide walks to help bring about justice and peace.
Women's Organizations
Everywoman’s Center
http://www.umass.edu/ewc
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
413.545.5827
Women’s Congress for Peace
http://www.womenscongressforpeace.org
A diverse group of women activists, united in their commitment to building communities based on equality; social, economic, and environmental justice; and non-violent means of resolving conflict.
Men’s Resource Center for Change
http://www.mensresourcecenter.org
Amherst, MA
413.253.9887
Dedicated to supporting men, challenging men’s violence and developing men’s leadership in ending oppression. Has Young Men of Color Leadership Project.
YWCA of Western Massachusetts
http://www.ywworks.org/
Springfield, MA
413.732.3121 info@ywworks.org
The YWCA is a world-wide organization seeking to bring women of diverse backgrounds together to work towards a common vision of peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.Our YWCA is a private, not-for-profit charitable Corporation and a certified women-owned business. We have pioneered in the development of services that meet the critical needs of women. We work towards the empowerment of women and build a position of leadership in the community.
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts
Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial Fund Project
Seeking Common Ground: Acts of Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy (no contact info)
Women Veterans’ Organizations in Massachusetts
American Legion
Women’s Post #417
Methuen, MA .
978.683.3720
Army Nurse Corps Association
Watertown, MA
617.924.3778
SPARS
Westwood, MA
781.326.4821
Women’s Army Corps (WAC)
Veterans Association
South Hadley, MA
413.533.8918
WASP
Methuen, MA
978.683.3720
WAVES National, Unit 17
Old Ironsides
Oxford, MA
508.987.3154
WAVES National, Unit 18
Cape Cod WAVES
East Falmouth, MA
Women Marines Association, MA1 Chapter (Eastern Massachusetts)
Dorchester, MA
617.265.1572
Women Marines Association, MA2 Chapter (Western Massachusetts)
South Hadley, MA
413.533.8918
Women Military Aviators
East Falmouth, MA
508.457.1264
Women’s Overseas Service League, Boston Unit
Dedham, MA
781.329.0143
Version: 1.0 (updated: 14/10/10 )
