Summer Opportunities for Holyoke Youth!

June 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The summer months are a critical time in keeping young minds engaged! Here are some great opportunities for summer learning and exploration in Holyoke…

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Organization: Phoenix Dance Academy’s Summer ARTS Series, Contact info: Anthony Wilson 413 345 1798, Ages of youth: 5-15, Types of activities:Arts and Crafts, Dance, Theater skills, performance skills, Cost: $300 for the August Session

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Organization: Girls Incorporated of Holyoke Contact info: Sarah Dunton, Director of Youth Development Programs sdunton@girlsincholyoke.org 413-533-0796 x101 Ages of youth:13-18 Types of activities:Health & Wellness; Outdoor Adventure Programs; College Trips; Science Exploration; Career Exploration; Computer Game Design and Lego Robotics Cost:FREE! Additional info: Girls Incorporated ofHolyokeinspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold. We offer 2 summer programs for teens 13-18, one in July and one in August. All programs are free, lunch is provided. Programs run from 9am – 4pm M-Th and Fridays from 9-2pm. Please call or email me for more information.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Organization: HERA Contact info:Amy Epstein 413.532.6247 x103 Ages of youth: 13-21 (contact us if you are younger or older and we can talk) Types of activities: Support and leadership development for LGBTQ youth and their allies Cost:Free Additional info: Holyoke Health Center First Floor Conference Room 5:30-7:00  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Organization:  CareerPoint Contact info: 532- 4900 Ages of youth: 14 – 21 Types of activities: Job search, Work Place Readiness Certification, Career Exploration, MCAS support &  other Referrals Cost: Free – Call to sign up for orientation Additional info: website about our services: www.careerpointma.org. also find us on face book. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Organization: STEP Program of Holyoke Community College Contact: Brian White, bwhite@hcc.edu, 413-552-2287 students going into 7th or 8th grade in Peck, EN White, Donahue or Kelly Schools Hands-on classes taught by high school and college students, outdoor activities, field trips Free to students accepted into the program Program runs Monday – Thursday, July 30 – August 16 from 10am to 2:30pm at Holyoke Community College.  Not a drop in program.  We request that all students accepted make a commitment to be there the 3 weeks.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       Organization: HUBS (HolyokeUrban Bike Shop), 160 Beech StreetHolyoke Ma 01040, (Located at theHolyoke YMCA)  Liz Budd, 413-534-5631 x114 or email lbudd@holyokeymca.org Youth Ages 12 and up Earn-A-Bike; this is a  six week program where participants learn all of the parts, systems and mechanics of a bicycle while they build themselves one to keep Cost is a suggested donation of $20 but no one is turned away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Email Rebecca with your organization’s summer opportunities to be added here: rmasters@girlsincholyoke.org.

Filed Under: News

“You’re Out of This World” Community Recognition Reception!

May 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

You’re Out of This World!

 Recognition Reception

Recognizing Youth, Parents, and Youth Workers in Holyoke!

Do you know someone that deserves recognition for making a positive difference in Holyoke? Maybe this person isn’t on the school committee, PTO, or honor roll, but they have contributed to the lives of others and/or the well-being of the Holyoke community?

On Friday, June 15th, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Holyoke Health Center, first floor conference room

230 Maple Street,

the Holyoke Youth Task Force will be honoring

Out of This World community members for their

Out of This World contributions toward the

Holyoke community!

 All nominees will be honored! 

We are searching for Out of This World nominees in the following categories, and we need YOUR help to find them!

Youth any age

Youth Workers mentors, teachers, afterschool staff, and others

Parents/Guardians the main caregiver of a young person

Download the nomination forms below! Send them in to the Holyoke Youth Task Force by June 5th! nomination forms pdf

Filed Under: Events, News

H.E.R.A. Presents: The Conference of Tolerance and Acceptance

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Holyoke Equal Rights Association (or H.E.R.A.) is proud to present the Conference of Tolerance and Acceptance! All youth from the ages of 13-20, and their supportive adults, are welcome to join this free, fun, and positive LGBTQ youth conference. 

Date: May 26th

Time: 10:00 am-4:30 pm

Location: Picknelly Center, 206 Maple St. , Holyoke

 

Conference of Tolerance and Acceptance Workshop Choices

GLAD and BAGLY Present “Got Rights”
Do you feel safe at school? Did you know it is your right to? Learn about bullying and your rights.

This is Not a Weapon: A Conversation about Queerness in the Bible
Have you ever had someone quote scripture at you as a weapon against who you are? Learn  what they really mean and look at  your value to God and how God feels about you. This discussion is open to anyone regardless of your religious and spiritual beliefs.

Yoga
Life is stressful, take space to relax with our certified yoga instructor/ HERA Peer Leader Extraordinaire. Stretch away your tension in a safe and comfortable environment.

Queer Improv
Express yourself with Second City trained pageant queen Lorelei Erisis

Gay Straight Alliance
Do you want to learn more about GSAs, why we have them and how they work? Hear from the Holyoke High School GSA.

Queer Activist College
Learn to make change. Become an advocate for LGBT rights. Join this BAGLY workshop.

Queer Safer Sex
Learn about safe sex with BAGLY’s HEART team of Health Promotion Peer Leaders.

Bisexuality: No We are Not Just Greedy
Bisexuality does exist! Want to hear more and discuss the media’s portrayal of the “B” part of our community. Join in on the discussion with HERA Peer Leaders.

Under (de) Construction: Breaking Down the Gender Binary
Learn more about the gender expression and the definitions behind the “T” with Gen Q Peer Leaders

Supporting Acceptance and Facilitating Tolerance: How to be a good Ally
Do you want to be the best straight ally around? Are you straight but not narrow? Join some of HERA’s best straight allies to learn more.

Healthy Relationships
Who do you date? Are you in a relationship that is right for you? Learn what a healthy relationship looks like with the Girls Inc of Holyoke Peer Leaders.

Filed Under: Events, News

Free Training: “Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Youth”!

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Did you know that LGBTQ youth are at a higher risk for drug use, suicide, and even teen pregnancy? It’s vitally important for all groups and organizations that work with young people to provide a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ youth. Please join the Holyoke Youth Task Force on Wednesday, May 9th, to learn how to create safe spaces for LGBTQ youth at your organization. You may RSVP to Amy Epstein at (413) 532-6247 ext. 103 or aepstein@girlsincholyoke.org.

Filed Under: Events