GREENFIELD — As National Child Abuse Prevention Month arrives, a memorial flag will once again be raised in area communities as a symbol for the protection of children.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin will host two flag-raising ceremonies on Friday, April 10, first at 9 a.m. at the Athol Public Library, 568 Main St., and again at 11 a.m. on the Greenfield Common.
Local officials, including Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, are slated to speak at both events, according to the Children’s Advocacy Center. In Athol, community partners, the North Quabbin Community Coalition and Valuing Our Children will provide remarks, and children from the Athol Area YMCA’s preschool will perform. In Greenfield, Mayor Ginny Desorgher will give a speech and students from the Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts will perform.
In addition to the annual flag-raising ceremonies, the Children’s Advocacy Center will also hold two events at the Greenfield Public Library.
On Wednesday, April 8, at 6 p.m., the center will lead an internet safety presentation for parents and children that will focus on navigating online risks and protecting young people in digital spaces. There will be a 15-minute question-and-answer session.
Then, from Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24, the Children’s Advocacy Center will present its Silhouettes Exhibit in the library’s Community Meeting Room. Through silhouettes, the art installation represents the children and teens of Franklin County and the North Quabbin region who came forward in 2025 to share their experiences of abuse or exploitation. The exhibit aims to honor the courage of those who have spoken out, encourage others to seek help and bring greater awareness to the issue.