GREENFIELD — A simple suggestion from a teenager three years ago has grown into an annual event designed to help young people head into the school year feeling prepared, supported and connected to their community.
The Greenfield Public Library’s Teen Resource Fair returns on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will bring together local organizations, schools, businesses and community members for an afternoon focused on helping teens navigate the transition back to school.
The event was born out of an idea from Mac Clark, who was then a library intern. Clark, now the head of young adult services at Tilton Library in South Deerfield, remembers being in the Greenfield library one summer when Teen Librarian Francesca Passiglia was looking for program ideas.
“I just asked, ‘What if you did a back-to-school thing?'” Clark recalled.
Clark suggested having a trash can where teens could empty their backpacks before the new school year, and providing school supplies for those who needed them. The idea also aimed to give young people a chance to meet each other before the start of the school year.
Passiglia took the idea and ran with it.
The first fair remained relatively small, taking place in the library’s Teen Room. But it quickly became clear that the concept could grow. The following year, Passiglia invited organizations and professionals she had met through a mental health summit that could provide assistance to teens in Franklin County.
Suddenly, the event had outgrown the Teen Room.
“We moved it from the Teen Room down to the big Community Room,” Passiglia said.
The second fair featured roughly 20 organizations, with teens encouraged to visit different tables and participate in activities. Those who visited enough organizations received raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes.
This year, the fair is expanding again, with a greater emphasis not only on social services, but on the opportunities available to young people throughout the community.
Participating organizations include the Greenfield School Department, Franklin County Technical School, The Academy at Charlemont, the Community Health Center of Franklin County, the Greenfield Police Department, the League of Women Voters of Franklin County, MassHire’s youth programs, Greenfield Community Television, Greenfield Community College, Green Fields Market, Franklin County’s YMCA and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. There will also be several arts organizations, including The Art Garden, Looky Here and Artspace Community Arts Center, which will offer activities in the library’s main lobby. Greenfield Games and the Garden Cinemas will also participate.
Passiglia said she wanted teens to see that their community offers more than traditional social services.
“I want kids to find out about opportunities in town,” she said.
The fair will be divided into different spaces to accommodate different interests. A high-energy community room will feature activities such as learning how to use a combination lock in preparation for high school lockers, beginning the college search, and learning about employment and financial skills. MassHire will help teens learn about finding part-time jobs, while Greenfield Savings Bank will discuss setting up a checking account.
Meanwhile, a quiet room will offer a calmer environment, including therapy dogs and other mental health-focused activities.
The variety is intentional. Passiglia and seventh grade English language arts teacher Ashley Winn said teens today face a wide range of concerns, from anxiety and social isolation to food access, substance use and uncertainty about where to find help.
“Teens just feel anxious most of the time and they’re not sure where to go for answers,” Passiglia shared.
According to Winn, one of the most important parts of the fair is making community resources feel accessible.
“It can feel really overwhelming,” Winn said of young people trying to enter unfamiliar places or seek help. The library, she noted, provides a comfortable starting point.
The fair is also about changing how teens and adults interact. Winn said it gives adults an opportunity to see teens as individuals rather than stereotypes, while giving young people the chance to meet adults who genuinely want to support them.
That emphasis on connection has already produced tangible results. At last year’s fair, MassHire made connections with teens that eventually led to paid internships. Baystate Franklin Medical Center also connected teens with volunteer opportunities.
After seeing the response to the resource fair, Passiglia received a $3,000 grant from the Library Initiative for Teens and Tweens to create “Thursday Resources,” a weekly program where teens can get pizza while connecting with a professional or organization.
For Clark, seeing the fair evolve has been especially meaningful.
“I can’t claim this as my idea because it’s evolved into something so beautiful,” Clark said. “But also, I am really happy that I brought this idea up to Francesca.”
Passiglia also emphasized that teens do not have to arrive alone. Families and members of a teen’s support system are welcome, and no one will be turned away for bringing a younger sibling.
The goal is ultimately to make the transition back to school feel a little less intimidating.
“If all else fails,” Passiglia said, “it’s a great way to get out of the house.”
