Legislators partner with The United Arc for talk on grandparents raising grandchildren

TURNERS FALLS — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, partnered with The United Arc and Congressman Jim McGovern to host representatives from the Social Security Administration, the Department of Children and Families, and Child Advocate for Massachusetts Maria Mossaides earlier this month for a discussion with grandparents from Franklin County who are raising grandchildren.

Also present were Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Coordinator Colleen Pritoni and service providers from LifePath, the Gill-Montague Regional School District, Community Action Pioneer Valley, The Brick House Community Resource Center and the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

“Grandparents across my district have shared the concerns and challenges they face while serving as the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. I am grateful to them for their important and passionate advocacy,” Comerford said in a statement. “I am glad to partner with Rep. Blais, Congressman McGovern and The United Arc to facilitate a timely conversation between the Social Security Administration, the Department of Children and Families, Child Advocate Mossaides and these caregivers. I look forward to the work ahead, ensuring grandparents have access to resources and support from the state as they raise the children in their care.”

“The compassion that so many grandparents in our district are showing on a daily basis in caring for those they love most is a lesson in selflessness,” Blais said in a statement. “Our state and federal partners have an important role to play in uplifting these families and I am grateful to Sen. Comerford and Congressman McGovern for helping to convene this critical meeting to identify ways for us to support these caregivers.”

Blais, Comerford honored for support of VITA program

BOSTON — State Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, and state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, each received an award from the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) for their support of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program on Jan. 31.

“Last session, the Legislature advanced legislation that provided the first tax cuts in more than 20 years to Massachusetts residents. This package included increases to the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, Child and Family Tax Credit, and Earned Income Tax Credit,” Blais said in a statement. “Sen. Comerford and I rely on the VITA program to harness these tax credits for our constituents and have fought for funding to enable these extraordinary volunteers to achieve an unbelievable 60:1 return on investment.”

“I am honored to be recognized for my support for the critical VITA program, alongside my colleague and partner Rep. Natalie Blais, a true leader in this issue in the Legislature,” Comerford said in a statement. “I look forward to our continued collaboration to ensure that commonwealth residents have access to appropriate tax help that can help maximize progressive tax programs.”

MASSCAP works to strengthen, unify and advocate with the Community Action Statewide Network to advance economic, racial and social justice. For more information about MASSCAP, visit masscap.org.

Equity in the 413 summit planned for June

SPRINGFIELD — This year’s Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit will be held Thursday, June 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Westfield State University.

In 2023, Equity in the 413 convened more than 350 professionals who were invited to take actionable steps toward fostering racial equity in their workplaces and communities. Taking the stage as keynote speaker is Serilda Summers-McGee, founder and CEO of Workplace Change, a people and culture firm created to guide, advise and encourage the business world through internal and external growth and transition while incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into human resources (HR) systems.

Equity in the 413 welcomes the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Faith Based Health Alliance and Westfield State University as new organizing partners this year. The other organizing partners are Behavioral Health Network, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Hilltown Community Health Center, Health New England, Human Service Forum, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Springfield’s Department of Health & Human Services, the WesternMass Economic Development Council and the Women of Color Health Equity Collective.

To register to attend or to become a sponsor of the event, visit communityfoundation.org/E413.