Ascentria Care Alliance

Celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth with Ascentria's Snap-Ed Nutrition Program! Recipes from Nutrition Educator Itzelh GR Denette were selected by the USDA to be featured on their website for this month! Cook alongside Itzelh over on https://lnkd.in/gZcUGuEE

We're happy to see support for seniors in the Commonwealth through the long-term care bill! This legislation will ensure that thousands of older adults can live with the respect and dignity they deserve. Equally important, the bill provides vital investments in our caregivers, empowering them to continue their dedicated work delivering high-quality care to seniors. Caregivers are the cornerstone of senior care, providing essential support and making a profound impact on the lives of older adults. When we support our caregivers, we ensure that seniors can age with dignity.

We have exciting news from our Young Parent Living Program (YPLP)! First, congratulations to Karen Parkman, our newly appointed Program Director for both the Brockton and Worcester Young Parent Living Programs! With 4 years at Ascentria, Karen has been promoted to this newly created role where she will leverage her personal, professional, and educational experiences to empower young mothers. A former teen mother herself, Karen holds a Master's in Public Policy and is a published author. She is passionate about creating opportunities for growth and support for young parents. Karen looks forward to fostering a collaborative environment where staff can thrive and deliver the best possible services to the community. Next, we're excited to announce that Amaireny Jose has been promoted to Program Manager of the Florence House! Since joining Ascentria in September 2021, Amaireny has been dedicated to supporting young parents' stability and growth. With a background in Sociology and Public Health from Worcester State University, she is passionate about building stronger communities and enhancing the well-being of those she serves. We look forward to seeing Amaireny's impact in her new role! Finally, we’re thrilled to announce Eyma Sutton's promotion to Program Manager at the Ruth House! After three years with Ascentria, Eyma steps up from her role as Program Coordinator to continue the impactful work of her predecessor. With over 21 years of experience as an Adolescent Outreach Social Worker and a degree from Suffolk University, Eyma is committed to equipping staff with the resources needed to empower young mothers. We’re excited to see Eyma’s leadership continue to make a difference!

We're so grateful to have you on our team Jean Hakuzimana! To pull from your recent feature in Concord Monitor, you wear all of your many hats very well. We can't wait to attend this year's Immigrants in New Hampshire's Workforce Conference alongside you, NH Songa, and other community partners.

Donciel Yemo, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, moved to the United States in 2016 at age 10 due to political instability and corruption in his home country. Initially, he faced challenges with language, weather, and food but appreciated the hard work of his parents and their new life in the U.S. As an intern at Ascentria, Don has found his experience fulfilling, particularly in helping new immigrants with practical needs like obtaining IDs through the Services for New Americans (SNA) program. He values the opportunity to give back to the community and has enjoyed working in a diverse environment with supportive mentors and colleagues. We love our interns! Thank you for all that you do Don!!

Our next Refugee and Immigrant Foster Care Info Session is coming up next Wednesday, September 25th at 6 pm on Zoom. We hope you will join us to learn more about the only Unaccompanied Children and Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Programs in Massachusetts! If you have ever wondered where refugee youth are arriving from, how many youth are served by Ascentria, or how we train and support foster parents - this is the place for you! Register to join our free info session and learn more: https://lnkd.in/gDvNUHdM #FosterCareFriday #AscentriaFosterCare

As part of our annual fall retreat, refugee agencies from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts came together to discuss the current state of refugee resettlement and how we can collaborate to strengthen our programs and better support the people we serve. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a group that truly puts in the hard work, day in and day out, to improve the lives of refugees in our communities. A heartfelt thank you to Congressman McGovern’s office, State Senator Robyn Kennedy, and our wonderful partner Kate Worrall from Charles Group Consulting for joining us in this important conversation. Agencies Present: Ascentria Care Alliance (Christine Tappan & Sonya Taly) Catholic Charities of Boston (Marjean Perhot) Catholic Charities Springfield (Urszula Wolanska-Fettes), International Institute of New England (Jeff Thielman, Bill Gillett, Alexandra Weber, MSW, LICSW, & Anca Moraru), Jewish Family Services Metrowest (Alma Cothias & Maggie Kenney), Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts (Sara Bedford & Janelle Crumpton) , Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (Mukhtar Idhow & Emily Filiano, MSW) and RIAC - Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (Mariam Gas, Sadia Fadil, Meg Gallo, Ahmed Al Rubaye, & Hanna Cahn).

Did you know that Luther Ridge is home to a movie star? By day, Molly works as a service dog for resident Sari Gottlieb-Sherman. By night, she is Grady, a cadaver dog, on Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building." What does she love about both jobs? Cheetos. Read more about Molly and Sari here: https://lnkd.in/gRqpZsj8

Dear Ascentria Family, As you all know, we are in the heart of the political season, where words and promises are coming at us faster than we can process. While I am interested in legitimate conversations and debates about how things can or should be done, sometimes things are said that are not okay. This is the case with the latest false accusations against the Haitian population in Ohio. I will not give those words any further traction by repeating them, but suffice it to say, if you haven’t been listening, there are some really horrible words being said about people that are simply not true. These lies unfortunately have impact and consequences, as we have seen in recent days with bomb threats against the Haitian community in Ohio. This fear and hate trickled into our region, where we are blessed to employ people of Haitian origin and assist many who hail from Haiti in starting their next chapter in life. They are (with good reason) disheartened and concerned about the impact this has on them. We need to stand up for and support each other so that we all feel welcomed, accepted, and respected. For those of you who have been impacted by all of this, I am so sorry. I am sorry that people are ignorant and choose hate over love. There is no place for that here. We will continue to stand with you and for you. We are grateful for your presence in our collective community and will actively work for a future that welcomes all. For those of you not directly impacted, please know that words matter, especially when they are degrading to others. We all need support from each other – maybe now it isn’t your turn to need help, but tomorrow it could be. Please stand up for each other and be a part of a community that is supportive and welcoming to each other, not one that participates in lies and hate. We are better than that! Election sound bites are not going to disappear anytime soon, as we all know. Please make sure you are registered to vote and educated on the issues so you can participate in our democracy this November! Thanks to all of you for making this place one we can all call home - Angela Bovill, Ascentria president and CEO

Join Us in Registering! Voting in this year’s election is more than just a civic duty—it's a powerful opportunity to drive meaningful change. To make sure your voice is heard, you need to be registered, and there’s no better time to act than National Voter Registration Day on September 17th. Electing leaders who will work across communities, build alliances, and advocate for fair solutions starts with you. Regardless of your political affiliation, your vote helps ensure that every resource is used effectively and that everyone has the chance to thrive. Don’t miss this crucial opportunity to make an impact. Register to vote TODAY and take a key step towards shaping the future you want to see. Your participation matters—make it count! https://lnkd.in/g6P6zpd #VoterRegistration