Tyanna's Story

"As someone who's been served by Community Action, I feel like my role on the Board is to bring the perspective that what we do is not just important in theory," says 22-year-old Tyanna Normandin, who was elected as a Community Representative to our Board of Directors in 2012. "It's all about the faces and the feelings of real people living in our community."

Tyanna has been involved with Community Action since she was 18 and living in transitional housing run by DIAL/SELF Teen and Community Services. "I had been homeless, in a very unsafe situation, and I had no idea how to get anything I needed," Tyanna recalls. Her caseworker referred her to Community Action Youth Programs, and she joined the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth employment readiness program. Both organizations worked with Tyanna as she got her life together step by step- learning how to set goals for herslf, enrolling as a student at Greenfield Community College, and succeeding in her first employment internship.

The relationships Tyanna built with Youth Programs staff made a huge difference in her life. "It's not just about the service or benefits- like the winter coat they got me when I didn't have warm clothing to wear to my internship, or the Fuel Assistance they helped me apply for- but the emotional support...I never had anybody that cared that I was struggling, and they not only cared, they were willing to help me figure out what to do about it."

Out of her own experience, Tyanna has forged an enduring commitment to helping others, and she has built up an impressive resume of service. Tyanna has been a peer leader for Youth Programs, staffed the Brick House teen drop-in center, served on the Executive Board of the Gill-Montague Community School Partnership, and helped coordinate anti-substance abuse campaigns within Youth Programs...just to name a few! Tyanna also sees herself as an advocate. If she finds someone stereotyping or mistreating others, Tyanna says, "I try to be a strong friend. I don't stay silent, I stand up, and I encourage others to stand up for themselves. It's so important to me that people feel safe and comfortable and allowed to speak."

Tyanna values the 'big picture' viewpoint she is exposed to as a member of the Community Action Board. "I knew about the programs. I just never know how much goes into it and just how many people are actually served!" She says this gives her a different perspective on impending government cuts to social service programs; "It's the realization that it's not just that I might be impacted, but that a lot of people could be impacted. This is powerful. This is something to fight for!"

Tyanna helps Community Action maintain a strong connection within our governing body to those we serve. And staying true to our mission at all levels in the organization helps us build a community of true caring.

Pattie's Story

In this economy, saving up to buy a home, go back to school, or start a small business isn’t easy. Through our CommonCents program, our financial education staff work tirelessly to help each participant open the door to financial success. So when we learned that Greenfield residents Bethany, 14, and Ricia, 17, dreamed of the day when they could close their doors, we were a bit surprised. 

Before Bethany and Ricia’s mother, Pattie (pictured to the right), completed our CommonCents program, she and her two daughters lived in tight quarters. “Both Bethany and Ricia had walk-through rooms, and the curtain dividers didn’t allow for much privacy,” Pattie explained. Through her hard-earned savings, coupled with CommonCents financial education classes and a 3-to-1 savings match from us, Pattie became a first-time homeowner. With plans to renovate her own bedroom in the near future, Pattie currently sleeps in the living room so that both girls can enjoy their very own, newly-decorated bedrooms! “The first thing I did when we moved in was go up to my room and close my door—I was just so excited to have one!” said Ricia. We’re thrilled that Bethany and Ricia now have the opportunity to close their doors while Pattie continues work with our CommonCents staff to open new ones for her entire family.

 

Nancy's Story

Nancy Parsons of Belchertown loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out the window. But it was too cold to sit there. 

Nancy is a senior citizen living on a fixed income. Ever since her husband died six years ago, it's been getting more difficult each year to make ends meet. "I live in an older mobile home," said Nancy. "It was drafty, and the floors were very cold. The Weatherization program found and sealed where the drafts were coming from, insulated underneath my home, and added insulation around my front bay window."

Next, we dealt with Nancy's heating system. "Last winter, I had trouble with my furnace just shutting off and not restarting," she said. "One time my pipes froze because of it. Community Action was able to replace it with a furnace that is not only reliable, but burns less oil. What a relief to not have to worry!"

Nancy still has trouble paying her bills. So we also helped reduce Nancy's costs by enrolling her in our Fuel Assistance program.

Nancy appreciated Community Action's emphasis on good customer service. "The workers were just fabulous," said Nancy. "They were very friendly and knowledgeable, and took the time to explain what they were doing and why."

We're pleased to be able to help people like Nancy Parsons stay safe and warm in their own homes. And thanks to increased resources through stimulus funding, we are able to weatherize even more homes in Hampshire and Franklin Counties, and do even more work in each home than in 2009. Now many other people like Nancy can have the simple joy of looking out their window while feeling cozy and warm.