HCC to hold Women’s History Month panel

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will celebrate Women’s History Month on Wednesday with a panel discussion on “Finding the Words: The Story of Voices from Inside,” a documentary about women who write to overcome their experiences with incarceration and addiction.

“Voices from Inside” is a prison writing program that started in 1999, but the film had its origins in the classrooms of HCC.

The panel, which will run from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the cafeteria stage on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center, includes three HCC-affiliated women who appear in the film: alum Sonia Mendez ‘19, ‘20, of Williamsburg, a veteran of the Voices from Inside writing group; English Professor Lisa Mahon, who teaches Voices from Inside poetry in her classes; and Criminal Justice Professor Nicole Hendricks, an expert on prison education programs and co-founder of Western Mass CORE at HCC, a college pathways program for incarcerated and system-impacted individuals.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is meant to help audiences understand the circumstances that can lead to incarceration and addiction, as well as how writing can be a tool for hope and healing.

Weaving together personal narratives along with insights from area experts, “Finding the Words” brings viewers inside the Franklin County Jail, into the homes of formerly incarcerated women, and into local community centers and theaters as the women read their work and share their stories.

Continuing its celebration of Women’s History Month, HCC will screen the documentary on Monday at noon in the Campus Center cafeteria.

Foundation to hold annual gala

EASTHAMPTON — Scarlet Sock Foundation will hold its annual gala Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Blue Room at CitySpace.

The foundation supports underrepresented populations by administering small grants to community organizations and individuals of all ages to increase exposure and access to social justice theater. Its efforts aim to increase the number of people from underrepresented populations involved in community-based theater by partnering with and providing funds for programming such as theater classes, the development of new plays, ticket purchases, pre/post show lessons, talkback opportunities, and other educational materials.

At Saturday’s gala, the foundation will celebrate its 2023 grant recipients: The Drama Studio, Human Agenda Theater, Arts Integration Studio, Springfield Technical Community College, Pittsfield Public Schools and WAM. The evening will showcase the work these innovative organizations created.

The program is free, though attendees will be invited to donate to the Scarlet Sock Foundation. Drinks and appetizers will be served.

To RSVP, go to the SSF website at https://scarletsock.org/events/list/. More information: Heidi Haas, Heidi_Haas@comcast.net, 413-626-5840.

Grow Food gets $15K from state to support market

NORTHAMPTON — Grow Food Northampton has landed a $15,000 state grant to support its farmers market program.

The nonprofit, which operates a Tuesday Market set to open on April 16 and a Winter’s Market that ends in early March, is one of nearly two dozen organizations statewide to split $205,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) Farmers Market Sustainability Grant Program. The money will help farmers markets grow and expand their outreach to consumers, including in the areas of marketing, promotion, consumer education, planning and infrastructure efforts.