Smoc In The News

SMOC Highlights

New Office for SMOC Behavioral Health

We are excited to announce that as of October 21^st, SMOC Behavioral Health (SBH) is now open to serve you in its new location!

The new address for SMOC Behavioral Health is 7 Bishop St. #29, which is two buildings down from SMOC’s main headquarters at 7 Bishop St.

Parking for SBH is available directly behind the building and an auxiliary parking area is available to provide plenty of parking spaces to accommodate clients, visitors and staff. Access to this area is located at the far end of our parking lot, on the other side of the metal fence.

Newly Rejuvenated Playground for SMOC Head Start/Child Care

We celebrated the newly upgraded playground at our 10 Roxanna St. SMOC Head Start/Child Care center on October 16 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This is another “Bright Space” project that was made possible by Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, CrossFit New England, Kettlebells4Kids, and UltiPlay Parks and Playgrounds, Inc. who raised all the funds for the project and organized volunteers to complete all of the labor required to rejuvenate the existing playground. These Bright Space play spaces will promote outdoor physical activities in nurturing and educationally supportive environments for our children. SMOC is deeply grateful to have such generous partners in the community!

WE DID IT! THANK YOU!

We surpassed both of our goals! Thanks to you, this year’s Purple Passion 5K/Run 3K/Walk and 18^th Annual SMOC Golf Tournament were the most successful yet!

The time, effort and funds you contributed will provide quality services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in our community. They will also extend Voices Against Violence’s hotline services to those in need of direct help. Additionally, SMOC’s Common Ground Resource Center will be able to provide more individualized housing services, warm meals, and direct assistances to our single adult population. Again, we are sincerely grateful to our donors, sponsors, event participants, and volunteers that made it happen. Thank You!

Annual Planting of the Moses Mohammed Memorial Sunflower Garden in June.

On June 12, 2019, staff, board members and friends came together to plant the seeds, remembered Moses and enjoyed the fellowship of the SMOC community. The event was opportunely ended with an ice cream social event for all participants. Watch for the sunflowers to bloom along Bishop Street in Framingham within the next few weeks.

Congratulations to Jerry Desilets!

Jerry Desilets was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s MetroWest Community Advocacy Breakfast. Diane Gould, President of Advocates; Eric Masi, President and CEO of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network; and Jim Cuddy, Executive Director of SMOC presented him with the award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual that has passionately dedicated his/her life to public service.

Jerry has been the Director of Planning, Policy, and Community Relations at SMOC for the last 19 years and has been a vocal advocate for the most vulnerable people in our communities. His advocacy has been instrumental in passing legislation; in developing and maintaining strong and stable partnerships with local service providers, legislators, and community leaders; and in bringing communities together on challenging subject matters that need attention but are not always popular. His innate ability to lead and facilitate conversations and to make positive change in the community has made him a deeply admired leader at SMOC and in the community at large. Congratulations Jerry for this well-deserved award!

New Home for Serenity House

On November 14^th, we celebrated the opening of Serenity House’s new location in downtown Framingham. Serenity House, a flagship program of SMOC, is a residential program for women in recovery, funded by the MA Dept. of Public Health. The event was held at 228 Concord St. with guests including Senate President Karen Spilka, Framingham City Council, Dennis Giombetti, Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, and Deputy Director of Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Jim Cremer.

SMOC renovated the newly purchased 28,000 square foot former nursing home built in 1960. The significantly improved facility is now licensed to house up to 36 women, an increased capacity compared to the previous Serenity House in Hopkinton. There are 5 single occupancy bedrooms dedicated to accommodate pregnant or post-partum mothers on the first floor and 15 double bedrooms on the first floor for the other program’s participants.

A New Playground for Pearl Street Family Shelter

We celebrated the newly installed Playground at our Pearl Street Family Shelter on October 22, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This “Bright Spaces” project was made possible by Jane Gibbon from Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, Ben and Heather Bergeron from CrossFit New England, and Amie Turrill Owens Kettlebells4Kids, who raised all the funds for the project and organized volunteers to complete all of the labor required to make the beautiful new playground. They, along with staff and families staying at the shelter were present for the event. SMOC is profoundly grateful for the time and dedication these organizations have put in to making new enriching play spaces for Pearl Street Family Shelter as well as several of our other family programs. The children at Pearl Street will now have a fun, safe, and inviting space to play.

Women’s Wellness Fair 2018

On October 15, 2018, we held the 3rd Annual Women’s Wellness Fair in the SMOC Café. With a theme of “Ladies, Your Wings are Ready”, the Women’s Wellness Fair strives to empower women with fundamental tools to excel in career and essential life skills.

Partner organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, WIC, A Place to Turn, Dignity Matters, Program RISE, and TEMPO were present to offer assistances and information, Dignity Matters graciously provided free bras to the women attending the event.

Women’s Wellness Fair seeded from an idea that sprouted three years ago, it has grown and become one of the most important events in SMOC Calendar. We are looking forward to having another one in 2019.

2018 Summer Jobs for Youth Program Graduation Ceremony

On August 17, 2018, we celebrated the graduation of participants in this year’s Summer Jobs for Youth Program. The program has been held successfully for more than 10 years to welcome bright and young talents and introduce them to social services field. This year, participants worked in the agency’s Housing Consumer Education Center, Housing Operations, Workforce Development and Finance departments to help with managing resources and clerical works, including research, filing and preparing important presentation packets.

The Summer Jobs for Youth Program provides a holistic introductory experience for high school-aged youth to the nonprofit world. With many departments that target specific issues in the community, participants have the liberty to choose and apply their skills to further amplify SMOC’s mission. Summer Jobs for Youth is held annually during the summer months from June-August. Pictured, Ryan (one of the 5 program graduates) receiving his Certificate of Completion with the SMOC Housing team.

Building a Culture of Care

SMOC’s history has been published by local author and Board member Hugo “Holly” Hollerorth. The book is called “Building a Culture of Care: The Ongoing Saga of the South Middlesex Opportunity Council.” It is an in-depth look at the origins, history and evolution of the organization through the years. Pictured here are the author (center) with staff members Susan Gentili (left) and Darlene Assencoa (right).