Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Hosted Double Dedication Event in Holyoke

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA | GREATER SPRINGFIELD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | July 18, 2022 – On Monday, July 18, the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) hosted a double in-person dedication ceremony (that aired on Facebook Live) for two Holyoke homes and two families. The event celebrated the families who will soon purchase the newly-built homes. Since construction began in summer 2021, roughly 150 volunteers from local companies and school groups helped complete this project. They include City of Holyoke Department of Community Development, Holyoke Housing Authority, Holyoke Community Preservation Act Committee, Sunbelt Rentals, PeoplesBank, OMG, Anna Maria College, Meyers Brothers Kalicka; Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, Citizens Bank, and Restoration Worship Center. “We are very grateful for the opportunity and partnerships created allowing us to provide more affordable housing in the City of Holyoke. We hope that this is the start of more to come,” said Aimee Giroux, GSHFH executive director. Single mother Jennifer and her three teenage boys will move into a threebedroom Greater Springfield Habitat home currently under construction. Since divorcing her abusive husband, Jennifer has strived for a safe and decent affordable home. Within her current apartment, her two youngest sons share a bedroom and bed and the neighborhood they live in is dangerous – has several vacant buildings, homeless people, drugs, and vehicles are frequently vandalized. “I see so much better for my children and I want to be able to provide them a forever home – a place where we will feel safe, stable, happy, and accomplished,” Jennifer said. “We want a place to create beautiful memories for many years to come.” Ireydiza and her husband Juan will soon purchase the other three-bedroom GSHFH home in Holyoke. The couple has two young children. Just four years ago, the family was happy, healthy, and dreaming of buying their first home. Then tragedy struck. A workplace injury disabled Juan, the breadwinner. Ireydiza left school to be the sole breadwinner. The family is eager to move forward and out of the apartment, which in winter is cold in the living room and master bedroom. “We’ve been trying to leave for a while. This neighborhood has a bad reputation,” said Juan. “We want something different for our kids. We want them to be able to have something where they come home and say, ‘This is our home.’” GSHFH is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through homeownership and home repair opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. Habitat’s mission to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income families is unique as it requires partner families to work alongside the community that is reaching out to help them. GSHFH has helped over 100 local families realize their dream of homeownership over the last 35 years.

Jennifer and 2 sons Juan, Ireydiza, 2 children

Educación / Education

STCC to offer Plumbing, Electrical and Pipefitting Courses

SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | July 20, 2022 – Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has opened registration for plumbing, electrical and pipefitting courses that start this fall and run through the spring of 2023. Offered through the Workforce Development Center at STCC, the courses will be taught two nights a week on the STCC campus. Most of the courses begin Sept. 6. STCC is partnering with Gould Construction Institute to present the courses. They include Plumbing Tier 1 through Tier 5. The introductory Plumbing Tier 1 course will teach students about materials, tools and joining methods used in plumbing; valves and devices used in plumbing and residential blueprint reading. STCC also will offer Electrical 1 through 4, Master Electrician and Pipefitting 1 courses in the fall. Note: All students taking courses with an in-person component and/or students who intend to be on campus for any reason are required to provide written proof of full vaccination. For more information about the courses, visit the “certification & license preparation” section of stcc.edu/wdc. To speak with someone, contact the STCC Workforce Development Center, Building 27, Second Floor, or call (413) 755-4225. Email workforcetraining@stcc.edu. Springfield Technical Community College, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC’s highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates. Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.