Over the past 30 years, the Brick House Community Resource Center has been a vital, welcoming, and responsive part of the Turners Falls community.
Founded in response to domestic violence, the Brick House has grown and changed over the years, offering more programs and making more connections: community gardens and job-readiness classes; a long-running after-school teen center; a venue for performance; our successful campaign for a permanent skate park; free food distributions during the COVID-19 crisis.
We now seek your help to expand even further. We aim to build a strong foundation of support to sustain the work of the Brick House for many years to come.
In addition to parent and family services, youth programs, and a space for events and classes, we want the community to know that the Brick House is much more: a safe place for the entire community to access resources. This year your gift will go toward building an intake process that will allow us to help anyone who walks through our door create and sustain an action plan for improving their life. And it will help us keep those doors open, and the lights on!
We thank you for your support over the years. The Brick House has been a valuable resource because of your generosity. Please consider supporting its growth, as it endeavors to serve.
Youth Programs News
Our AmeriCorps members Daniela, Ilani and Olivia
The Brick House Welcomes Megan Richardson, our new Youth Program Director
Megan has been working with youth in a variety of capacities for more than 15 years, from developing and facilitating media literacy trainings for young adults to apply critical thinking skills and evaluate dominate discourse, to utilizing theatre as a pedagogical tool to elevate the experiences of marginalized at-risk youth, and to promote healing, social-justice and health-equity. Having grown up in Franklin County and attended programming at the Brick House as a youth herself, she is both honored and overjoyed to now be serving as the Youth Program Director at the Brick House Community Resource Center.
It has been a productive year for the Youth Programs, with lots of creative team-work and leadership from our wonderful AmeriCorps members, Daniela Jurado, Ilani Ortiz, and Olivia Nied, as we continue to face unique challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic.
Thanks to our amazing and dedicated staff, we are confident about our ability to stay connected and engaged with the wonderful youth in our community, as we temporarily return to offering weekly academic support, programming, and mentorship services remotely for the end of the year.
We were grateful to offer in-person programming for a period of time this year, and youth were excited to be back in the space, meeting with staff one-on-one for academic support, or participating in various engaging programs, from Rhythmic Painting to S.T.E.M. workshops – some things are just better in person!
Parent and Family Services
Daniela, Stacey and Sandra
The Parent & Family Program offers support for local families in a variety of ways:
- Individual Family Support and Referrals out to appropriate agencies.
- Salvation Army Vouchers for use in their stores; also utility assistance for those whose incomes are a bit higher than the poverty level and who are experiencing financial stress.
- Drop-in Coffee Hour on Thursday mornings from 9 to 10:30.
- The Brick House Community Connections Coalition is working on creating more opportunities for social connections among community members.
- Space for the Department of Children & Families to use for parent/child visits.
- Space for other agencies to use for specific programs.
- Parent Education Opportunities with The Brain Architecture Game and evidence-based programs for parents and guardians to strengthen their parenting skills.
For more information about any of these opportunities, please contact our Parent & Family Program staff:
- Stacey Langknecht: slangknecht@brickhousecrc.org or 413-800-2496
- Sandra Ramos: sramos@brickhousecrc.org or 413-800-2208
(Tambien espanol) - Daniela Jurado: djurado@brickhousecrc.org or 586-335-9693
(Tambien espanol)