C3 Has an Office!

Thanks to our long-time supporters at A.P.E., C3 now has an office space downtown! A.P.E. has generously provided office and meeting space to C3 on the second floor of their new building, Window, at 126 Main St in Northampton.

This beautiful, bright, downtown location will allow C3 staff to work more effectively toward realizing our vision of creating a shared space center for local nonprofits and artists. A.P.E. has provided space for several C3 events over the last two years, from the first community meetings in early 2007, to a strategic planning meeting with Linda Stout a year ago to the launch of our storefront ART program this past summer. A.P.E. has been there from the start for C3, and we are grateful for their support!

C3 Receives Solidago Grant!

On behalf of the C3 board and staff, I'm very pleased to announce that C3 has received a $5000 grant from the Solidago Foundation. This grant will help pay for general operating expenses and will be a huge help as we work to open our shared space Nonprofit Center. We are grateful for Solidago's confidence and support.

With this generous grant, Solidago joins a growing community of individuals and organizations who see how important C3 will be in helping nonprofits and local artists do their work more effectively and collaboratively by providing affordable space and shared resources. Thanks to everyone who has given so generously!

If you haven't already, please join this growing community of C3 supporters by making a tax-deductible gift today. Your support is crucial to making the C3 vision a vibrant, exciting reality. You can donate electronically on our website, or send your check to:

Commonwealth Center for Change
12 Crafts Ave. #4
Northampton, MA 01060

Thank you!

C3 seeks part time volunteer bookkeeper

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a positive impact in the community and use their experience and expertise to help develop and administer a sound and transparent bookkeeping structure for a startup nonprofit.

Salary: Unpaid
Duration of position: 6-12months
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours/week
Responsibilities:

• Bi-weekly payroll
• Work with E.D. to refine and maintain Quickbooks accounts and systems
• On-going bookkeeping tasks
• Prepare quarterly state and federal employee forms

Requirements:

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and written skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong follow-through
• Self-starter & motivated
• Requires minimal supervision
• Has her or his own computer
• Proficiency in Quickbooks, Filemaker Pro, Excel and Word

To apply submit cover letter and resume to:

Julia Handschuh
Program Director
Commonwealth Center for Change
12 Crafts Ave. #4
Northampton, MA 01060

C3 Seeks Intern

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a positive impact in the community and gain experience working in a vibrant, start up nonprofit environment.

Salary: Unpaid
Duration of position: 6-12months
Time Commitment: 3-5 hours/week
Responsibilities:

• Day-to-day office and program administrative tasks
• Newsletter production and other outreach tasks
• Website updates
• Grant research, writing
• Market research
• Data base maintenance
• Donor tracking
• Volunteer coordination

Requirements:

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and written skills
• Strong teamwork skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong follow-through
• Ability to listen and willingness to learn
• Ability to work from various locations
• Self-starter & motivated
• Requires minimal supervision
• Has her or his own computer
• Proficiency in Quickbooks, Filemaker Pro, Excel and Word

To apply submit cover letter and resume to:

Julia Handschuh
Program Director
Commonwealth Center for Change
12 Crafts Ave. #4
Northampton, MA 01060

storefront ART Receives Arts Council Grant

C3 was notified today that our storefront ART program has received a $2,500 grant from the BJ Goodwin Memorial Fund, which is administered by the Northampton Arts Council.

This generous grant comes at a perfect time for storefront ART, and will allow us to build on the momentum and energy generated by our debut ARThappening at A.P.E. in June and our debut workSPACE in Thornes Market this summer. We are excited by the enthusiastic response storefront ART has received from the community, and the Arts Council's support will help us build on that enthusiasm and provide new studio, exhibition and gathering spaces for local artists. Speaking of which,

Check out storefront Art's fall lineup!

• We've just moved into our new workSPACE on the second floor of Thornes, in the old Northampton Box Office space. Be sure to stop by to check out the work of puppeteer Madison Cripps and the custom bookmakers from Jaguar Uprising Press.
  
• Later in September we'll present a new series of paintings by local artist Michelle Bellici in our first windowSPACE gallery in the old Crystal storefront on the corner of Green and West Streets, generously donated by Smith College.
  
• Mark your calenders now for our November 14th ARThappening and C3 fundraiser at the Haymarket Cafe.
  
• Plus we have a very exciting new project we'll be announcing in the next few day, so stay tuned!

As you can see, storefront ART has a lot going on, and we couldn't do it without the support of the BJ Goodwin Memorial Fund and the Northampton Arts Council. Thank you so much!

We welcome the Arts Council to the growing community of storefront ART supporters, which includes many individuals and the following organizations: the Northampton Center for the Arts, Art Angels, A.P.E., Thornes Market and Smith College. Thank you for your support!

We hope you will join this community as well by making a donation to storefront ART. You can donate online at our website, or make a check out to Commonwealth Center for Change, with storefront ART in the memo line, and send it to:

Commonwealth Center for Change
12 Crafts Ave. #4
Northampton, MA 01060

Thank you!

Fall Series of ESL classes

Hi everyone,

A new series of Sunday ESL classes will be starting September 14th in Amherst. The first series last spring was a big success, and we're excited about being a part of this wonderful effort to help our immigrant neighbors feel more confident and welcome in our community.

Classes will run from 2-4pm every Sunday, from September 14th till October 26th.

If you are interested in teaching or being a tutor, please contact Erin at mcnallymonster@gmail.com

If you are interested in helping with child care or volunteer coordination, or if you or someone you know would be interested in taking the classes, please contact Juan Carlos at
jcaguilar@comcast.net

Jennifer Ladd Consulting
Leadership & Money Coach, Group Facilitator
jladd@jenniferladd.net
Courage to Fundraise

• Are you new at fundraising?
• Do you want to help a cause you love but have conflicted feelings about asking for money?
• Would you like to be able to ask absolutely anyone for a contribution?
• Do you want to find playful ways to move toward greater ease and courage where fundraising is concerned?

We each have a gaggle of voices that are at work in every fundraising phone call, appeal, and encounter. Is it Fear? Is it Begging? Is it Anger? Is it Entitlement? Is it Ambivalence? Is it True Love of the Cause? Is it all of the above and more?

Come join Jennifer Ladd, Ed. D. in a workshop of theater games, play, role-playing and real results as you and others explore all the voices in your head that both help and hinder you in fundraising. Explore and become more conscious so that you can choose who is doing the fundraising and relationship building essential for organizational survival. Learn how to use your fear as a creative catapult into an empowered approach.


When: Friday, October 10, 9:00 – 12:00
Where: Room 236, Potpourri Plaza, 243 King St. Northampton
Cost: $45 - $75, Deposit of $25.00 required


If you are interested contact Jennifer Ladd, Ed.D at 413-584-0565 or email her at jladd@jenniferladd.net.

Jennifer Ladd, Ed. D is a philanthropic advisor and leadership coach for those with resources and those seeking funds. She has over 30 years experience in social change philanthropy as well as group facilitation. For more information go to her website, www.jenniferladd.net.

Welcome to new Board members!

On behalf of the C3 board and staff, I'm very pleased and proud to announce that Gina Nortonsmith and Norma Akamatsu have joined the C3 Board of Directors. Their expertise and passion, and their commitment to our community will be invaluable assets to C3 as we work together to create a home and resource center that benefits nonprofits, artists and the Northampton community.

Gina Nortonsmith is an advocate who works for community and social change. She and her spouse, Heidi Nortonsmith, were one of the plaintiff couples in the Massachusetts landmark court case which resulted in equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Gina, an attorney by training, has worked in the areas of housing, racial justice, children and families, sexual orientation, media, and cycling. She has brought her compassion and sense of justice for those considered institutional outsiders to her work in educational institutions as professor, assistant dean, and ombudsperson. Gina lives in Northampton with Heidi and their two sons, Avery and Quinn.

Norma Akamatsu, MSW, is a psychotherapist, practicing in Northampton, MA. She has facilitated discussion on a variety of topics with many local community, religious and educational organizations through her work with Community Dialogue Associates. She is a founding member of the Pioneer Valley Coalition Against Secrecy and Torture (PVCAST) working to raise awareness and educate about the problem of US sanctioned torture. She has been a member of the Northampton Civil Rights Committee, dealing with issues of equity in the public schools and has taught at the Smith College School for Social Work. She is also on the Community Advisory Board of Project 2050, UMass, Amherst.

The addition of Gina and Norma makes our board an even stronger, more dynamic team, and we are so excited they have decided to join us!

Welcome Gina and Norma!

C3 seeks 2-3 interns to form a dynamic support team for the storefront ART Program Director

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a positive impact on the local arts community and gain experience working with artists and managing gallery space.

Salary: Unpaid
Duration of position: 6-12months
Time Commitment: 4hours/week
Deadline: September 15th
Responsibilities:

Work with the Program Director to:
· maintain relationships with building owners
· work with artists-in-residence and exhibiting artists
· develop web and print publicity
· produce storefront ART events, including openings and ARThappenings
· install and remove work
· identify future locations
· staff workSPACE and windowSPACE locations
· maintain storefront ART databases
· research funding opportunities

Requirements:
· Excellent interpersonal, communication and written skills
· Strong teamwork skills
· Strong attention to detail
· Strong follow-through
· Excitement about and investment in community arts
· Ability to listen and willingness to learn
· Ability to work from various locations
· Proficiency in Excel and Photoshop

To apply submit:
Cover letter
Writing sample
Resume
To:
Julia Handschuh
Program Director
Commonwealth Center for Change
12 Crafts Ave. #4
Northampton Ma 01060