Registration

Join the J.S. Bryant School team April 26th & 27th from 9:30am-1:30pm (Rain Dates: May 10th & 11th)

There are many physical tasks to be completed in preparation for opening their doors in 2025; this Spring they’re planting over 200 apple trees so that when their students arrive for their first months, they will have an orchard full of apples as part of their educational and culinary experience!

They welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community work party. Join them for a day of connecting with the earth, with others in the community, and delicious snacks!

More about this offering:

Join vocalist/composer, voice and movement teacher, and author Pyeng Threadgill as she reads excerpts from her recent memoir, Lost & Found: Finding The Power In Your Voice, and shares a special evening of music. 

Growing up in the 1980s in the heart of New York City's downtown music and art scene became fertile ground for seeds of creativity, doubt, and eventual empowerment for Pyeng Threadgill. From motherhood to travel, from ancestry to the body—evolving from a passionate performer to injured performer, from voice student to voice and movement teacher—Lost & Found examines the visceral and ephemeral experiences of the voice, for the body and for oneself in the world, as both a spiritual and political act. Threadgill is joined by guest guitarist and Amherst local John Caban.

Find out what readers are saying about Lost & Found.

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

Donation-based pricing: $10-$40

A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:

Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.

Registration

Join the J.S. Bryant School team April 26th & April 27th from 9:30am-1:30pm (Rain Dates: May 10th & 11th)

There are many physical tasks to be completed in preparation for opening their doors in 2025; this Spring they’re planting over 200 apple trees so that when their students arrive for their first months, they will have an orchard full of apples as part of their educational and culinary experience!

They welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community work party. Join them for a day of connecting with the earth, with others in the community, and delicious snacks!

Federal Street Books is happy to announce their participation in the eleventh anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27, from 11am - 6pm.

This is the third year Federal Street Books has participated in the annual event. This year the store’s Prize Wheel returns, where any customer can spin to win a free sticker, pin, or other special exclusive prizes. Additional Indie Bookstore Day giveaways, including mugs, enamel pins, bags, and special edition books will be made available free while supplies last with minimum purchase of $25.

Hillary Hoffman, Federal Street Books co-owner said “Indie Bookstore Day is a chance to show our appreciation for our loyal customers, neighbors, and friends.”

“Independent bookstores work every day to build community around the written word,” said Beth Ineson, Executive Director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association.

“Independent Bookstore Day is a chance to celebrate and support their efforts, because we can all agree that bookstores make every neighborhood a more vibrant place.”

Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate, and highlight the value of the Independent bookstore community. The day has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013. This year there are over 900 stores participating across the country.

Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, that works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

LEARN ABOUT FEDERAL STREET BOOKS

Click/tap the button below to learn more about Independent Bookstore Day.

This is a FREE event.

More about this offering:

This workshop is for anyone wanting to find, deepen their connection to, or reawaken their voice. Through guided meditation, journaling prompts, intuitive movement, and mindful movement/Alexander Technique, Threadgill will lead you on a journey to your creative voice. Bring a notebook or journal, wear clothing comfortable to move in, and expect to explore sounds of your voice.

Find out what past participants had to say about this workshop.

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

Sliding-scale workshop pricing: $30-$50

Student price: $15

A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:

Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.

More about this offering:

Join BUFFET, Shapeshifters, Styles by Shimmer, Autumn Wilde Arts, and the Majestic Drag Collective for a FAT, QUEER, VINTAGE fashion market at The Majestic Saloon in Northampton on Saturday April 27th from 12pm - 5pm.

Registration

No registration required, this event is FREE to attend.

Click/tap the button below to learn more about The Majestic Saloon.

Registration

Join High Five Books and award-winning author, illustrator and graphic novelist Cece Bell for an early evening family art and music extravaganza—with hot, fresh donuts!

The beloved creator of #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning El Deafo (now an animated show on Apple TV+) and many other books that young people adore (Sock Monkey; Chick and Brain; Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover) will lead artists and readers through the process of creating her latest all-ages alphabet book Animal Albums from A to Z, a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art.

Cece will spin original tunes from Animal Albums, lead drawing demonstrations (and maybe a dance-a-thon!), discuss the new book and its connection to El Deafo, and answer all her fans’ questions.

Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing; all titles will be also available for purchase. Wake the Dead Donuts will have fresh mini donuts and donut sundaes for sale.

Tickets are available via Bombyx.live on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!

As part of the "Moving Museum" free art pop-up series, the UnNameable Children's Project is collaborating with the Children's Museum at Holyoke on four art workshops, free to the public, and open to all ages. Each session will be an hour long led by an artist from the UnNameable Children's Project. Participants will collaborate with the artists to create fantastical garden installation out of recycled materials. Each artist will focus on a different component of the garden which will be put together into a whimsical and magical environment that visitors can walk through and performances can take place in. The project will emphasize group collaboration, imagination, and celebrating nature in spring!

Registration

This is a FREE event. Click the button below for more information!

Transforming Parents is a peer support group for parents or caretakers of children who identify beyond the gender binary, including, but not limited to, transgender, non-binary, queer, trans-masc or trans-fem. Some of the children are exploring and questioning their gender identity. This group has been meeting since 2012 to provide information and support. The participants usually have adolescent or adult children; they welcome families with elementary age children. Join them to receive and provide support and learning.

Dates: First Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

To register, please email Transhealth at transformingparents@gmail.com and a member of the team will contact you. Transhealth looks forward to hearing from you!

Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 13-18. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.

Dates: First Thursday of the month

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.

An Evening with Elliot Page: Fireside Chat and Birthday Benefit for Transhealth

Purchase VIP Seating to attend a Post-Show Meet & Greet!

Join Transhealth for an unforgettable evening with Elliot Page on Sunday, May 5th, at 7:30pm at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. Celebrate and support Transhealth’s mission of expanding access to gender-affirming care with a powerful fireside chat that illuminates the power of hope, the warmth of joy, and the courage required to live authentically.

Let us celebrate, enjoy each other’s company, make a wish, and blow out the candles as we burst with pride and intention into Transhealth’s fourth year of providing life-saving care and community. Their birthday wish? For all trans and gender-diverse people to have the freedom to be their authentic selves and to have access to the compassionate, comprehensive healthcare they deserve.

In their conversation with Elliot Page, Transhealth will explore his personal journey and delve into the challenges he’s faced, the milestones he’s celebrated, and the lessons he’s learned along the way, offering a unique lens through which we can examine the struggles and triumphs of the trans community and the transformative impact of compassionate, comprehensive gender-affirming care. This event is an opportunity to reflect on how personal narratives like Elliot’s contribute to our collective understanding, strengthen community, and inspire advocacy, driving us forward in our quest for a more inclusive and supportive world.

About Elliot Page

Elliot Page is an Academy Award®-nominated actor, a director, a producer, a writer, and a New York Times bestselling author known for his indelible on-screen presence in both tentpole and art house films. His love for storytelling and passion for social justice has taken him behind the camera as a producer and documentary filmmaker whose work answers the call to action of a generation. A tireless champion of the under-represented, Elliot uses his global platform to shed light on important social and LGBTQ+ issues. Elliot’s work and advocacy are motivated and informed by the urgency of global issues which impact the most marginalized among us.

In 2020, Elliot announced in a moving message on social media that he is transgender. After coming out, Elliot received overwhelming support from the LGBTQ+ community and is now using his voice to speak out on issues of violence perpetrated against trans bodies, as well as confronting political leaders who seek to criminalize trans healthcare. In March of 2021, Elliot became the first transgender man to be featured solo on the cover of TIME.

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

Ticket Prices:
$39.99 - $77.98 ($46.86 - $87.94 after Fees)

VIP Meet & Greet: $274.09 after Fees

Where/How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Purchase online using the button below, or you may visit or call the Academy of Music box office at 413-584-9032 ext. 105. Box Office Hours are 3pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday.

Bloom Local Deep Listening Circles

Facilitated by M Rudder and Luc Abbott
2nd Wednesday of the Month Starting May 8th 

In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.

Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other. 

All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle. 

Registration

Sliding scale $5 – $30 entry. Tap/click here to register. You will receive a link to the meeting once confirmed. 

Accessibility

Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs. 

About the Facilitators 

M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing.  They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.

Luc Abbott (they/he) is a neurodivergent, queer, and trans creative curator, content maker, designer, and community organizer living on unceded Nipmuc and Pocumtuck land, known as the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts. Their early professional experiences in supporting neurodivergent youth in public schools and summer camps shaped the first chapter of their career in museum education, where they focused on accessible program design. After encountering burnout in the nonprofit sector, Luc began freelancing in creative work and navigating the complexities of chronic pain, illness, and nervous system burnout alongside community-focused entrepreneurship. Championing generative collaboration, community care, and unbridled creative expression, Luc now works to connect LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies through Bloom Local, a digital platform they launched in 2021. Luc’s education, which includes a BA from Mount Holyoke College, along with experiences in mental health support, public speaking, Yoga instruction, and community herbalism, informs their unique approach to curating spaces and experiences. Luc is also a dedicated partner, child, sibling, friend, and pet parent. 

Registration

Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?

Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!

Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.

To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!

Planning on gifting the motherly figure in your life flowers for Mother’s Day? Support a local garden by purchasing your blossoms from Wistariahurst Museum on May 11th, 2024 from 10 am to noon! Their plants are perfectly adapted to our unique climate and soil, making them ideal for your garden. With a variety of flora, including roses, daylilies, American wisteria, and kousa dogwood trees, there's something for everyone. Best of all, not only will your gift last for seasons to come, but your purchase also supports the maintenance of Wistariahurst’s historical museum and gardens.

Celebrate Mother’s Day by bringing your mom or motherly figure to Wistariahurst Museum during our Mother’s Day Plant Sale! Take a stroll through the enchanted garden and find the perfect gift to spruce up mom's garden. Show your mom some floral love by snagging her a selection of plants from their site. Don't miss this chance to shower your awesome mom with blooming affection!

Registration

Click/tap the link below for more information.

This is a FREE event.

Registration

We’re fond of building fires to gather around, and smores for everyone to enjoy, so we hope you’ll join us in this opportunity to sit together underneath the evening sky.

We’ll offer the opportunity to tour and learn about the school before the fire starts. Then we’ll move into a space of reflection and sharing, storytelling and perhaps even song!

Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 30+. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.

Dates: Third Thursday of the month

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.

Registration

Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?

Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!

Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.

To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!

The goal of "Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market” has always been to support newcomers. Lead by M Rudder and Jey Weisgerber, YAQPUM is a fledgling pop-up market centering LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and emerging artisans and makers exploring their craft. They believe there is always room for more spaces in our community to support the financial success of BIPOC, queer, and trans makers, artists, crafters, creators, and entrepreneurs. Their hope is to provide the additional support they have been looking for in preparing for a craft or maker market as a newcomer.

Registration

Click/tap the link below for more information on this event.

This is a FREE to attend event.

Young crafters, makers, cooks, and creatives are invited to vend their handmade wares on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 2-5pm, at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity.

Little Roots, Bombyx, Art Always, & High Five Books are excited to present a Spring Kids' Makers Market. Featuring kids as the makers, ranging from 6-14 years old! Come purchase gifts for yourself, your friends, or family - for birthdays, fun surprises, or just because. You'll find jewelry, soaps, note cards, art, candles, food and more.

Alongside kid vendors will be local arts businesses: High Five Books, reading with families throughout the day and vending books and creative supplies. Art Always, selling ART TO GO kits and hosting a free Craft Bar where families can choose supplies to create with at home. Little Roots, offering a “Peaceful Percussion” Instrument Petting Zoo. Resilient Community Arts, hosting a tote bag-decorating table. Wake the Dead Donuts vending their hot, fresh mini donuts.

Shoppers are also encouraged to visit the second Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market at the Florence Civic Center, just up Pine Street from BOMBYX, to round out a craft-tastic day for families and craft supporters.

Registration

Click/tap the link below for more information on this event.

Email BookbinderRose@gmail.com if your child would like to be a part of the makers market!

No RSVP required.

The intersection of art and business is complicated. Creativity requires freedom and flow, a capacity to tune into your artistic vision. And, yet to maintain and sustain yourself, money is required. Yet often the need for financial nourishment feels like compromising your values, selling yourself short, or becoming dependent on others in a way that feels icky. In this workshop, we’ll rethink the meeting point of creativity and business from a place of ease, integrity, and purpose.

This includes:

— Identifying limiting beliefs that keep you out of flow on the business side of your work.

— Reimagining business growth from a place of creativity and self-trust.

— Crafting action steps that feel nourishing and in alignment with both your artistic vision and financial goals.

Beth Pellettieri is a Creative Business Coach and Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach. She works with heart-centered, creative business owners to find fun, fulfillment, and financial peace. You can learn more about her work at www.bethpellettieri.com or IG @bethpellettieri.

Registration

Click/tap the link below for more information on this event and to register.

Sunday May 19th from 3:30 pm — 5 pm at Northampton Center for the Arts.

Sliding scale pricing.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Registration

Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?

Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!

Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.

To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!

Relieve deep-set tension with yoga instructor Sebastian Merrill (he/him) and licensed massage therapist el nyberg (they/them). Sebastian will guide the class through a meditative sequence of gentle, floor-based, prop-supported restorative postures with long holds (5-12 minutes per shape).

While breathing and settling into rest, Sebastian and el will offer optional hands-on support and bodywork. This workshop is designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community to provide a supportive space to slow down, receive healing touch, and practice self-care in service of our own well-being and the well-being of our relationships and communities.

This workshop is appropriate for many levels of experience and ability, including beginners and those who struggle to access stillness and relaxation. All bodies, sizes, and abilities are welcome and celebrated.

Please note: Masks are required for this workshop.

Registration

Saturday, May 25th, 12-2pm (in-studio only)

Sliding-scale workshop pricing: $30-50.

A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings: 

Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Transhealth invites you to join their hybrid support group for parents who identify and belong to the trans and gender-diverse community. Facilitated by one of our experienced trans Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), this group is free and open to all!

Dates: Last Wednesday of Every Month

Time: 6pm – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

This is a FREE support group.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Transforming Parents is a peer support group for parents or caretakers of children who identify beyond the gender binary, including, but not limited to, transgender, non-binary, queer, trans-masc or trans-fem. Some of the children are exploring and questioning their gender identity. The group has been meeting since 2012 to provide information and support. The participants usually have adolescent or adult children; they welcome families with elementary age children. Join them to receive and provide support and learning.

Dates: First Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

Please email Transhealth at transformingparents@gmail.com and a member of the team will contact you. They look forward to hearing from you!

Transhealth offers a peer support group for our patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 13-18. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.

Dates: First Thursday of the month

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Bloom Local Deep Listening Circles

Facilitated by M Rudder and Luc Abbott
2nd Wednesday of the Month Starting May 8th 

In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.

Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other. 

All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle. 

Registration

Sliding scale $5 – $30 entry. Tap/click here to register. You will receive a link to the meeting once confirmed. 

Accessibility

Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs. 

About the Facilitators 

M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing.  They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.

Luc Abbott (they/he) is a neurodivergent, queer, and trans creative curator, content maker, designer, and community organizer living on unceded Nipmuc and Pocumtuck land, known as the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts. Their early professional experiences in supporting neurodivergent youth in public schools and summer camps shaped the first chapter of their career in museum education, where they focused on accessible program design. After encountering burnout in the nonprofit sector, Luc began freelancing in creative work and navigating the complexities of chronic pain, illness, and nervous system burnout alongside community-focused entrepreneurship. Championing generative collaboration, community care, and unbridled creative expression, Luc now works to connect LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies through Bloom Local, a digital platform they launched in 2021. Luc’s education, which includes a BA from Mount Holyoke College, along with experiences in mental health support, public speaking, Yoga instruction, and community herbalism, informs their unique approach to curating spaces and experiences. Luc is also a dedicated partner, child, sibling, friend, and pet parent. 

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 30+. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.

Dates: Third Thursday of the month

Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.

This is a FREE support group.

To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Transhealth invites you to join their hybrid support group for parents who identify and belong to the trans and gender-diverse community. Facilitated by one of Transhealth’s experienced trans Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), this group is free and open to all!

Dates: Last Wednesday of Every Month

Time: 6pm – 7:30pm EST

Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom

Registration Info

Tap/Click the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

This is a FREE support group.

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.

** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color

Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024

Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST

Location: Virtual

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.

For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org

Bloom Local Deep Listening Circles

Facilitated by M Rudder and Luc Abbott
2nd Wednesday of the Month Starting May 8th 

In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.

Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other. 

All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle. 

Registration

Sliding scale $5 – $30 entry. Tap/click here to register. You will receive a link to the meeting once confirmed. 

Accessibility

Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs. 

About the Facilitators 

M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing.  They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.

Luc Abbott (they/he) is a neurodivergent, queer, and trans creative curator, content maker, designer, and community organizer living on unceded Nipmuc and Pocumtuck land, known as the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts. Their early professional experiences in supporting neurodivergent youth in public schools and summer camps shaped the first chapter of their career in museum education, where they focused on accessible program design. After encountering burnout in the nonprofit sector, Luc began freelancing in creative work and navigating the complexities of chronic pain, illness, and nervous system burnout alongside community-focused entrepreneurship. Championing generative collaboration, community care, and unbridled creative expression, Luc now works to connect LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies through Bloom Local, a digital platform they launched in 2021. Luc’s education, which includes a BA from Mount Holyoke College, along with experiences in mental health support, public speaking, Yoga instruction, and community herbalism, informs their unique approach to curating spaces and experiences. Luc is also a dedicated partner, child, sibling, friend, and pet parent.