The HERE Project

Out in the community, doing what we do best! 🧡 The H.E.R.E. Project team has been out hosting tablings, connecting and showing up in our neighborhoods! At local events we share resources, spread awareness, and have real conversations with people of all ages. All services provided by @ywca_westernmass are free, including The H.E.R.E. Project’s violence prevention courses. Every interaction is a step toward a safer and more informed community! We are proud to stand alongside our communities in providing education, support, and empowerment wherever we go. We are H.E.R.E. with you, and we are not going anywhere. #thehereproject #ywcaisonamission #ywcaofwesternma #ywcaofwesternmass #ywcaofwesternmassachusetts #violenceprevention #education #communitymatters #strongertogether #educationmatter #stopviolence

YWCA of Western Massachusetts

Interested in a training? Our classes are open to the public. Sign up today and your school or community will be a part of the change. Let’s continue to uplift, educate, and stand together, not just this month, but every day.

🦋Meet Our 2026 Difference Makers!🦋

Rachelle Hannoush is the Director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts.

Read her story on our website: https://businesswest.com/blog/rachelle-hannoush/

Tickets are on sale to celebrate her at the Difference Makers awards gala on April 7th at the Log Cabin in Holyoke!
https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar/difference-makers-2026-tickets/

Special thanks to our partner sponsors: Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank!

It's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February. If you or your organization would be interested in The H.E.R.E. Project facilitating healthy relationship dynamics classes/workshop, please reach out to :

Coordinating Supervisor Eve McCray
[email protected]

Happy Wednesday from The H.E.R.E Project!

A mid-week reminder to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the present moment. Being H.E.R.E is powerful. Being H.E.R.E is enough.

Check out some of our different workshops we teach and feel free to reach out if you are interested!

Turning heads (and wearing orange!) for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 🧡

Standing in solidarity with survivors and promoting healthy, safe relationships for all young people. Together, awareness becomes action.

Real love respects boundaries. Real love listens. We wear orange this month to spark conversations about what healthy relationships look like. Join us in taking a stand! Remember to always: "Respect That!"

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and it’s time to talk about what healthy love actually looks like.

At The H.E.R.E. Project, we believe every teen deserves a relationship built on respect, trust, and safety. This month, we’re breaking the silence.

We're Hiring!

Join our diverse team of passionate, trauma-informed and caring professionals.

Apply now at ywworks.org/employment

Our work with youth has shown us how vulnerable they can be to trafficking and exploitation, especially when no one’s having real conversations with them. That’s why we’re certified to deliver Not a Number, the prevention curriculum from Love146 to empower youth with tools to prevent harm and reduce risk.

It’s about equipping young people to recognize when something’s wrong, trust their gut, and seek help when something feels off, because every young person deserves to grow up free, safe, and supported.

Feel free to reach out or dm us or at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts if you are interested in having us teach your youth!

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It’s time to shed light on a hidden reality: human trafficking isn’t just one thing, and it often happens in plain sight.

Human trafficking can happen anywhere at any time and can show itself in different ways. Let's learn more about two categories of human trafficking: labor and s*x trafficking.

Need to report? Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733.

Let’s bring this issue out of the shadows.