Calendar

In the presentation of her book Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs, Chaya will discuss her work consulting with people coming off psychiatric drugs, what helps them the most, and her other experience working with people in withdrawal from psych meds. She will share wisdom gained from 15 years of professional experience working non-medically with people seeking a variety of alternatives to the mainstream psychiatric paradigm. She will also share from her personal experience of having withdrawn from psychiatric meds herself. There will be time for Q and A so bring your questions.

Author Bio: Chaya Grossberg has been sharing her psychiatric survivor and trauma story publicly for over 15 years and is an advocate and consultant to those coming off psychiatric drugs and/or seeking alternative approaches to distress. She has written a book about her work called “Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs” and has worked professionally with people seeking alternatives to the mainstream psychiatric narrative as a teacher, facilitator, program coordinator, and consultant to individuals and families. She has coordinated open mic speak out style events for psychiatric survivors to share their stories in poetry, speech and performance. She has led many writing groups and support groups as well as taught yoga and meditation for psychiatric and trauma survivors

Inaugural Easthampton Poet Laureate Gary Metras will be reading a selection from his three most recent books: White Storm, Captive in the Here, and River Voice.

Gary Metras’s new books of poetry are River Voice (Adastra Press, 2019), Captive in the Here (Cervena Barva Press 2018), and White Storm (Presa Press 2018), short-listed for the Mass. Poetry Book of the Year by the Mass. Center for the Book. The author of seventeen previous collections of poetry, his poems have appeared in over 250 journals, including America, The Common, Poetry, Poetry East, and Poetry Salzburg Review. He lives in Easthampton, Massachusetts, where he was inducted as the city’s inaugural Poet Laureate in April 2018. He is past president of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the national cold river conservation non-profit. A retired educator, he fly fishes the rivers of western Mass. as often as possible.

This Zoom event requires registration. To register, email Stephanie at slevine@ewmlibrary.org.

Chaya Grossberg will discuss her work consulting with people coming off psychiatric drugs & what helps them the most. She will also share from her personal experience of having withdrawn from psychiatric meds herself. Q & A to follow.

About the Author: Chaya Grossberg has been sharing her psychiatric survivor and trauma story publicly for over 15 years and is an advocate and consultant to those coming off psychiatric drugs and/or seeking alternative approaches to distress. She has written a book about her work called Freedom From Psychiatric Drugs and has worked professionally with people seeking alternatives to the mainstream psychiatric narrative as a teacher, facilitator, program coordinator, and consultant to individuals and families. She has coordinated open mic speak out style events for psychiatric survivors to share their stories in poetry, speech and performance. She has led many writing groups and support groups as well as taught yoga and meditation for psychiatric and trauma survivors. Learn more on Chaya’s website at chayagrossberg.com! 

Come join local author, Carol Weis, for a reading from her memoir, STUMBLING HOME: Life Before and After That Last Drink. Carol will also answer questions about the book, her writing process and her own personal journey, as well as sign copies of her book for those who are interested.

Masks are required at this event.

Author Bio:
Carol Weis, who became a writer when she got sober, has been an actor, teacher, professional cook and baker, and for years, ran poetry workshops in local schools. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, AARP, The Independent, ESPN, Good Housekeeping, OZY, Cosmo, Salon, and numerous other venues, and has been read as commentary on NPR. She’s also the author of the Simon & Schuster picture book, WHEN THE COWS GOT LOOSE, and the poetry chapbook, DIVORCE PAPERS.

To RSVP for this event, please email ehampton@cwmars.org with your name and the number of people attending.

Register at tinyurl.com/ewml-authortalk-518

If you liked Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver or The Overstory, by Richard Powers…

Caroline Ailanthus’ novel, Ecological Memory, is set twenty years after a catastrophic global pandemic. It is part scientific detective story, part post-apocalyptic travelogue. It is NOT a dystopia—although the author uses catastrophe as a starting point, her vision for the future is quite optimistic. The story explores how the characters, society, and the planet find ways to heal. It’s a book about what happens AFTER you lose everything. Caroline wrote the book well before our real pandemic, but now finds her story has become unexpectedly timely.

Caroline will briefly talk about the book’s plot, main characters, and other relevant points, then will read several excerpts and use them as starting points to discuss two themes:

1) creating a fictional pandemic vs. living in a real one

2) looking to the science of ecology as a source of perspective and hope in the face of loss

She’ll end with a question-and-answer period, and may read additional excerpts as part of the discussion.

Author Bio:
Caroline Ailanthus is primarily a science writer; even her fiction blends science and story. She is also the author of the Climate in Emergency blog. Ecological Memory is her second published novel. She grew up in Delaware and attended various small, odd schools, mostly in New England, earning BA in Environmental Leadership and an MS in Environmental Studies. She lives in Maryland with her husband and assorted animals.

Jennifer will talk about what led her to co-author The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy: Step-by-Step Advice on How to Ally and Speak Up with Autistic People and the Autism Community. She’ll go on to discuss general advocacy, then focus on family, work and educational topics. Q&A to follow.

This talk is in-person. Masks are required.

Please RSVP to slevine@ewmlibrary.org with the event name and number of attendees.

The #ActuallyAutistic Guide takes an in-depth look at the key elements of effective, respectful, inclusive advocacy and allyship. Every topic was chosen, shaped, and informed by #ActuallyAutistic perspectives. She and Jenna are currently writing, and collecting surveys for, their second collaboration, The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Teen and Young Adult Advocacy and Activism: Step-by-Step Advice for Autistic Youth and Those Who Care About Them.

Author Bio:
Jennifer Brunton, Ph.D. is the co-author, with Jenna Gensic, M.A., of The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy: Step-by-Step Advice on How to Ally and Speak Up with Autistic People and the Autism Community. A neurodivergent parent of an Autistic son and a neurotypical daughter, Jennifer is passionate about making the world a better place for people who think, learn, and experience life in unique ways. Her parenting blog, Full Spectrum Mama, has been advancing civil rights for all—with a focus on neurodiversity and intersectionality—for more than 10 years.

Summer Mug Magic is here! Join Moira virtually to create an incredibly delicious s’mores mug cake in our kitchen Campfire (microwave). We will use very easy pantry ingredients for a quick campfire snack treat! Contact youthdept@ewmlibrary.org to register and receive the recipe with link for program. Ages 5+ (with adult supervision).

This in-person session is for teens only. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Life is tough, but you’re not in it alone. Hear from local author Maeve Ronan (It’s the Depression for Me) as she shares her personal story and provides practical tips for dealing with depression and anxiety.

This workshop will leave you feeling inspired and empowered with strategies to believe in yourself and in your future. If you’re ready to move beyond the negative thoughts in your head and start genuinely living life again, this workshop is definitely for you.

Virtual cooking class! Get ready to power through your next adventure with your own homemade bars. We will use simple and tasty ingredients from your pantry to create our own unique energy bars! Recipes will be available to prepare for this hands-on class. Registration required to receive class link. Adult supervision is required. Ages 5+

An educational presentation from the ACLU of Massachusetts, in partnership with Decarcerate Western Mass. Learn more about the roles that MA Sheriff’s play and what decision-making powers the job holds. This program does not endorse any candidate and is presented for educational purposes only. Representatives from the ACLU will share the presentation and answer questions from attendees. Please register to receive a Zoom link to the program.

From the ACLU:

Sheriffs have the power to make our communities safer and more just for all—but most Massachusetts voters don’t even know who their sheriff is.
It’s time to change that. It’s time to Know Your Sheriff. 

Know Your Sheriff is a public education campaign by the ACLU of Massachusetts to build voter awareness about the life-changing decisions that sheriffs make. Polling shows that many voters are not familiar with sheriffs—but when they learn more, they are more likely cast a ballot for sheriff in the next election.  Knowing your sheriff means knowing that YOU have the power to demand safer communities and a more just criminal legal system.