Community Engagement

Whether taking a vigorous chair aerobics class or walking through the Old Hill neighborhood, a group of seniors from Springfield are becoming healthier and transforming their community in the process.

Way Finders partnership with municipal school because

Way Finders’ Resident Health Advocates foster residents’ independence, collaboration, leadership, personal growth, and an increased knowledge base about the promotion of health by leading physical activities for children and adults, engaging families to participate, engaging residents in C3 Police Initiative efforts, policy advocacy and infrastructure planning under the Healthy Hill Initiative.

The Healthy Hill Initiative (HHI) is a multi-sector collaborative working to improve resident health & well-being in Springfield’s Old Hill neighborhood. Since beginning the Healthy Hill Initiative in 2016 Way Finders has expanded its efforts to the Mason Square community, engaging residents in health and fitness activities, leadership trainings, and advocacy efforts.

Grassroots empowerment for healthy neighborhoods & healthy people

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions.

Whether taking a vigorous chair aerobics class or walking through the Old Hill neighborhood, a group of seniors from Springfield are becoming healthier and transforming their community in the process.

Hi, I'm Beatrice Dewberry, Community Building and Engagement Manager at Way Finders. I have the good fortune to manage the Healthy Hill Initiative. It's a five year public health initiative that focuses on one neighborhood in Springfield, the Old Hill neighborhood. We were able to secure funding through the BUILD Health Challenge in 2015 for a two-year planning grant. And then, through community and investment tax credit funds, we were able to leverage those credits to secure additional funding through Baystate Health, to actually implement the Healthy Hill Initiative.

Congratulations to the Way Finders' Community Building and Engagement team and their partners for being named a Business West western Massachusetts Healthcare Hero for their collaborative work within the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield through the Healthy Hill Initiative. 

Way Finders, formerly HAPHousing, recently graduated 19 Holyoke community members from the organization’s Resident Leadership Program, the largest class to date.