Mission | What Does the NQCC Do For Our Community? | History |
Staff |
Board of Directors |
Members/Donors
The North Quabbin Community Coalition is a community-wide alliance committed to improving the quality of life for all those living and working in the North Quabbin region.
Collaboration – Coordination - Advocacy
Work started by the Coalition brings over $3.2 million annually to the area in private federal and state resources.
Promote Economic Development:
- Brought regional transportation to the nine-town region offering over 5000 rides per month for residents and travel to work
- Host for the North Quabbin Loan Fund Review Committee distributing over $400,00 capital to local business for job creation and expansion
- Host of the Economic Development Task Force, the only regional group focused on economic development
- Co-sponsor of V.I.A. (Vibrancy Initiative of Athol) working to ensure that Athol and the region can capitalize on the momentum of the Athol Commons Development
- Host of the Regional Tourism Council working to identify the North Quabbin as a destination for tourism
- Host agency for the North Quabbin Woods project, bringing over $45000 in sales to over 70 local artisans and promoting the region as a whole by fostering the creative economy
Support for Children & Families:
- Offer the Talking About Touching safety curriculum to all Athol area schools to 325 students
- Trainers for the Enough Abuse campaign to end child sexual abuse over 1200 local people trained
- Host of the Children’s Health and Wellness Task Force
- Host of the annual Healthy Smiles Family Fun Day attracting 1000 people each year
- Work with the Department of Children and Families to ensure family voice and children’s safety
Support for Youth:
- Host of the North Quabbin School to Career partnership providing over 60 young people with employment and internships
- Partner with local schools to identify resources to support programs
Support Veterans:
- Partner with local Veterans Services to promote access for local veterans
- Work with Montachusett Veteran’s Outreach Center to provide housing, food and basic needs support to vets
Promote Quality Local Health Care:
- Founder of local site of Community Health Center
- Partner with Athol Memorial Hospital through transition and merger with Heywood Hospital
- Founder of Healthy Connections and later through access at the hospital
Support Elders:
- Partner with Franklin County Home Care to advocate for necessary services
- Partner with local Councils on Aging to promote programs and services
- Home delivery of 230 Thanksgiving meals
- Host for the annual Food-A-Thon drive raising over $40,000 to support 6 local food pantries
For Everyone:
- Host of the Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
- Provide assistance to municipal governments for accessing grants and leveraging funds
- Maintain a comprehensive local resource directory
- Advocate for critical services like transportation, access to health care and other basic needs to be available locally
- Provide technical assistance to over 50 non-profits, towns and schools to leverage grant funds and more
- Ensure that services are not duplicated to maximize all resources
Where Do my Dollars Go?
All of your tax-deductible donations go to support local programs, staff and projects. You may choose to make a donation of any size, or dedicate your gift in the name of a loved one or support any of the following:
- Sponsor our monthly newsletter which reaches over 800 people each month for as little as $5,000
- Sponsor a Task Force for one year for $2500
- Sponsor our website for 3 months (with banner ads) for $750
- Sponsor a monthly forum with over 50 people in attendance each month for $250
- Sponsor our annual meeting and awards luncheon for just $1000
1984 Founded as Athol Orange Health & Human Services Coalition |
2007 Est. NQ Community Health Center |
The North Quabbin Community Coalition has provided a community-wide alliance committed to improving the quality of life for all those living and working within the nine-town North Quabbin region for twenty eight years. The model for this Coalition was developed in response to community-identified issues and is focused on developing solutions that are community driven. In a region often referred to as "resource poor", the network of health and human service providers needed to pay even more attention to the issue of collaboration in order to maximize all existing resources. The spirit of collaboration has allowed the area to develop several unique partnerships, to secure many additional resources and supports and has developed a strong coalition that fosters this growth. The Coalition serves three primary purposes within the community as follows:
Advocacy and Response to Emergent Community Issues
The Coalition serves as liaison to local legislators and helps to inform policy as to the needs of the rural community which is served.
Addressing Community Priorities
The Coalition hosts several task force groups, which serve to address local issues by engaging all stakeholders and developing local solutions to these challenges. Each Task Force serves to provide a forum for area providers to share information and to reduce duplication of services, provide community education and finally, to secure resources to address the needs within the local region.
Information Dissemination & Networking
The Coalition hosts a monthly forum to share information among service providers and to present relevant topics for discussion. The monthly newsletter also serves to support information sharing and reaches hundreds of community residents and providers. The Coalition hosts a website which features a comprehensive resource directory of area services and contact information.
Rebecca J. Bialecki, Executive Director
rebecca@nqcc.org
Jennifer Desjardins, Project Coordinator
jennifer@nqcc.org
Katrina Burton, Project Assistant
admin@nqcc.org
North Quabbin Woods Project:
Kirby Lecy, Project Coordinator
klecy@northquabbinwoods.org
Charlie Winters, President - Community Representative
Chief Tim Anderson, VP - Athol Police Department
Jeanette Robichaud, Treasurer - Athol Area YMCA
Rebecca Bialecki - North Quabbin Community Coalition
Brian Gordon - Clinical Support Options
Frances Graziano - MOC Comm. Partnerships for Children
Michael Grimmer - Athol Memorial Hospital
Fran Gromelski - Community Transit Services
Robert Haigh - Orange Police Department
Kathleen Hardie - Valuing Our Children
Donna Liebl - Franklin County Home Care Corporation
Pat Moore - Community Representative
Steve Raymond - Athol Selectboard
Pat Roix - Community Representative
Sharon Tracy - Quabbin Mediation
Michael Truckey - Franklin Hampshire Career Center
