Bike rodeo in Worthington

WORTHINGTON — A bike rodeo for younger children will be held Saturday, June 1, at the R.H. Conwell School from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Children should bring bikes and helmets. The event includes bike safety checks and a skills course, games, bike and helmet decorating, helmet fitting, free bike lights and more.

Parents are asked to register their children in preschool through sixth grade via the link on the town website.

The rodeo is sponsored by the R.H. Conwell Wellness Committee and PTO, Safe Routes to School/MASS Bike, Worthington Parks and Recreation Committee, Hampshire Regional Mountain Biking Club and Northampton Cycling Club.

Care Center breaks fundraising record

HOLYOKE — Nearly 400 community members contributed over $220,000 at The Log Cabin in Holyoke in support of The Care Center’s Moving Women Forward campaign. PeoplesBank offered a $50,000 match, which was fully realized due to the generosity in the room.

The Care Center’s Moving Women Forward campaign, launched in late 2022, has now raised 98% of its goal of $4 million for an endowment to assure that the Bard Microcollege is funded in perpetuity providing ongoing tuition-free education to students.

The event welcomed Oona Cook, The Care Center’s new executive director, and students Destiny Bermudez and Shy’heema Reid, all of whom spoke beautifully about their experiences.

The Care Center is a nationally recognized program located in Holyoke. By providing a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, transportation, on-site daycare, food, health care, counseling, and individualized support, young mothers are able to complete their high school equivalency exams and continue onto college.

Since 2016, The Care Center has been home to Bard Microcollege Holyoke, the first college in the country exclusively for young mothers and low-income women. It is built on the knowledge Bard developed over two decades running programs like the acclaimed Bard Prison Initiative, and The Care Center’s experience providing an innovative, high-quality education to young mothers. It also incorporates The Care Center’s commitment to removing barriers that young mothers face in traditional college settings.

For those interested in learning more about The Care Center, Bard Microcollege Holyoke, or the Moving Women Forward Campaign, contact Jane Slater, director of development, at jslater@carecenterholyoke.org.

Panel discussion on antisemitism coming up

SPRINGFIELD — “Standing Up to Antisemitism: Empowering Our Community,” moderated by Springfield Jewish Community Center CEO Sam Dubrinsky, will take place Sunday, June 9, at 1 p.m, at the Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St. Introductory remarks will be provided by attorney Michael Chernick.

Join the Springfield JCC for an essential conversation exploring local and national efforts to combat antisemitism. Panelists will discuss the factors behind the rise in hostility against Jews, what their agencies are doing to fight against Jewish hate, and how we can help in our communities.

Panelists include Josh Kraft, president of the Kraft Family Philanthropies and the New England Patriots Foundation; Jeremy Burton, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and Anthony Gulluni, Hampden district attorney.

This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required at springfieldjcc.org. Access to the JCC is from the entrance off Converse Street, under the green awning.