On Friday, September 18, over 250 advocates in Caring Force gold filled Westfield State University for the Western MA Rally, the region’s third rally during National Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week. Emcee Lois Nesci, CEO of the Gándara Center, opened by praising the turnout as proof of how strong and committed The Caring Force is across the region. She reminded the crowd why they came: human services workers deserve fair, equal pay for the work they do, fair funding for their programs, and the respect their essential work earns every day.
The rally was organized by a planning committee of Western MA providers: 18 Degrees, Berkshire County ARC, BFAIR, CHD, Gándara Center, JRI, Key Program, MHA Inc., Riverside Industries, River Valley Counseling Center, The Brien Center, ServiceNet, UCP of Western MA, and Viability. The event was held at Westfield State University.
A week of celebration
The rally capped a week of DSP Week events across the region. On Monday, Chicopee City Hall held its first-ever flag raising and issued a proclamation. North Adams, Pittsfield and Westfield all lit their city halls in Caring Force Gold.
What we’re asking for
Attendees received copies of The Caring Force legislative agenda, which asks lawmakers to:
- Fully fund the Chapter 257 Rate Reserve (1599-6903) in the FY ’28 budget to keep wages competitive and protect services.
- Pass legislation to close the pay gap between community-based human services workers and state employees in similar roles.
- Establish a loan repayment program for human services workers.
- Raise the Chapter 257 Rate Reserve tax and fringe rate by 5.1 percent in the FY ’28 budget to fund retirement benefits for provider employees.
Voices from the sector
Three speakers shared what the work means to them. Patti Messina, Executive Director of Northern Berkshire United Way and a BFAIR board member for more than 17 years, spoke as a sister about a lifetime alongside her brother David. Michael Giraud-Budd, who works with people with brain injuries at Berkshire County ARC’s Brain Injury Community Center in Westfield, talked about the field and his plans to pursue a career in health science. Damaris Morales, a Senior Family Partner at Gándara Mental Health Center, described helping families find their voice and navigate complex systems.
Senator Jo Comerford and Representatives Mindy Domb, Patricia Duffy, Kelly Pease joined a panel to share what they’d heard and how workers can partner with their offices.
Music, a raffle, and a dance floor
Isabella A. Lee, Project Manager of The Caring Force, then drew the winner of the baby-QT bear raffle: Gena Melfi from 18 Degrees. Lee noted that the bear is a smaller version of the mascot given each year to legislative champions at the State House Rally, and the raffle honors everyone who showed up and spoke up. To close out the rally, The Friendship Band, a ServiceNet program from Northampton offering recreational and enrichment classes for people of all abilities, brought the room to its feet with a live music performance.
A REV UP Voting Campaign table, run with the American Association of People with Disabilities, offered voter registration and status checks.
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