MTA honors two community organizations
MTA honors two community organizations
Uncommon Threads, which uses fashion to help build self-esteem for women experiencing financial hardship or overcoming crises, and M.O.C.H.A. (Men of Color Health Awareness), which promotes self care and healthy behaviors to Black and brown men, are this year’s recipients of the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s Human and Civil Rights Awards
Uncommon Threads was named winner of the Louise Gaskins Lifetime Civil Rights Award. The organization is based in Lawrence and was nominated by a member of the Andover Education Association who volunteers at Uncommon Threads.
Susan Kanoff founded Uncommon Threads eight years ago, bringing together her skills as a longtime social worker and wardrobe stylist with a strong online presence. She saw how clothing affects the way women can feel about themselves.
“Uncommon Threads provides women in need with quality clothing for health and safety, as well as transformative styling services and workshops to enhance self-esteem, foster confidence and unlock new opportunities for personal growth,” she said.
Uncommon Threads founder Susan Kanoff saw how clothing affects the way women can feel about themselves.
M.O.C.H.A. received the Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award. MTA members at UMass Amherst nominated the Springfield group committed to improving the health and well-being of men of color, who as a group have been experiencing higher levels of stress and illness compared to other populations in Springfield.
Lamont Scott, a project director at M.O.C.H.A. and longtime participant since the group was started in 2010 with a grant from the state Department of Public Health, said the organization’s goal is to create positive community connections for men of color.
“We network. We go to the gyms and the (YMCA) and start talking to men. We started talking about prostate cancer, and going to the doctor,” he said.
Over the years, M.O.C.H.A. has formed important alliances with other community groups and health care providers to help men overcome their reasons for not taking better care of their own physical and mental health, Scott said.
“Our biggest challenge is just getting men to come out and be part of our conversations,” Scott said.
And those conversations typically lead to more visits to the gym, regular checkups with doctors, and better ability to handle stressful situations with healthy solutions.
Scott himself benefited from M.O.C.H.A.’s approach.“I am a cancer survivor. My doctor told me about this men’s group meeting at the Y that I should check out. I’ve been involved ever since.”
M.O.C.H.A. Project Director Lamont Scott
“I am a cancer survivor. My doctor told me about this men’s group meeting at the Y that I should check out. I’ve been involved ever since,” he said.
The MTA’s Human Relations Committee presents the Human and Civil Rights Awards, which are named after two longtime educator-activists who championed equality for all. The awards will be presented during a ceremony on July 27 at MTA’s Summer Conference.
“These awards acknowledge the work that is happening outside of our schools that makes a positive impact on our communities,” said MTA President Max Page. “Students bring their lived experiences into the classroom every day, and we applaud those who work tirelessly to improve the lives of families and to uplift the dignity of people who are at risk or marginalized.”
MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy said: “Educators are at the forefront of social change. Both Uncommon Threads and M.O.C.H.A. have strong ties to public education and through their good work are supporting our members who believe every student deserves a great education and the opportunities that come with it, no matter where they live or what their background may be.”