Calendar

Caregivers Support Group and Memory Café

Various Dates: Glenmeadow’s Caregivers Support Group for both professionals and family members who are assisting someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia will continue in January, February, and March, as will its Memory Café for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and their caregivers.

Glenmeadow’s Caregivers Support Group offers information and support to professionals and those caring for a loved one. It is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about dementia and to understand their individual feelings about the life changes associated with it.

The group is open to the public; meetings are held monthly at 24 Tabor Crossing on the first Tuesday and the third Thursday. The dates are: Jan. 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Jan. 16 from noon to 1 p.m., Feb. 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Feb. 20 from noon to 1 p.m., March 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and March 19 from noon to 1 p.m.

As part of Glenmeadow’s Memory Café, caregivers are invited to bring a loved one to the program to enjoy relaxed conversation with others. Cafés are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, at the same time. An organized activity — such as yoga, a drumming circle, or creating a gratitude journal — will be offered.

The Memory Café meeting dates are: Jan. 15 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Feb. 19 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and March 18 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The programs are free and open to those in Greater Springfield. For more information or to RSVP, contact Laura Lavoie at (413) 355-5905 or llavoie@glenmeadow.org.

Micro-emerging Markets: Cannabis Certificate Program

Jan. 13 to May 5: American International College (AIC) is announcing a new undergraduate initiative in the School of Business, Arts and Sciences titled Micro-Emerging Markets: Cannabis Certificate Program.

Three business courses are offered in rotation beginning with the spring 2020 semester. The first course of the series will run on Wednesdays, 3:50 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. There are no prerequisites to enroll other than a high-school diploma or GED equivalency. Non-matriculated students can enter the program at any time in the sequence.

The first course, “Cannabis Entrepreneurship,” will examine customer groups, products, and services in the recreational market. The effect of price, quality, and competitors will be explored relative to competing effectively. This will involve key components of the industry, including legal aspects, business models, financing, and marketing. In “Cannabis Business Operations,” students will analyze the evolving cannabis marketplace and investigate the complexities and challenges of this sector. This course will conduct an in-depth look at the key components of different business types, how the sector is evolving, starting and operating a cannabis business, in addition to financial constraints, investments, and strategic marketing in the industry. The final course, “The Law and Ethics of Cannabis,” will examine the legalization of cannabis. Discussion around the legal and ethical implications of cannabis use, its legalization, criminal activity, and marketing will be explored in addition to perspectives of law enforcement, business owners, and recreational uses.

For more information about the Micro-Emerging Market: Cannabis Certificate Program, visit aic.edu/mem.

EMT Training at HCC

Jan. 28 to June 2: Registration is now open for the spring 2020 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training program at Holyoke Community College.

HCC’s EMT Basic Course consists of 13 weeks (170-plus hours) of in-class lectures and additional online study, training, field trips, and workshops designed to prepare students for the state certification exam. The training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. and select Saturdays fom 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at HCC’s Center for Health Education & Simulation, 404 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke. The course covers all aspects of emergency care, including patient handling, extrication, and communication, and makes extensive use of HCC’s medical-simulation labs.

For more information or to register, contact Michele Cabral at (413) 552-2257 or mcabral@hcc.edu or visit www.hcc.edu/workforce and click on ‘register.’

Women’s Leadership Conference

March 27: Bay Path University’s division of Strategic Alliances announced that producer, author, entrepreneur, educator, and, of course, top model Tyra Banks will bring her bold attitude, unique style, and well-honed business acumen to Springfield as the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC). This year’s theme, “Own Your Now,” will encourage conference guests to examine the forces that have shaped their careers, relationships, and aspirations; recognize what drives them and what holds them back; and empower them to confidently move forward.

This year’s conference also will feature breakout sessions focused on navigating the complicated relationships, personalities, and dynamics of the workplace and the impact those have on our careers and opportunities. Sessions will be led by bestselling authors and researchers including Laura Huang, Harvard Business School professor and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage; Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning; Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility; and Jennifer Romolini, author of Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits.

For further information on the conference and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.