Mount Holyoke to host immigration discussion

SOUTH HADLEY — Mount Holyoke College will host a conversation, “Protecting the Unprotected: Making Change in Today’s Immigration Landscape,” between Camille J. Mackler, immigration attorney, and David Hernández, associate professor of Latina/o studies and critical race and political economy.

The discussion will take place on Tuesday, April 1, at 5 p.m., in Gamble Auditorium on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Mackler is the founder and executive director of Immigrant ARC, a collaborative of over 80 legal service providers in New York state. In that role, she works with community leaders, legal service providers, state and local governments, law enforcement agencies, federal agencies and policymakers to ensure immigrants have access to a fair and efficient immigration system.

Hernández’s research focuses on immigration enforcement, in particular, the detention regime in the United States. He is completing a book manuscript tentatively entitled “Alien Incarcerations: Immigrant Detention and Lesser Citizenship.”

This event is sponsored by the Department of Critical Race and Political Economy, McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, Weissman Center for Leadership, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Community-Based Learning program at Mount Holyoke College.

Forbes Library to honor Szlosek for his dedication

NORTHAMPTON — The Trustees of Forbes Library will honor Richard Szlosek for his dedication and volunteer service at the Gertrude P. Smith Trustees Award Ceremony on Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m., in the Coolidge Museum at the Forbes Library.

The event will begin with a brief business meeting of the Friends of Forbes Library followed by a presentation by Szlosek, who will read excerpts from his two recently printed anthologies, “Essays on Coolidge,” and “Some Thoughts from Rich’s Corner,” and share tales of Northampton history.

Szlosek is a lifelong Northampton resident and an alum of Amherst College and Western New England Law. He worked in the Szlosek family-owned Imperial Bakery before becoming a family law attorney. He began writing after taking a Learning in Retirement course and wrote a column “slice of life” in the Gazette and is a frequent contributor to the Gazette and the Conz Street Chronicle. He has volunteered in the Coolidge Museum since 2010 as a tour guide, researcher, writer and board member.

Amherst Young Feminists to screen film on crisis pregnancy centers

AMHERST — The Amherst Young Feminist Party, the local chapter of a national organization fighting for intersectional gender equality and bodily autonomy for all, is co-sponsoring a community screening of “Preconceived,” a film on the harms of crisis pregnancy centers, on Saturday, March 29, from 5-7 p.m., at the Friedmann Room (Room 200) in the Keefe Campus Center at Amherst College.

The event is also sponsored by Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts and the Amherst College Women’s & Gender Center. Following the screening, a panel of experts will discuss advocacy efforts to fight back against crisis pregnancy centers, including Jenifer McKenna, co-author of “Designed to Deceive.”

HCC Culinary Arts program hosting April 9 open house

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will host an open house and free community tasting event on Wednesday, April 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St.

Visitors will be able tour the state-of-the-art kitchens at the college’s culinary arts facility, sample dishes prepared by culinary arts students and faculty, learn about the college’s culinary arts certificate and associate degree programs, noncredit job training and personal enrichment classes, and play Food Bash Bingo for a chance to win prizes.

Visitors will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from HCC programs and offices, including Admissions, the Marieb Adult Learner Success Center, HCC Foundation, Alumni Relations, Thrive Center and Food Pantry, El Centro, ALANA Men in Motion, and Jumpstart, as well as personnel from area community groups, including Tech Foundry/Tech Hub, United Way, Alzheimer’s Organization, and Holyoke Medical Center.

The HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute is equipped with four modern kitchens, a bakery, hotel lab, and student-run dining room.

For more program information, visit hcc.edu/culinary or send an email to CAI@hcc.edu.