Trans Latinxphotography,narrative exhibit opens next week

HOLYOKE — TRANScend Massachusetts, a groundbreaking documentary photography and narrative exhibition, will open at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St., on Nov. 13, and run through Dec. 20. The grand opening of the exhibition will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 6-8 p.m.

Organized by Transcending Identities Director Eunice Avilés Faría and Transhealth in Northampton, and funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, this exhibition aims to elevate the voices and experiences of Latinx transgender and gender-diverse individuals living in western Massachusetts, shedding light on their unique challenges and triumphs.

The exhibition is free and open to the public, encouraging schools, colleges, universities, and organizations to visit. No appointment is needed. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with extended narratives available on the TRANScend Massachusetts website, exploring the lives of the participants and their impact on society.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in the following free public talks at the Holyoke Public Library: Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1-3:30 p.m., The Power of Family Acceptance: Loving and Embracing our Transgender Children and Youth; Saturday, Nov. 23, from 1-3:30 p.m., Gender Identity 101; Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6-8 p.m., Families United by Diversity Support Group; Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1-3:30 p.m., Q&A with the Exhibition Participants, followed by a guided exhibition tour; and Thursday, Dec. 12, from 6-8 p.m., Combatting Disinformation About Trans Healthcare.

For more information on these events and the exhibit as a whole, visit https://www.transcendexpo.com/.

Harvest Fest set for Saturday in Amherst

AMHERST — Amherst’s 2024 Harvest Fest, a day of health, culture and fun designed to reach the Native and Indigenous populations in the region, is being held on the Town Common Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

The free event will include offering flu and COVID vaccines, cultural activities, fall festival games, food and swag.

A dental hygienist will be on-site for screenings and Indigenous students, from preschool through college, who receive a dental screening or vaccine will qualify for a free backpack.

The event is hosted by Native American LifeLines of Boston, Ohketeau, the town’s health department and the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health & Health Sciences.

In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.

HCC opens registration for winter, spring 2025 classes

HOLYOKE — Registration is now open for Wintersession and Spring 2025 semester classes at Holyoke Community College.

HCC’s 10-day Wintersession term begins Monday, Jan. 6, and ends Friday, Jan. 17. The Spring 2025 semester begins Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Students can earn up to four transferable credits by taking Wintersession classes in anthropology, communications, criminal justice, economics, environmental science, geography, law, management, mathematics, nutrition, psychology, social science, and sociology.

Most Wintersession classes are offered entirely online.

Full 15-week spring semester classes begin Jan. 21. HCC will also be running three accelerated spring flex start sessions: Flex Start I classes begin Jan. 21 and run for seven weeks. Flex Start II classes begin Monday, Feb. 3, and run for 12 weeks; Flex Start III classes begin Monday, March 24, and run for seven weeks.

Thanks to the state-funded MassEducate program, a community college education is now free for all Massachusetts residents who have yet to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Eligible students who want to earn a certificate or degree need only to complete the standard HCC application, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2024-2025 school year, and register for at least six credits (typically two classes).

Class schedules for both Wintersession and Spring 2025 semester classes can be found on the HCC website: hcc.edu. To enroll, visit hcc.edu/admissions.