LAVA Center presents Climate Change Theater 2024: ‘In It Together’

GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will present a mixed-media program of short videos and play readings on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Masks are required at the 2 p.m. show and optional at the 5 p.m. performance.

In conjunction with The LAVA Center’s current Humanities Gallery display, JJ White’s “World on Fire” that lifts up the work of climate activist Greta Thunberg, the center will reprise eight short plays in video and staged readings. These plays were produced in local venues and online from 2018 to 2023. The plays come from Climate Change Theatre Action, a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings, as well as from The LAVA Center’s locally produced climate change theater initiatives. The production represents a fraction of the 140 short climate-themed plays that The LAVA Center has brought to Greenfield-area audiences.

The playwrights whose work will be shared are as diverse as the play topics and characters, hailing from Ireland, Rhode Island, Canada, New York City, Jordan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. They are: Elaine Ávila (“The Rookery,” 2019), Nic Billon (“The Polar Bears,” 2023), Philip Braithwaite (“Ice Flow,” 2019), Kay Bullard (“Under the Weather,” 2020), Colette Cullen (“Everyone’s Sorry,” 2020), Lana I. Nasser (“The Butterfly that Persisted,” 2019), Elyne Quan (“Pond Life,” 2018) and Caridad Svich (“A Letter from the Ocean,” 2019).

A talk-back following the presentation will focus on sharing news updates and personal priorities for taking action on climate change in the year ahead.

The program is made possible by funding from Greening Greenfield and Mass Humanities.

‘Breaking Barriers Group for Women’ meets on Mondays

GREENFIELD — The Salasin Project’s “Breaking Barriers Group for Women,” for female-identified residents who have experience with the legal system, meets on Mondays at 10 a.m. at the Franklin County Reentry Center, located at 106 Main St.

The program offers open enrollment. Contact Tina at tina-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org or 413-774-4307, ext. 107 for more information.

‘Nurturing Group for Caregivers in Recovery’ meets on Tuesdays

GREENFIELD — The Salasin Project’s “Nurturing Group for Caregivers in Recovery,” exploring the impact of substance abuse and domestic violence on families and children, meets weekly on Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Salasin Project at 33 Riddell St. and via Zoom. The group is open to parents, future parents, grandparents and any other caregivers.

For more information and to sign up, contact Lynn at lynn-resiliency@wmtcinfo.org or 413-774-4307, ext. 103.

Long-running literary series continues Tuesday

GREENFIELD — The Third Tuesday Word, a long-running literary series organized by Paul Richmond and Human Error Publishing, will be held at The LAVA Center, 324 Main St., on Dec. 17.

Doors open at 7 p.m., open mic starts at 7:20 and featured authors start at 8:30. There is a $1 to $5 suggested donation. Books will be for sale.