About Hilltown Families

WHAT IS HILLTOWN FAMILIES?

Hilltown Families is an online grassroots communication network for families living throughout the four counties of Western Massachusetts.  Hilltown Families’ mission is to connect, collaborate, and create community building events, community based educational opportunities, and service learning experiences.  Hilltown Families is incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Massachusetts, currently awaiting the approval of 501(c)3 status.

Founded by Sienna Wildfield, a long time activist, artist, mother, and a Hilltown resident, Hilltown Families has been serving thousands of families living throughout Western Massachusetts since 2005. Through an award winning blog, social networking platforms, listserv, radio show/podcast, online bulletin boards, program development and collaborations with civic and nonprofit groups, Hilltown Families connects people and organizations in the widespread communities of Western MA by helping area residents share ideas, organize activities, support their children’s education and increase participation in community life.

Hilltown Families aim is to reflect the positive work and educational efforts activists, families, teachers, artists and civic leaders work towards and accomplish in our region, and how that affects, supports and empowers our families/community.  Voices of parent’s surviving the challenges and joys of parenthood and explorations of the region are shared too, along with photography of life and landscapes in western Massachusetts.

Our list of Weekly Suggested Events builds community by sharing family-friendly & community events throughout the area. Our easy and open online forums promote activities that enrich our childrens’ education, serving a wide variety of educational settings including public, private, after-school and home-school programs.

Among the many other ways that families can connect through Hilltown Families:

• Timely Posts on Local Issues and Events
• Listserv and Bulletin Boards
• News Updates
• Weekly eNewsletter
• Facebook & Twitter
• Podcast
• Community Programming

THE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES

Sienna Wildfield, Founder/Executive Director
Sienna is the Founder and Executive Director of Hilltown Families and lives in the Hilltowns with her family, chickens, and gardens. Sienna serves on the Chesterfield Cultural Council, is a board member of the Hilltown CDC, and the Executive Producer of the Hilltown Family Variety Show (WXOJ 103.3 FM Northampton). [LinkedIn] swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org

Jessica Kuttner, LICSW, Program Director
Jess is a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and mother of two boys living in the Hilltowns of Western MA. Joining Hilltown Families as Program Director in the fall of 2011, Jess has been a member of the Hilltown Families community since the beginning. She is passionate about social justice and working to create a better world for her children.  She can often be found outside running, hiking, swimming, mountain biking occasionally, practicing yoga, and generally avoiding housework. jkuttner@hilltownfamilies.org.

Jim Sarantidis, Editorial Assistant
Jim has been a involved with Hilltown Families since the onset.  He is the owner of Grendel Books, ABAA/ILAB and a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America. Born in Lesvos, Greece, his family moved to the States when he was less than two years old. Jim now lives in the Hilltowns of Western MA with his family and books.

Robin Morgan Huntley, Intern
A native to Maine, Robin joined Hilltown Families in early 2011. She is currently studying education as a graduate student at Antioch University.  Her interests within the field of education include policy and all types of nontraditional education. For her senior project at Hampshire College, Robin researched the importance of connecting public schools with their surrounding communities, especially in rural areas. Robin live in Northampton, MA.

Katelyn Tsukada, Sustainability Bulletin Board Manager

Katelyn moved to Western MA in August 2012. She works for an environmental nonprofit, the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), coaching residents and businesses on energy efficiency. While at Bucknell University, Katelyn majored in Environmental Studies and wrote her senior thesis on community-based natural resource management in the Philippines. Her hobbies include writing, acting and dancing in a new contemporary dance company called The Movery located in Hadley. ktsukada@hilltownfamilies.org

Jennifer Page, Editing Assistant
Jennifer lives with her family in Amherst, and joined Hilltown Families in 2010. She is a cook, hiker, crocheter, singer, dog walker, diaper launderer, and grammar geek, among other things.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Hilltown Families warmly welcomes writings that reflect the positive work and educational efforts teachers, parents and community members work toward while sharing how that affects, supports and empowers our community and families. HF also welcomes the voices of parent’s surviving the struggles and challenges of parenthood, and their experiences here in Western MA. Submissions of art and photography are welcomed too. Check out our contributing writer/artists and find out how you can join our team!

ENHANCED PUBLICITY

Hilltown Families supports the development of our local economy and has sponsorship and advertising opportunities available.  Local businesses, individuals, schools, etc., can advertise their event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement on our  list of Weekly Suggested Events and weekly eNewsletter. Join our team of sponsors and have your message shared with thousands of families living throughout the region while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. 

CONTACT US

We’d love to hear from you.  Fill out the form or drop us a line at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com:

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