She recalled fondly how one particular patron whom she served for over ten years, was “very bright” and would always stay after they were done serving the meal to help her clean up. She elaborated how he inspired her to look for more ways to fulfill the variety of unmet needs of the community that she was serving, “I was serving people delicious hot meals, but I thought to myself, ‘That’s just not enough!’... I wanted to do more.” And do more she did when she founded Amherst Community Connections in September of 2009 where she has been helping to connect the local homeless and at-risk-of-homelessness populations to the organizations and resources that they need. This includes helping them access much needed emergency housing, funding, and resources as well as working with them to find permanent solutions to their homelessness and the many other challenges they face.

When she is not too busy lending her compassion, knowledge, and expertise to those in need, however, you might be able to catch her taking long walks around the area listening to her favorite podcasts such as This American Life, On the Media, and TED Talk. Although keeping up with her will probably come as a challenge to many since Mrs. Greeney can boast an impressive average of 8-10 miles of walking every day, (or about 20-28,000 steps daily), according to her Fitbit, which lends itself to her family’s competition to see who can be the most active. Although competition is only a small element in her active lifestyle. She confided in me with a warm smile that her motivation is better found in what she does while out walking, “Sometimes when I get listening to a podcast and it’s really good I just keep walking, and walking, and walking… I just don’t stop!” As far as anyone here at ACC can tell that seems to hold true for everything that she does, including her work!

While my long term goals are clinically focused, I believe that mental healthcare starts with creating a financially, emotionally, and physically stable and safe environment for every individual. While this isn’t always possible in every case, agencies like Amherst Community Connections are able to provide assistance in creating the kind of environment that is conducive to better mental and physical health for low-income, homeless, disenfranchised, formerly incarcerated, and/or disabled members of our community. By filling out subsidized housing applications, assisting with employment searches, and applying for public benefits, I have been able to take part in and learn about one of the most critical pieces of helping others with their mental health, which I’m incredibly passionate about. I have seen firsthand the benefits of these kinds of programs when my mother had food assistance during her battle with cancer, and I am excited to have the potential opportunity to do the same for others.

Due to the emotionally taxing nature of my current jobs and graduate school, in my free time I enjoy hobbies that improve my own mental and physical health. I spend time gardening, baking bread, crafting, and spending time in nature. I also love spending time with my loved ones and friends as well as my two adorable cats. I am incredibly excited to be working with the ACC team in assisting my community and helping ACC get the funding needed to support our imperative work. 

The lived experiences I’ve shared with those in my home, my immigrant community, and even with acquaintances made when on public transit inspired me to seek opportunities where I could become a bridge of understanding for others. As an ESL tutor, I work with students from Colombia, Paraguay, and Argentina whose goals extend far beyond learning English. Some dreamt of studying in the United States, while others wanted the confidence to advocate for themselves in their workplace. Helping them communicate in English with more confidence in themselves has reinforced my belief that meaningful and purposeful service begins, first, by listening and then by empowering others to find their own voice.

I hope to bring this same mindset to Amherst Community Connections. I believe my experiences have strengthened my patience, empathy, and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. I want to help community members navigate complex systems while ensuring they feel respected and understood throughout the process.

I enjoy activities that help me reflect and continue learning. My time outside of classes, clubs, and tutoring takes the form of long runs or bike rides along the bike trail, daily reflection and writing in my journal, or watching “Lazy Chinese” youtube videos to continue my Mandarin learning journey.

I have witnessed firsthand the systematic barriers our participants face in accessing affordable housing. I am, therefore, extremely honored to be nominated by the Amherst Town Manager to serve as a trustee on the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the 2026-27 term. I will share and report my firsthand observations of the struggles our ACC participants experience with the Trust, and I will steadfastly represent our participants’ interests with the aim of implementing real changes to help Amherst residents during my term as the trustee. 

A dedication to community service and public interest advocacy is fundamental to who I am. As an Amherst College student benefiting from a privileged education, I feel a responsibility to give back and contribute to the broader community. I spent the summer of 2026 volunteering at the American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project in San Diego, a pro-bono immigration law firm that provides free legal representation to indigent immigrants who are in deportation proceedings. On campus, I serve as a Residential Advisor in the freshman dorm and as a Union Representative for the Amherst College Community Advisor, championing the rights of student workers by negotiating for competitive wages, reliable job security, and a stronger voice in shaping our own job responsibilities.

In my free time, I love to enjoy specialty coffee and tea, catch up on news, read non-fiction, goof around with my friends, and travel with my family. 

It is my honor to serve as a caseworker for ACC, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity, in which my creativity, compassion, multilingual skills, and work ethic can positively impact the greater Pioneer Valley community.

In my free time I would usually read romance books and watch romance movies, but I also love going to the movies and to any type of interesting museums of art. Spending my time in nature is also something that I love to do to try to decompress my mind every once in a while when I need it. Painting canvases and spending quality time with my loved ones is also something that I immensely enjoy doing when I have the chance. 

One experience that particularly impacted me was seeing kids who had lost their homes or dropped out of school to work and help their families spend hours in the new library that C2C raised money to help build and excitedly flip through the books. After seeing how much that space meant to them, I developed a better understanding that housing is not just about having a physical place to live, but it also could be a determinant of one’s mental health, sense of safety, opportunities available to them, and stability. I believe that access to stable housing and positive human interaction is the foundation from which one can begin to address other challenges in their lives. These experiences have motivated me to continue various communities around me in any way that I can. I want to contribute to a space where people feel comfortable asking for help and receive it judgement free.

Outside of work and academics I enjoy going for walks in nature, listening to music, painting, watching tv shows, spending time with my friends and family, and cooking for others. These activities give me the opportunity to decompress, express myself, and connect with the people around me. I hope to bring that same sense of calm and connection to the community members we help at ACC. 

I have developed many skills that would help me as a caseworker throughout my life. I learned to stay calm, listen carefully, and work with people who might be stressed or having a rough time as an EMT and volunteering at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and UMass Memorial. As a Resident Assistant at UMass, I often help students with personal problems and refer them to campus resources. I have worked at American Eagle for two years, where I worked with and helped a plethora of different people, including customers who had trouble speaking English. These experiences helped me become more flexible and patient with my communication. 

In my free time, I like working out, rock climbing at the UMass climbing gym, and spending time with friends and family. I’m excited about the opportunity to become more involved in the Amherst community and gain experience helping people through casework.

That perspective has shaped the way I approach my work with others. As a Youth Intern at the Jones Library, I worked with children and families from a variety of backgrounds, where I learned the importance of patience, empathy, and meeting people where they are. I’m excited to bring those values to Amherst Community Connections while continuing to learn more about and become involved in the Amherst community beyond campus.

Outside of school, I love drawing, crocheting, baking, and spending time with friends. I’m always looking for opportunities to connect with new people, hear their stories, and learn something along the way. I’m looking forward to building meaningful relationships within the Amherst community and contributing wherever I can.

Daniel is particularly interested in serving vulnerable members of the community and helping individuals navigate barriers related to housing, immigration, employment, and access to public resources. He is excited to join Amherst Community Connections because of its emphasis on both direct service and advocacy, and he looks forward to learning from the Amherst community while contributing his own experiences and skills.

Outside of academics and work, Daniel enjoys reading political science and fiction, playing guitar, and interpreting traditional Ecuadorian music, including pasillos and valses. He also enjoys working out and playing basketball.

In her free time, Eglah likes to travel when she can, try new coffee shops, take walks, do puzzles, and watch a good thriller movie.

I have many skills that I put to work at ACC such as bookkeeping, computer and printer help since I at one time I was a computer technician. I also help clients with case work, and I am on The Board of Directors at ACC.

In my free time I like to walk on the bike path or hike up a mountain. I also make Silver and Glass jewelry which I sell just outside of the Amherst Farmer’s Market and at Craft Fairs and Online. You can see my jewelry at www.jdbcreationsbyjoshua.com where I have my online store. I work in three mediums: Precious Metal Clay, dichroic glass, and wire wrapping of Stones.