Kids Count Too! (NEWTON)
Saturdays, January 12 and February 9, 1:00-3:00 p.m. RSVP.
This program is for families with children ages 6-12, in which a parent has cancer. Children participate in an activity relevant to living with cancer in the family, while parents have a chance to talk about the challenges of parenting during the cancer experience. Teens ages 13-18 are invited to volunteer as mentors. If you are new to the program, please call Susan Englander, LICSM at (617) 332-1919 for more information.

Couples Facing Breast Cancer Together (NEWTON)
Saturday, February 2, 8:30-1:30 p.m. RSVP.
A diagnosis of breast cancer presents unique challenges to couples. We invite you to join us together for this half day learning and networking opportunity. Through lecture presentations and interactive workshops we will address issues such as communication, intimacy, difficult conversations and the growth that can come out of facing this challenge together. Practical tools such as mind-body approaches and communication exercises that you can integrate into your lives will be presented. We will conclude the day with a luncheon that will provide the opportunity to talk with and learn from one another. Made possible through the generosity of the Ellie Fund. For registration and further details, please call (617) 332-1919.

Robbie Lacritz Deitch Caregivers Appreciation Brunch
Sunday, February 10, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. RSVP REQUIRED by January 27, 2008
The Wellness Community-Greater Boston recognizes the vital role that caregivers play, and everyday we witness people rising to the challenge of care giving with grace. Please join us for the second annual Robbie Lacritz Deitch Caregivers Appreciation Brunch where we will honor the caregivers among us who show extraordinary compassion in their efforts to ease the burden of those they care for. All caregivers nominated by our participants will be recognized at this brunch. Furthermore, the event honors all caregivers and we invite you to join us and bring your favorite caregiver. If you will be attending, please send us a picture of your caregiver to include in the slide show that will run throughout the event!
The brunch will be held at The Westin in Waltham-Boston. For more information or to RSVP, please call or email Shanna Fuller at (617) 332-1919, sfuller@wellnesscommunity.org

Re-Design Your Life After Cancer (NEWTON)
Three Wednesdays, January 16, 23, & 30, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. RSVP.
A New Year is the perfect time to take stock of your life and all you have been through. Cancer can indeed be a turning point in life. For some, it raises questions about what is really important in life. Others may begin to question who they are and what they want their life to be for now, especially when your main treatment is completed. And others may need to rethink their career or decide how to best utilize their time if they are on disability. Join mind-body instructor and life coach, Gretchen Daggett, MA, for this 3-session holistic, experiential and practical program that will support you in your ongoing exploration of your life. Gretchen combines a caring, accepting, positive approach with the compassionate rigor needed to design the next phase of your life and begin to get into action. You will have the structure and support to do the "inner" and "outer" work to examine deeply who you are and your life's mission, and plan how you want to utilize your time and talents in a meaningful way that balances your body, mind, and spirit week.

Reiki Workshop (HANOVER)
Wednesday, February 6, 1:30-3:00 p.m. RSVP.
Come relax and rebalance with this wonderful energy enhancing practice provided by experienced Reiki Masters Ann Allegrini, Gail Mitton and Kathleen Armany. We will explore the origins of Reiki, its benefits and share the wonderful energy.

Stress Management (HANOVER)
Three Wednesdays, February 13, 20 & 27, 1:30-3:00. RSVP.
An essential feature of mind-body medicine is to lead individuals to improved health through self-care. Utilizing cognitive/behavioral strategies such as elicitation of the relaxation response, visualization, imagery, and mindfulness, you will learn tools that will help you navigate you through your cancer journey. This program will be facilitated by trained instructors from the Mind Body Medical Institute, Gail Mitton and Ann Allegrini.

Intro to Mindfulness (NEWTON)
Three Wednesdays, February 13, 20 & 27, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. RSVP.
Mindfulness is a state of being consciously aware of the present moment, being fully awake in our lives. Join mind/body instructor, Gretchen Daggett, MA for this three-part series. You will learn the basic techniques for breathing, focusing and meditation to cope with stress, pain and illness.

A Day Away: Caregiver Retreat (NEWTON)
Thursday, February 14, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. RSVP.
Treat yourself to a day away in a quiet setting in Concord. At this day long retreat, caregivers will have the opportunity to practice strategies for self-care while caring for a loved one with cancer. This retreat will be led by TWC Facilitator, Claire Willis, LICSW.

Art Workshop: Head, Heart, and Hands (SALEM)
Four Wednesdays, January 2, 9, 23, & February 6, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. R.S.V.P.
In this 4 session art workshop, participants will have a chance to create beautiful works of art, as well as build a book, after making handmade paper. Join North Shore artist, Carol Hanson, and learn how to transform recyclable paper into new paper and then create art from it. We will use our heads to process the experience and learn the technique, our hearts to place meaning in the pulp, and our hands to create a physical expression of this experience. Carol Hanson is a 6 year cancer survivor and welcomes this opportunity to share her passion for art and teaching, which was greatly expanded and nurtured following her recovery.

TWC Memoir Writing Workshop – A Reading (NEWTON)
Thursday, January 3, 7:00-9:00 p.m. RSVP.
Join author and teacher, Peggy Rambach, editor of All That Matters: Memoirs from The Wellness Community—Greater Boston, for this six-week workshop. You will have the opportunity to record and dramatize your past, as well as navigate the complexities of your present through the form of memoir and creative non-fiction. Under Ms. Rambach’s guidance and with the camaraderie of class members you will read your work-in-progress for discussion, affirmation, and critique, and then revise it, as a means of learning the techniques necessary to convey your experiences in a way that provides enduring insight to both you and your readers. Members will give a reading at the closure of the class from a collection of the class’ work. Class size is limited.

Beading Class (NEWTON)
Nine Fridays, January 4 through February 29, 12:00-2:00 p.m. RSVP
Come learn the basics of making beautiful jewelry. Kinga Zielinska, from Bead & Pearl in Newton Centre, will demonstrate and guide you through the process and you will go home with a new bauble for yourself or someone you love! Materials provided. If you have any of your own, please bring them.

Collage Workshop: Exploring the Language of Cancer (NEWTON)
Thursday, January 17, 12:00-3:00 p.m. RSVP.
What language do we use to describe ourselves and others with cancer? How does the language we use make us and others feel? Join artist Catherine Weber and create three sign projects that incorporate language and images. Through words and images, we will explore the language that we use and how to share our illness with each other. Finally, we will create collage signs to share our feelings with our caregivers and friends. You are encouraged to bring words and images that you can incorporate into the project. No experience necessary. All supplies will be provided but please bring a smock or work shirt to protect clothing from paint and glue.

Poetry Reading with Author Susan Deborah King (NEWTON)
Thursday, January 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP.
In 1999, Susan Deborah King was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. As a poet, Susan found that the act of writing was an essential part of her recovery. Susan states: "The process of diagnosis, treatment and recovery and the writing about it was indeed a transformative one, leaving me with an abiding sense of poignancy about our life's brevity, gratitude for it and even joy." After years of writing about her experience with cancer, Susan published her third collection of poems in her book One Breasted Woman. In this book, Susan offers poems that are utterly alive; vivid with fear, heightened awareness, anger, sorrow, playfulness, and even joy. Join us for an intimate evening in which Susan will read selections from her book and share thoughts and feelings about her cancer experience.

Chinese Brush Painting (NEWTON)
Three Fridays, February 1, 8, & 15, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. RSVP
Please join Randi Meryl, for this 3 week program that will introduce freehand Chinese Brush Painting and teach brush techniques using ink and color to capture the spirit and essence of your subject. The focus will be on using brush strokes to express yourself and give the painting rhythm, beauty, and soul. The subject will be Flower and Bird. All levels invited, beginners are encouraged to join. Supplies will be provided. Space is limited.

On the Map: Exploring Collage Using Maps (NEWTON)
Thursday, February 28, 12:00-3:00 p.m. RSVP.
Cartography or mapmaking has been part of human history longer than written words. Maps chart the planets, the world and our home towns. They sometimes show history from the perspective of the cartographer in the most beautiful ways. Each of us has a view of ourselves-in their home, community, and in the world. Join artist Catherine Weber and chart your cancer journey through words and images. Where are you on the map? You are encouraged to bring words and images that you can incorporate into the project. No experience necessary. All supplies will be provided, though we recommend you bring an apron or work shirt to protect your clothing from glue.

Ms. Tsatsarones joined Community Servings in May of 2007 where her role is diverse, with a common goal of maintaining the health and dignity of the clients by providing nutritionally and culturally appropriate meals. She recently presented at the Susan G. Komen Ignite the Mission Conference in Washington DC on the topic of Food for Health: Nutrition and Breast Cancer.

Blogging Workshop: Using the Internet to Keep Friends and Family Up-to-Date (NEWTON)
Tuesday, January 29, 6:00-8:00 p.m. RSVP.
For many facing a cancer diagnosis, finding the time to keep our loved ones “in-the-loop” is often difficult. Join TWC participant Kelly Kane and learn about easy-to-use blogging websites, such as Google Blogger, CarePages and CaringBridge which offer a unique opportunity to share information about your cancer journey with friends and family. Blogs are also a great way to find support through fellow cancer fighters and survivors. At the end of the workshop Kelly will even help you set up your own blog!

Nutrition Workshop (HANOVER)
Thursday, January 31, 1:30 p.m. RSVP.
This workshop will provide information on good nutrition for during and after treatment. Bring your questions and get ideas and support for making dietary changes. This program will be led by Gail Mitton, certified Whole Health Educator and Cancer Guide.

Weight Management: Support for Cancer Treatment and Survivorship (NEWTON)
Two groups: Twelve Mondays, Starting February 4, 2:30-4:30 p.m. & Twelve Tuesdays, Starting February 5, 3:00-5:00 p.m. RSVP.
Both of these 12-week programs aim to help you design a practical plan, with special attention to your individual beliefs and cultural values, to assist your journey with cancer and help you deal with the side effects of treatment. During the group, we’ll discuss the emotional aspects of cancer treatment and help you manage emotional eating and changes in your appetite and weight. We’ll schedule walking groups and grocery store tours and introduce you to healthy foods, vitamins, herbs, exercise, and supplements to develop a personalized cancer survivorship wellness plan. Space is limited. Priority will be given to those who are in active treatment and/or have never participated in this program.

Winter Cooking Demonstration (NEWTON)
Wednesday, February 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP.
Winter is the perfect time to give the most underappreciated vegetables a starring role, February is the month for comfort food of real substance, but that can still mean fresh from the earth food. It may be cold outside, but that doesn't mean everything stops growing. The building blocks of this February menu are the winter onion, and kales which are undeterred by a bit of frost. Join Sal Arciniega from Whole Foods Market for an evening of seasonal comfort foods. Eating well in February is not as hard as you think.
Menu: French Onion Soup, Chicken and Kale in the Skillet, Dark Chocolate dipped fruit

Acupuncture Workshop (HANOVER)
Thursday, February 7, 5:30 p.m. RSVP.
Please join Teresa Lally, M. Ac., CHT and learn more about acupuncture and how it can help in cancer treatment, such as relieving nausea and for stress relief. Teresa Lally graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1999, obtaining a Masters Degree after studying Chinese, Japanese, and Hari styles of acupuncture.

Cancer and the Workplace (NEWTON)
Thursday, February 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP.
This workshop will provide a discussion of rights and protections available to employees with cancer. We will discuss relevant laws that address discrimination issues, the impact of job changes on health insurance and medical leave issues. Participants will also have the opportunity to present their individual concerns to the group for feedback and brainstorming. Possible topics include: disclosing your diagnosis during a job search, how to ask for special accommodations, and tips for clarifying benefit issues. The program will be led by Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Sheila Fesko, Ph.D.

Nutrition Workshop at Community Servings (ROXBURY)
Wednesday, February 27, 1:00-3:00 p.m. RSVP.
Please join Registered Dietician for Community Servings (servings.org), Heather Tsatsarones, RD for this nutrition-based cooking class. Heather will demonstrate how to cook healthy meals during and after cancer treatment. This workshop will be held at the nutrition center at Community Servings. Community Servings is dedicated to providing free home-delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to people homebound with life-threatening illnesses, who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. To learn more about Community Servings, visit: www.servings.org

Estate Planning (NEWTON)
Wednesday, February 27, 7:00-9:00 p.m. RSVP.
A well-crafted estate plan can help strengthen relationships and bring a family peace of mind. While decisions regarding matters of life and death are scary to discuss, especially if you have undergone or are going through cancer treatment, the knowledge that you have devised a thoughtful estate plan should the worst happen can be a gift that you give yourself and your loved ones. Join us for an evening with Michelle B. Langford, an attorney in the Estate Planning and Probate Practice Group of Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye. Michelle will discuss estate planning in the real world and practical matters to help breast cancer patients and survivors to become more informed about making legal decisions. She will include time for questions from the audience about their specific estate planning decisions.

Frankly Speaking About Cancer Treatment (NEWTON)
Thursday, February 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP.
Join Jon S. DuBois, MD for this educational workshop and learn about the most common side effects of various cancer treatments so that survivors and families can proactively work with their health care team to manage side effects, use the mind-body connection and improve their quality of life during and after treatment. Light refreshments will be served.