The Wildflower Alliance (formerly the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community) creates conditions that support healing and growth for individuals and the community as a whole through learning opportunities, advocacy, peer-to-peer support and the development of regional and national networks. 

One of the founding concepts behind the Wildflower Alliance is that human relationships are healing, particularly when those people have similar experiences. And so, the Wildflower Alliance strives to create forums through which human relationships, community and a regional network of supports can develop. On a day-to-day basis, that effort may take the form of a community meeting, a support group, trainings and learning opportunities, social events, a computer workshop and/or simply offering a safe space where people can communicate with others or simply be. The Wildflower Alliance also acts as a clearing house for information about other resources in the community and as a consultant to other organizations and groups interested in developing peer roles and/or applying recovery principles.

Learn more about our Mission and History.

The Wildflower Alliance is people and is wherever the community is. However, the Wildflower Alliance also offers Resource Centers and a Peer Run Respite in Western Mass. 

Resource centers are physical locations where individuals can come or call into for support, use computers and the Internet, access the Wildflower Alliance library, find resources and attend various groups, workshops and events. The Wildflower Alliance opened the doors of its first center in July of 2007 and has continued to grow consistently since that time.

Learn more about our spaces...

The Wildflower Alliance is an open community that is intended to create space for a variety of interests, needs and aims.  Generally, we assume that anyone that comes to one of our centers, groups, meetings, events or trainings is there because they have a genuine interest in taking part.  We don’t usually question that interest unless someone shows up with a clipboard and appears to primarily be there to ‘study’ us.

Just a few examples of the people who are a part of our community:

• People who are 18, 35, 60, 81 and every age in between and beyond
• People who identify as mental health ‘consumers’ or ‘clients’ and people who do not
• People who are served by residential programs and people who live on their own
• People who speak Spanish or American Sign Language as their first language
• People who are eligible for DMH services and people who are not.
• People who have experienced extreme states
• People who are trauma survivors
• People who have been hospitalized as a result of their emotional struggles and people who have never been hospitalized
• People who consider themselves ‘recovered’ or ‘in recovery,’ and people who don’t like the word ‘recovery’ at all
• People who are still struggling a lot, people who have lots of ups and downs, and people who are feeling pretty good about where there life is at
• People who don’t really identify as having personal ‘lived experience,’ but who want to be a part of making change in our community and our world
• People in provider roles who want to learn from people who have ‘been there’ and/or share some of their own personal experiences

Because our centers are community center and do not offer ‘supervision’ of individuals who come in, our spaces are generally intended for individuals 18 and over. However, a number of our offerings are open to people 16 or older, and even younger individuals can be accommodated in some spaces/groups so please call to inquire if you have questions or if you would like help to find resources for younger people!

Children under 18 are welcome at Wildflower Alliance events and centers when accompanied by a family member or guardian. However, we ask family members and guardians to be aware of the following  community expectations:

• The adult present with the child(ren) should be a family member, guardian or community provider connected to the child(ren).
  
• Children present must also be able to follow the Wildflower Alliance’s defining principles with the guidance of the adult present with them (for example, the adult would be expected to work with the child to avoid yelling and other disruptive behavior).
  
• The adult present with the child(ren) will be solely responsible for supervision while they are at an Wildflower Alliance event or center.  There will be no expectation that others will assist with supervision, unless they express a wish to be involved.
  
• If a child is not able to be in an Wildflower Alliance space safely (either because he/she is not able to act in a way that is consistent with the defining principles or the adult does not appear to be adequately supervising the child) the adult present with the child will be offered a reminder of these expectations.  If there are repeated concerns, the adult may be asked to leave the space and/or to not bring the child(ren) back to the space for a period of time.

Please also note that young children may be experienced as more disruptive at some events than others. For example, it may be easier for children to be present at social events rather than a small support group. Additionally, please anticipate that some groups and events will cover difficult topics that may be upsetting to or difficult for young children to understand.

Anyone who has a genuine interest is welcome to be a part of the Wildflower Alliance community in a way that works for them. The only exception to this is that we typically do not open our doors to people who are interested simply in studying or observing us for classes or professional development. (That said, there are many public events and opportunities for people to learn in this way, so please watch our newsletter or contact us for these sorts of opportunities.) 

There is no sign up or intake process. If you’d like, we can take your name, address, phone and/or e-mail for the purpose of receiving our newsletter or other notices, but you can also choose not to provide this information.  (The only exception to this is at our respite house, Afiya, where information taken is still quite limited, but we will have a few more questions for you.) You simply need to visit or call one of our spaces, get on our newsletter list or Facebook page, or attend a Wildflower Alliance event or training in order to be considered part of the community!

There is absolutely no cost to visit an Wildflower Alliance center or to attend the vast majority of local Wildflower Alliance events, trainings or workshops. In the event that there is a cost to you to attend a particular event, it will be clearly stated ahead of time and there will always be opportunity for scholarships or reduced rates. Donations are always welcomed.

To learn more about hiring us to lead a training in your area, check out our trainings page.

We know that many people don’t have cars or live further away from our spaces.  However, for people interested in coming in to a training or to check it out:

• All of our spaces are accessible by local bus lines
  
• For individuals unfamiliar with taking the bus, we will do our best to connect you with someone who can ride the bus with you the first few times to help you learn the route and get comfortable!
  
• On a limited basis, we have individuals available who can meet with you in the community and, if you like, drive you to a Wildflower Alliance event or space.
  
• On a limited basis, we may be able to reimburse you for your bus or gas fees to travel here for specific events.
  
• As our community expands, we may be able to help you connect with other people in the community who are coming here from your area and are able to give you a ride!

At the Wildflower Alliance, we try to use open language that is as inclusive as possible. Some people in our community identify with their diagnosis and with the term ‘mental illness,’ while others view their emotional struggles as ‘extreme states’ that have resulted from experiences of trauma, spiritual emergence, neurodiversity, or some other reason. 

Some people prefer to refer to themselves as ‘clients’ or ‘consumers’ while others are uncomfortable with those terms. For that reason, we try to use terms that are open to people’s personal interpretations. For example, someone may say “I have lived experience with mental illness,” or “I have lived experience with trauma,” and so on. 

There’s clearly no one right phrase, but our hope is to create space for people to own their own stories. Many people in our community speak about what it’s been like to be told what’s ‘wrong with them,’ and reclaiming their stories has often been a big part of healing and moving forward.

The Wildflower Alliance receives their main funding through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Other funding sources include private foundation grants, federal grants, and donations. Additionally, the Wildflower Alliance does some of its work through sub-contracts.  (For example, most of theur Alternatives to Suicide groups are funded through a sub-contract with Tapestry Health.) 

The Wildflower Alliance also raises funds through contracts to offer trainings all over the world..

There are many people who are very sensitive to the fragrances used in shampoos, lotions, laundry detergents and so on.  Some of these sensitivities are allergies and others are symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), both of which can cause the individual much discomfort and/or serious health repercussions.  For that reason, we have made many efforts to make our spaces and our meetings safe for individuals who have allergies or MCS, including by asking everyone to avoid wearing scented items.

However, we understand that being entirely fragrance-free can be very difficult, and that sometimes an individual may not even realize that something they are using has a fragrance that is noticeable to someone else.  

For that reason, we say that we are ‘aspiring to be’ or doing our best to be fragrance-free, but that we also understand that this is not always possible for every individual for economic, cultural, and other reasons. 

In these cases, we ask that people be sensitive to each other by being open and honest when something in their environment is bothering them, and by seeking alternative accommodations such as the use of air filtering systems and windows where available and maintaining physical distance from one another when necessary.

The Wildflower Alliance values making all of its spaces, groups and events safe and accessible to everyone. We welcome individuals who are bringing service or companion animals with them as a support.*  However, because we sometimes run into conflicting needs or issues, we also ask that people limit bringing animals who are NOT service or companion animals to our spaces unless planned ahead. We also ask that everyone be aware that:

Service and companion animals will be expected to follow the Wildflower Alliance’s Defining Principles, too!:  We are a values driven community with a set of defining principles, including respect of one another, not yelling or making loud noises, not touching one another without permission and so on.  Hence, we ask human companions to make sure their animals do not bark, jump on others or behave in ways that will make the environment feel less safe to other individuals or their animals.

Some individuals do not like to be around dogs, cats or other animals because they are uncomfortable around and/or allergic to them: Although a service or companion animal may be invaluable to the person that it supports, some individuals’ distress and discomfort will be increased by the presence of animals (even those that are well behaved).  For that reason, we ask individuals who bring animals to any Wildflower Alliance spaces or events to follow these general guidelines:

• Please keep your animal with you at all times, and do not allow it to wander freely through the space.
• If you learn that someone else in the space is afraid of or allergic to your pet, please work as a team with them and others present to find the best available option to accommodate everyone’s needs.
• If you are unsure whether or not your animal will be able to follow the Wildflower Alliance’s Defining Principles around other people and animals when in our space, please call ahead to brainstorm options for your concerns or consider leaving your animal at home for that day.

*  Please note that, in the case of co-sponsored events or activities where other groups are the lead sponsor or in non-Wildflower Alliance leased spaces, we will defer to the guidelines of that space in regards to the presences of animals that are not specifically service animals.

There are many versions of peer-to-peer communities and/or peer-to-peer support roles throughout the country and internationally.  However, the Wildflower Alliance is unique. Our primary and oldest funding comes out of the Recovery Learning Community (RLC) contract with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.

At this time, there are four other Recovery Learning Communities in the state. They are all very different and do not follow a consistent model or approach. The Wildflower Alliance follows the Recovery Learning Community Charter. 

More information about the other Massachusetts Recovery Learning Communities:

The Central Mass Recovery Learning Community (“Kiva Centers”)

The Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community

Southeast Mass Recovery Learning Community

Northeast Mass Recovery Learning Community

The Western Mass Training Consortium (often referred to just as ‘The Consortium) is the Wildflower Alliance’s ‘umbrella organization.’  The Wildflower Alliance chose the Consortium because they had no history of providing traditional mental health services, but had decades of experience in promoting and supporting the development of peer-to-peer communities.  

Other peer-to-peer communities that the Consortium supports include the Salasin Project, the RECOVER Project, and Support Network for Families of Western Mass. The Consortium has become an expert on supporting peer participatory process and community development.

Clubhouses are available throughout the United States and beyond.  They subscribe to a partnered approach where people who identify as having their own personal experiences with psychiatric diagnosis, extreme emotional distress, etc, work side-by-side with people do not identify in that way. 

The people working at Clubhouses do NOT generally identify as working in a ‘peer’ role.  Depending on state regulations, clubhouses may require or prioritize people who are eligible for Department of Mental Health Services, and require intake paperwork with a documented psychiatric diagnosis, as well as a treatment (or ‘action’) plan that is tracked and kept up-to-date.  Clubhouses also tend to focus more on a ‘work-ordered’ day.

The Wildflower Alliance is a part of a much newer model.  The vast majority of people in regular employee roles identify as having been hospitalized, psychiatrically diagnosed, experienced extreme states, etc. themselves.  When offering direct support, the focus is on doing so from a peer-to-peer perspective. 

There is no intake process (although there is a required conversation and process to access the respite house), and no requirement to disclose any diagnostic history.  There are no treatment plans or notes taken. (The only exception is at the respite house where people staying there are asking to note for themselves a basic goal or reason for staying there and whether and generally if the stay was helpful.)  Although there are some employment supports, there is no overall focus on work, employment or a ‘work ordered’ day.

Some people may find that the Wildflower Alliance approach works for them.  Others may really appreciate and prefer the structure and approach of a Clubhouse.  Some may choose to take part in aspects of both Clubhouses and the Wildflower Alliance.

The boot and flowers is the Wildflower Alliance’s logo.  The black and white image, originally created by Janice Sorensen, is the official logo, though there are many versions you will see throughout our website and community.  Although intentionally open to some degree of interpretation, it is generally explained that the boot is always a worn boot and represents the wear and tear we experience as we walk down our life’s path, while the flowers represent the beauty and growth that can be generated by our life’s experiences.