Opinion: New Film Celebrates 16 Years of Internships at Amherst Community Connections

Amherst, with its tree-lined streets, farmers markets, and students debating climate justice over $7 lattes, is a place whose residents say that “community matters” — and they actually believe it.

We don’t post about the woman choosing between rent and heat in February, or the older man aging out of his apartment because the stairs got steeper and the rent did too. The family that is one missed paycheck away from becoming a statistic no one wants to claim is also Amherst. And that is not an exception — it is the system working exactly as designed.

We grew up thinking there was a safety net. The worst-case scenario is a number to call, a place to go, and a form to fill out. But what no one tells you is that the safety net is actually a maze. And if you’re already in crisis, you don’t have time to solve a maze.

Thank you very much. I am very [happy] with your [one of the caseworkers’] clarity and your commitment to your clients. You are a gem in a sea of nameless, faceless caseworkers. You have been so helpful in straightening this situation, as unique as it is with all the passes and past dues. – Michael L. Participant

Amherst Community Connections lives not in the spotlight or the policy headlines, but in the in-between moments where things either fall apart … or don’t.

They’re the ones picking up the phone when everything feels like it’s collapsing — stepping between a tenant and a landlord before a dispute turns into an eviction, because translation systems were never built to be understood under pressure.

Helping people find homes is not a glamorous job. It doesn’t go viral. Still, it is essential. And few people noticed the students from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Mt. Holyoke College who were supposed to be figuring out their own futures. As it turns out, they were holding together someone else’s present.

While we were told to “follow our passions,” the economy quietly shifted under our feet. Housing got expensive, wages got unpredictable, and stability became … conditional.

Now we’re the generation watching:

• Our parents age into a system that isn’t ready for them.
• Our peers juggle rent like it’s a competitive sport.
• Entire communities exist one crisis away from unraveling.

The “silver tsunami” is already here — just quieter than expected.

When the system doesn’t catch people, Amherst Community Connections builds something that does: a human workaround to a structural problem.

The film Who We Are? isn’t just a documentary — it’s a mirror. It asks a question we’ve been avoiding: How much does the stability of our communities depend on invisible labor? The answer isn’t what we post, what we study, or what we say we believe. The film shows how, in the gaps, student volunteers hold the line before things fall apart. Their work doesn’t trend, but it changes everything.

Our community owes much to you and to your colleagues at Amherst Community Connections for your service to the town and those in need.  May ACC continue to prosper! –George Ryan
Town Councilor (District 3)

Student interns work side by side with individuals and families facing homelessness and housing instability, helping prevent evictions, keep the lights on, find jobs, and secure a place to call home. For many, this support is the difference between crisis and stability … between homelessness and hope.

For 16 years, these young advocates have quietly transformed our community. Now their story comes to light.

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Premier of the Documentary Film, Who We Are.

May 2, 1–3 p.m. | Amherst Community Connections. 256 North Pleasant Street.

A powerful new documentary capturing the voices, resilience, and real impact behind the work — featuring the people served and the students who stand beside them.

Open House Experience

Step inside and see the work in action:

• Meet the interns and staff behind the mission.
• Learn how case management, advocacy, and referrals change lives.
• Explore the One-Stop Resource Center.
• Connect with a community committed to dignity, stability, and equity.

Why It Matters
At its core, Amherst Community Connections believes one thing: Housing is the foundation for everything.

Their work supports:

• Individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Families on the brink of eviction.
• Survivors of domestic violence.
• Immigrants, elders, and those with disabilities.
• People navigating reentry, addiction, and systemic barriers.

Each year, nearly 1,000 community members receive critical support — from emergency referrals to long-term case management and advocacy.

Get Involved
Whether you can attend or not, you can still be part of the impact:

• Make a meaningful contribution.
• Become an event sponsor.
• Help sustain life-changing services in our community.

Because behind every statistic is a person — and a story worth telling.

 Who We Are is a window into what’s possible when a community shows up for its own.

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Rizwana Khan is a writer, educator, and human rights advocate in the town of Amherst.