CRESS Day Celebrates 3 Year Anniversary of the Town’s Community Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service
Photo: amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
The Town of Amherst will proudly commemorate the third anniversary of the founding of a new town department – Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service (CRESS) – by hosting a community celebration on Sunday, September 21 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM at Mill River Recreation Area (95 Montague Road). Rain or shine!
CRESS Day will bring the community together to celebrate the progress made over the past three years and highlight CRESS’s ongoing commitment to fostering community engagement and public safety. It will provide a platform to showcase CRESS’s impact, reflect on its growth, and look to the future. All are invited to attend to meet the team, connect with neighbors, share ideas for continued growth, and have fun!
Event highlights include:
- Family-friendly activities including games and crafts.
- Music and dancing with a live DJ.
- Delicious food and refreshments.
- Community resources tables.
- Opportunities to meet and connect with CRESS team members.
- Displays showcasing CRESS’s impact and operations.
“Three years ago, we set out to create a new model of community response—one founded on the belief that safety and support should be accessible to everyone,” said CRESS Director Camille Theriaque. “Amherst continues to embrace this as more than an idea as CRESS’s work has evolved over the past three years to meet the needs of the Amherst community. We reaffirm our commitment to serve with compassion, respect, and dedication.”
Since its launch three years ago, CRESS has been dedicated to promoting equitable and safe responses to community needs with an emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, and compassion. From January through July 2025, CRESS has responded to an average of 55 calls for service per month and collaborated with an average of 14 social service agencies and businesses per month.
Beyond response efforts, community engagement has been a critical component of CRESS’s strategy for building trust and engaging in prevention, intervention, and restorative justice initiatives. CRESS actively builds community connections by attending local events and hosting programs like CRESS Cares collection drives, bi-monthly Veterans Community Breakfasts, and youth empowerment programs. Through these programs and other interactions, CRESS has distributed over 1,500 resources to community members from January through July 2025.
About CRESS
Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service (CRESS) is the Town of Amherst’s unarmed public safety department committed to supporting diverse community needs through trauma-informed and anti-racist frameworks. CRESS aims to fill the ever-present gaps in the town, serving as community builders by connecting people to services and resources. As the town’s third branch of public safety, CRESS responds to non-violent, mental health incidents, wellness checks, and community needs that fall into the grey area of police and fire. Beyond response efforts, CRESS actively builds community connections by attending local events and hosting engagement initiatives. Learn more about CRESS: amherstma.gov/CRESS
