The HERE Project

05/15/2026

04/23/2026

YWCA of Western Massachusetts

03/25/2026

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Eve McCray

Nominated by Rachelle Hannoush, Director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs

"You're never too young to lead." - Kofi Annan

At age 24, Eve McCray is the youngest leader at the YWCA. Self-assured, quietly intelligent, and wise beyond her years, Eve has been with the YWCA since January 2025.

“Eve is an exceptional team member and a dedicated hard worker,” said Rachelle Hannoush, Director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs. “She leads with integrity, uplifts those around her, and creates spaces where both staff and participants feel supported and valued. Eve takes initiative, embraces challenges, and is deeply committed to continuous growth and improvement.”

As the Violence Prevention Supervisor for the Healthy & Empowering Relationships Education (H.E.R.E.) Project, Eve leads the day-to-day operations of the program and supervises a team of instructors who teach violence prevention curriculums to youth ages 12-18.

“My work focuses on coordinating with schools and youth-serving organizations to provide education on human trafficking prevention, bystander intervention, and relationship dynamics,” said Eve. “Additionally, I provide semi- and quarterly reporting for grant funders and teach our three prevention curricula directly to youth throughout the community.”

An American International College (AIC) alum, Eve graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in public health. Furthermore, this Fall, Eve will be pursuing a master’s degree in health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Prior to working at the YWCA, Eve interned with the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Added Eve, “Through my education and experiences, I understand how essential nonprofit organizations are in supporting the health and well-being of our communities.”

Eve learned about the YWCA, her junior year at AIC, when staff visited campus to provide resources and a bystander intervention workshop for students. Eve added that witnessing the YWCA’s community outreach and impact “inspired me to pursue a position with this organization because of the meaningful and lasting difference the organization makes in people’s lives.”

“Every day, I am grateful for the opportunity to build connections across the community and provide violence prevention education to youth in Hampden County,” said Eve. “Having teachers, program directors, and schools write and speak to me about the positive impact the H.E.R.E. Project has had on their youth motivates me to continue my work and be committed to making a difference in the communities I grew up in.”

03/18/2026

Interested in a training? Our classes are open to the public. Sign up today and your school or community will be a part of the change. Let’s continue to uplift, educate, and stand together, not just this month, but every day.

03/02/2026

🦋Meet Our 2026 Difference Makers!🦋

Rachelle Hannoush is the Director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts.

Read her story on our website: https://businesswest.com/blog/rachelle-hannoush/

Tickets are on sale to celebrate her at the Difference Makers awards gala on April 7th at the Log Cabin in Holyoke!
https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar/difference-makers-2026-tickets/

Special thanks to our partner sponsors: Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank!

02/11/2026

It's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February. If you or your organization would be interested in The H.E.R.E. Project facilitating healthy relationship dynamics classes/workshop, please reach out to :

Coordinating Supervisor Eve McCray
[email protected]

Happy Wednesday from The H.E.R.E Project!

A mid-week reminder to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the present moment. Being H.E.R.E is powerful. Being H.E.R.E is enough.

Check out some of our different workshops we teach and feel free to reach out if you are interested!

02/11/2026

Turning heads (and wearing orange!) for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 🧡

Standing in solidarity with survivors and promoting healthy, safe relationships for all young people. Together, awareness becomes action.

Real love respects boundaries. Real love listens. We wear orange this month to spark conversations about what healthy relationships look like. Join us in taking a stand! Remember to always: "Respect That!"

02/11/2026

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and it’s time to talk about what healthy love actually looks like.

At The H.E.R.E. Project, we believe every teen deserves a relationship built on respect, trust, and safety. This month, we’re breaking the silence.

01/30/2026

We're Hiring!

Join our diverse team of passionate, trauma-informed and caring professionals.

Apply now at ywworks.org/employment

01/28/2026

Our work with youth has shown us how vulnerable they can be to trafficking and exploitation, especially when no one’s having real conversations with them. That’s why we’re certified to deliver Not a Number, the prevention curriculum from Love146 to empower youth with tools to prevent harm and reduce risk.

It’s about equipping young people to recognize when something’s wrong, trust their gut, and seek help when something feels off, because every young person deserves to grow up free, safe, and supported.

Feel free to reach out or dm us or at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts if you are interested in having us teach your youth!