I’m running in the Bridge of Flowers Road Race in Shelburne Falls, MA on 8/9/2025 and raising money for Western MA non-profit DIAL/SELF Youth & Community Services.
DIAL/SELF was Begun in 1977 by a local doctor from Shelburne and other community members concerned about the lack of services available to at-risk youth, DIAL/SELF has consistently provided outreach, advocacy, and residential services to area teens and young adults for the past 48 years. The Mission of DIAL/SELF is to help young people increase their personal and community strengths and develop autonomy by connecting them with housing, income, education and civic opportunities.
The agency has a variety of residential housing and outreach programs for young people and offer workforce training opportunities through an AmeriCorps program.
With so much federal support for programs that support young people being reduced or eliminated this year it is more important than ever for community to provide direct financial support for these services that help young people in our community trying to get a solid start in life.
Thank you for any donation you can make and please consider sharing this with others.
45th Annual Bridge of Flowers Classic & 3k Race
The Bridge of Flowers Classic 8K (4.97 miles) and 3K (1.86 miles) will be held on Saturday, August 9th, 2025 in downtown Shelburne Falls, MA. 3K is at 8:00 am with the 8K Classic at 9:00 am. This will be the 45th running of the race that starts in downtown Shelburne Falls, MA.
Since 2009 the race has partnered with DIAL/SELF Youth and Community Services. After the race had a two-year nap thanks to COVID-19, Community members asked DIAL/SELF to revive the race and adopt it as a signature fundraising event. The agency revived the race in 2022 and has had 3 great years with runners and volunteers alike.
In the 4th year at the helm of the race DIAL/SELF is excited to roll out a more active way for runners to help support the great work the agency does to support local youth have safe housing, support accessing academic and vocational training and offer opportunities for civic engagement in the Western MA community.
More race info is available at www.bofrace.com
The Mission of DIAL/SELF is to help young people increase their personal and community strengths and develop autonomy by connecting them with housing, income, education and civic opportunities.
History and Vision
Begun in 1977 by a local doctor and other community members concerned about the lack of services available to at-risk youth, DIAL/SELF has consistently provided outreach, advocacy, and residential services to area teens for the past 47+ years.
Guiding Principles
In order to safely make the transition from childhood to adulthood, youth need effective social skills, clear and consistent boundaries, marketable skills, caring support, high expectations and opportunities for meaningful participation and contribution. Youth are more likely to make the journey to adulthood unscathed when there are caring adults actively serving as guides, providing safe havens, and fostering self-awareness, self-worth, self-discipline and self-motivation. While recognizing that it is impossible to guarantee teens a completely “safe passage” from childhood to adulthood, DIAL/SELF seeks to provide youth with the support and guidance that they need to become healthy, independent and productive citizens who are meaningfully engaged in their communities.