A space for families, connection, and support—right here at Eastworks
Since 2022, Learn to Cope West has been part of the Eastworks community. Located on the first floor, their Community Resource Center supports families affected by substance use with compassion, bilingual programming, and practical tools for harm reduction.
Founded by people with lived experience, Learn to Cope West is a warm and welcoming hub that provides connection, education, and care without judgment.
Meet the team
Peter Babineau, Director of Learn to Cope West, who helped establish the center and leads regional programming and partnerships.
Magda Colón, Western Massachusetts Regional Manager, who brings public health experience and deep community outreach expertise.
Kathy Iellamo, Community Resource Center Manager, who first came to Learn to Cope as a parent and now helps others find their footing.
“It’s not just about resources,” Peter said. “It’s a place where people can take a breath.”
Starting small and building trust
Before the Eastworks location opened, Learn to Cope meetings were held at local hospitals and community centers. According to Peter, the shift to Zoom during the pandemic was a surprise success.
“I thought for sure that was gonna be the end of us… but I’m very grateful to say I was wrong. It’s worked really well.”
In 2021, Peter mentioned the idea of a physical resource center during his annual review—an idea he described as “a dream world” scenario. His supervisor encouraged him to make it a reality.
“She said, ‘No, I want to do it. I want it to be a pilot. I want you to do it in Western Mass.’ Which—nobody from Eastern Mass starts anything in Western Mass. That’s not a thing.”
After searching for a central, accessible location that wasn’t too congested, he found Eastworks. The lease was signed on February 1, 2022, and the center opened to the public that fall.
A team with deep roots
Each team member brings their own story to the work.
“I attended my first Learn to Cope meeting, I believe in 2013 or 2014,” said Kathy Iellamo. “It was after I discovered that both of my sons were using opioids… I also now facilitate the Learn to Cope grief support meeting, which is a Zoom meeting. I lost my youngest son in March of 2018.”
Peter shared that he recruited Kathy to be the front-facing presence at the Resource Center because of her warmth and spirit.
Magda Colón first encountered the team while working in a separate public health role, and her personal experience led her to join the organization.
“I had a conversation from home about one of my kids… and who was there? Marcy Julian. She said, ‘I hear you. I’ve been there and it’s gonna be okay.’”
Magda’s background in public health communication shaped her role.
“There’s nothing really out there that really puts a foot forward in educating our communities the way that they need to be educated. We say a lot of things, but we say nothing… This community and this program and this space intends to work with people to say something that is heard by them.”
She now leads the Spanish-language support group and offers expanded Narcan and CPR trainings for families.
What happens at the Resource Center?
Support meetings remain the foundation of Learn to Cope West’s programming. The team runs in-person and hybrid gatherings, grief groups, Spanish-language meetings, and overdose prevention training.
“The original model was community support meetings,” Peter said. “That was the core of what we do… and we’ve been distributing Narcan since 2011. Always free of charge and we do the training.”
They also offer coaching, casual drop-ins, and informal conversation.
“Sometimes people come in and they don’t want people saying, ‘You need to do this, you need to do that,’” Kathy said. “People do things when they’re ready—and not a minute before. I think people just wanna be heard.”
Hybrid meetings are made possible with an interactive webcam system called the Owl.
“People are able to take part in the meeting as if they’re in the room,” Peter said. “Last night we had eight people in the room, and another twenty online.”
Magda noted that participants sometimes connect from far beyond Massachusetts.
“The person that is online on Zoom will have another person on the phone… from Peru or Columbia or Mexico.”
The team also collaborates with outside organizations, like the Easthampton Health Department and local DART (Drug Addiction Response Team) coalitions, and hosts public events like vigils, wellness workshops, and community potlucks.
Breaking down stigma
All three staff members spoke about the misconceptions people bring through the door.
“People come in with the idea that we’re gonna tell them how to fix this,” Kathy said. “And I think that’s the longest thing it takes for them to overcome.”
“The first thing that I encounter is that people don’t know that there’s help for families,” Magda said. “Even though it’s been a very long time since the system decided that this is a disease… we still separate the individual from the family.”
“We’re not a tough love organization,” Peter said. “We’re the opposite of tough love… We believe in compassion. We believe in being there for people… and we believe in developing healthy boundaries for ourselves.”
Events and what’s ahead
Learn to Cope West offers recurring and seasonal events open to the public, including:
- Enhanced Overdose Prevention Training (CPR, Narcan, and emergency preparedness)
- Grief Support Meetings (Mondays on Zoom)
- Community Potlucks and Wellness Workshops
- Overdose Awareness Vigil at Mill Pond (August 2025)
Kathy manages the group’s Facebook page and regularly updates flyers in the windows to keep the community informed.
A neighbor doing essential work
Learn to Cope West is a vital part of the Eastworks community. From drop-in conversations to multilingual education, they meet people where they are—with empathy, not judgment.
“This space is an invitation for people to take a breath,” Magda said.
We’re proud to host their work and thankful for the care they bring to our building and our region.
📍 Visit Learn to Cope West
Suite 147, First Floor
📅 Info + events at learn2cope.org
📧 Contact: info@learntocope.org
🔗 facebook.com/learntocopewest
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