Resources
Resources
Career Services
Reach out to an Alray staff member to learn more about what Alray offers in career planning and advising resources.
- Career Counseling and Advising
- Job Coaching
- Resume and Cover Letter Assistance
- Interview Preparation
What Can You Do With Your Major?
Still exploring your major or uncertain about what career opportunities it might lead to? Not sure where to begin, even though you have a clear idea of what you want to do? In addition to your school’s resources, the following resources from Salem State University can help guide you through these questions and provide support as you navigate your academic and career path.
Mental Health & Counseling
At Alray Scholars, we recognize that mental health significantly influences both academic performance and overall well-being. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment that nurtures not only academic excellence but also mental health. In addition to utilizing on-campus resources, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tools and tips below to assist you in finding the mental health support you need—because we know it can sometimes be challenging.
What Alray provides:
Alray has a partnership with a group of licensed mental health professionals to offer free and confidential assessments, counseling, and referrals for current Alray scholars. This allows scholars to short-term counseling (up to 5 sessions during the 2024-25 school year) with a licensed mental health professional at no cost. Our partners can also assist with helping scholars access community resources for specialized or extended services through their insurance policy, which may include deductibles or copays, or other charges.
The counseling services are confidential, and nothing you share with our partners will be shared with Alray staff, volunteers, or anyone else. Our partners will not release any information regarding your contact with the licensed mental health counselors without your written consent or as required by law.
To access 5 free counseling sessions, ask your Alray staff point of contact.
Mental Health Community Resources
Open Path
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit nationwide network of mental health professionals who are committed to providing affordable mental health care to uninsured and under-insured individuals. Open Path therapists offers counseling sessions at $30-70 per session.
Therapy Matcher
Therapy Matcher provides free, personalized, and confidential referrals to licensed mental health provider across Massachusetts. Complete a form with your information and insurance information to get matched with a mental health provider that accepts your insurance. Therapy Matcher includes providers that accepts Masshealth.
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line provides mental health needs assessments and makes connections to community resources to address mental health needs. Call, text, or chat the Help Line anytime; a staff member will respond immediately 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. No insurance is required, and language interpretation is available in 200+ languages.
Call or text 833-773-2445
NAMI Mass Compass Helpline
The Compass helpline at NAMI Massachusetts provides information, ideas, resources, and support to help people navigate the complex mental health system and related systems of care. Compass is staffed by people with first-hand experience navigating the mental health system for themselves or a family member.
Call the helpline at 617-704-6264 or 1-800-370-9085
Email the helpline at compass@namimass.org
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
Text 741741
Scholarships
What Alray provides:
– Renewable tuition scholarships each year you are enrolled in school
– Additional funding to support other expenses such as books, course materla,s transportation, etc.
– Connections to other resources to address emergency expenses that may come up
If scholars have additional financial need even after the Alray scholarship and financial aid, here are some tips and resources for securing additional scholarships.
1. Start early
Begin your search at least a year before you plan to apply. Look for scholarships from a variety of sources including universities, private organizations, community groups, and professional associations.
2. Find fitting scholarships for you
Focus on scholarships that match your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community services, or specific circumstances (e..g scholarships for first-generation college students, students pursuing a particular major). See the scholarship lists below for scholarship opportunities.
3. Write a compelling, tailored essay
Craft a personal statement or essay that clearly communicates your goals, achievements, and how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational and career objectives. Tailor your essay to each scholarship’s specific prompt.
4. Stay organized with a tracking tool
See below for a spreadsheet to keep track of scholarship deadlines, application requirements, and status of each scholarship application.
Scholarship Application Organizer
Click to access a Scholarship Application Organizer template in Google Sheets to help keep track all of your scholarships applications!
Immigration / Legal Support
At Alray Scholars, we are dedicated to helping students navigate the complexities of immigration and legal challenges to achieve their educational aspirations. We recognize that navigating legal and immigration pathways can be overwhelming, which is why our team is here to help you overcome obstacles and focus on your academic and personal goals. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams with confidence and support.
Immigration/Legal Resources
Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy
Helps immigrants and refugees find immigration legal assistance, citizenship services, education, and health resources.
Rian Immigration Center
Provides legal immigration assistance, citizenship services, ESOL, housing counseling, job assistance, etc.
The Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR)
PAIR is the leading provider of pro bono immigration legal services to asylum-seekers and provides other immigration and citizen services.
Greater Boston Legal Services
Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Greater Boston.
Finance
At Alray Scholars, we are dedicated to helping students navigate financial challenges with finance support. We recognize that handling financial matters can be overwhelming, which is why our team is here to help you overcome obstacles and focus on your academic and personal goals. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams with confidence and support.
Additional Financial Resources
Boston public library's Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC)
KBLIC, located on the lower level of the BPL Boylston Street Building, offers investing sessions, free tax preparation, financial literacy workshops, and more
City of Boston Center for Working Families
The Center for Working Families connects residents to financial education and employment services including one-on-on-one coaching, credit and asset building, and workforce development.
Women's Money Matters
Women’s Money Matters builds the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women and girls living on low-incomes through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.
Parenting/Childcare Support
At Alray Scholars, we are committed to supporting parents and caregivers in their childcare journey. We understand that navigating the challenges of being a parent can be overwhelming, which is why our team is here to help you overcome obstacles and focus on fostering a nurturing environment for your children.
Parenting/Childcare Resources
Fathers Uplift Inc.
Assist fathers in overcoming barriers that prevent them from remaining engaged in their children’s lives.
ABCD, Child Care Choices of Boston
Offers support, resources, technical assistance, training and chidcare expertise to families, childcare providers, employers, and the larger community.
Children's Services of Roxbury
Provides early education and care, center based programs, family stabilization and support, parent mentor, youth and police partnership, behavioral health service, in-home therapy, recovery support service, youth and family services, adoption assessments and comprehensive foster care.
One Family
One Family delivers impactful programming to families across Massachusetts who are experiencing homelessness or living with low incomes. One Family Scholars provides coaching and scholarships to single parents in college.
Sitters for Scholars
The mission of Sitters for Scholars is to enable families to advance economically through offering parents the opportunity to pursue their educational goals. To achieve this mission, Sitters for Scholars provides trusted, free babysitting to student parents in Greater Boston.
Graduate Studies
At Alray Scholars, we are dedicated to helping graduate students navigate the journey of pursuing advanced degrees. In addition to leveraging your school’s resources, our team is here to help you find the right path.
Graduate Studies Resources
leadership brainery
Leadership Brainery addresses inequitable access to master’s and doctoral degrees and workforce leadership opportunities for underrepresented talent. Leadership Brainery works with prospective and current graduate students, academic institutions, employers, and committed community members to eliminate systemic barriers to education and create inclusive communities.
Federal financial aid for graduate or professional students
This brochure provides an overview of the federal student aid programs available to eligible graduate or professional students.
MA Graduate Tuition Waiver
Graduate students attending graduate degree programs at MA public colleges and universities (e.g. UMass Boston, UMass Lowell, Framingham Stat University, Salem State University, etc.) may be eligible for additional financial aid.
Technology
At Alray Scholars, we believe that everyone should have access to the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s digital world. In addition to leveraging your campus resources, we have provided a range of technology resources down below:
Technology Resources
Tech Goes Home
Tech Goes Home brings computers, internet, and training to families and individuals throughout Massachusetts so students can do homework, adults can find jobs and manage finances, seniors can connect with loved ones.
T-Mobile Project 10Million
Free hotspots for eligible households. Must be a new client of T-Mobile and have no existing T-Mobile account.
Tek Collaborative
Tek Collaborative provides free refurbished laptops to anyone in need. Must be able to pick up device in Amesbury.
PCs for People
PCs for People is a national nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income.
library and campus resources
Many libaries have technology available to borrow. For example:
Boston Public Library cardholders can borrow Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots for 21 days.
UMass Boston students can borrow Chromebooks from the campus library until the end of the semester.
Housing/Food Resources
At Alray Scholars, we are committed to supporting students in accessing critical resources, including housing and food assistance. We believe that every student should have the foundation they need to focus on their academic and personal growth, free from the stress of unmet basic needs.
Housing Resources
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)
ABCD builds pathways out of poverty for individuals and families throughout the Greater Boston region. ABCD connects individuals and families to housing, along with food, child care, job training, and more. To get connected to these resources, contact ABCD Connect by calling 617.348.6329 or emailing abcdconnect@bostonabcd.org.
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program provides short-term emergency funding to help you with eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies.
Emergency Shelter Lists
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities maintains lists of emergency shelters and other housing and shelter resources.
Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance's Homeownership University
The Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance (MAHA) offers virtual first-time homebuyer and homeownership classes. For current homeowners, MAHA also offeres foreclosure prevention counseling. Graduates of the homeownership classes may be eligible for insur.
Rosie's Place
Rosie’s Place is a multi-service community center that offers women emergency shelter and meals, and so much more: a food pantry, ESOL classes, legal assistance, wellness care, one-on-one support, housing and job search services, and community outreach.
Food Resources
Abundance Boston Food Map
Download the Abundance App on your phone to view maps of free and low-cost food resources Greater Boston. You can also view the map on their website.
Monthly Food Resource Guides
Vital CxNs puts together monthly food resource guides sorted by neighborhood in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and Cape Verdean Creole.
WIC Nutrition Program
WIC is a nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to Massachusetts families who qualify. To qualify, families need to be considered low-income based on the program guidelines and have a child under age 5. To learn more, contact the location closest to you.
SNAP Benefits (formerly Food Stamps)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food-purchasing assistance, nutrition resources, education and training opportunties, and connections to other free resources to low-income individuals and families. Visit the Mass Department of Transitional Assistance website to learn more about eligibility requirements, submit an submit an application, and more.