Supporting Island Futures

2026-11-13T10:00:34-05:00November 13th, 2026|News|

Dear Friends of ACE MV,

Martha’s Vineyard’s greatest resource has always been its people. The skills, dedication, and care of Islanders are what make this community a unique place to live, work, and raise a family. But for our Island to thrive, we must continue to invest in the people who will shape its future.

Strong Island Futures begin with opportunity—the opportunity for young people to discover their potential, for adults to build new skills and rewarding careers, and for Islanders to find meaningful work that strengthens both their own lives and the community around them.

That is the vision behind this year’s annual appeal: Island Futures.

Students in the Early Childhood Education cohort celebrate at graduation in June.

Investing in Island Futures looks like…

  • Helping high school students discover their interests, build confidence, and prepare for the world of work.

  • Expanding training opportunities in the building trades and clean energy fields, where skilled workers are essential to the island’s future.

  • Strengthening pathways into health care and behavioral health careers, so that the people who care for our neighbors, families, and loved ones can find meaningful work and lasting opportunity here at home.

These priorities are deeply connected. When a young person sees a future on the island, when an adult gains the skills to enter a new profession, and when our local businesses and essential service providers can find the workers they need, our entire community benefits. More islanders can build stable lives, employers can grow, and our community becomes better equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Hearing from Our Students

Upcoming Courses & Workshops

2026-11-12T14:04:58-05:00November 12th, 2026|News|

Upcoming Courses & Workshops

Thursdays 6-8 PM | November 12, 19; December 3, 10, 17
In-person at MVRHS; except Nov. 19th class at Haven

Are you interested in continuing your Brazilian Portuguese learning?

Join our 5-week Beginners Level 2 class with instructor Maria Angela Moreira, founder of Moreira Education Solutions. Learning a new language takes practice and continued use, and this is a great opportunity to continue on with your learning journey. Students must have completed a beginner level class in the past.

Maria Angela Moreira has decades of experience in the field of education, with a BA in Pedagogy and her Postgraduate Degree in Teaching in the Field of Higher Education. Maria is a native of Brazil and has been teaching Brazilian Portuguese on Martha’s Vineyard since 2015. She is the founder of Moreira Education Solution.

Cost: $169/participant

Join us for a monthly 90-minute co-working session designed to help you make steady progress on your email newsletter. Bring your ideas, draft, or questions and work alongside other small business owners and creators while Kay Frank provides hands-on support with Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Each session gives you dedicated time to work on your next newsletter, with help troubleshooting, improving your design, brainstorming content, and getting it ready to send.

  • November 17th

  • December 15th

  • January 12th

  • February 9th

Cost: $100/Regular Enrollment – including all 4 sessions!

Our Hoisting 2-A/1-C License Prep & Renewal Course is a single 6 hour class designed to give the applicant all the information necessary to pass the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Class 2-A/1-C hoisting exam.

This course covers: Application Process, Basic Information, Walk Around Inspection Procedures, Servicing, Start up and Shut down Procedures, Utilities, Trenching, Transporting Machines, Hand Signals, Department of Public Safety, Dig Safe, OSHA

Cost: $335 | Not including cost of exam

Massachusetts requires 40 hours of pre-license training prior to the real estate salesperson exam. This course prepares students for the license exam and is approved by the MA Board of Registration for fulfilling its licensing requirements. This class has a limited number of seats available and pre-registration is required!

Date/Times: January 9, 10, 16, and 17 | Saturday + Sunday, 9AM-5:30PM

Location: In-Person at Haven Shared Workspace

Cost: $595/person – fee includes 40-hour class and all textbook and materials.

Learn the essentials for everyday conversation, including greetings, getting to know someone, and sharing a bit about yourself. You will also learn bits and pieces about the Brazilian culture along the way! This class is intended for beginners.

Lorena Crespo is originally from Ecuador and has been a language teacher on the Island for nearly a decade. She is a graduate of the ACE MV Brazilian Portuguese Teacher Training program. She has a master’s degree in Education in Curriculum and Teaching and is a certified ESL instructor. Lorena works as an ESL teacher and teaches Latin dance classes on the side!

Hear from a past student: “The Portuguese course that I took was amazing! The instructors were so kind and patient and I met so many interesting people. This was perfect for someone who is a complete beginner.”

Cost: 

Early Bird Enrollment: $189 (Register by December 29)

Regular Enrollment: $209

Get Licensed This Coming January!

This in person class will prepare you to pass the Construction Supervisor’s License Test. The class will meet for 7 weeks on Wednesdays at 5:00-8:30 pm from January 13 to March 3.

Registration takes place on the Contractor Success website.

Cost

$725 registration fee plus additional cost for books

Upcoming Hoisting Class & Regulation Update

2026-11-03T14:05:26-05:00November 3rd, 2026|News|

MA Hoisting License Requirement Update

Massachusetts has updated its Hoisting Machinery Regulations, transitioning from 520 CMR 6.00 to 230 CMR 6.00, effective November 21, 2025.

What does this mean for equipment operators?

The previous “10-foot / 500-pound / ¼ cubic yard” rule of thumb has been removed from the regulation. The updated requirements identify hoisting machinery by equipment type rather than relying on these thresholds.

A Massachusetts Hoisting License (or qualifying permit) is required to operate covered equipment, including:

  • Mini-excavators and skid steers, including ride-on models

  • Excavators (crawler and rubber-tired)

  • Backhoes and front-end loaders

  • Telehandlers and forklifts

  • Tower, lattice, and telescoping boom cranes

What You Need to Know: Even smaller equipment, such as mini-excavators and ride-on skid steers, falls under Massachusetts hoisting licensing requirements. Operators must hold the appropriate license classification or qualifying permit, unless a specific exemption applies.

If you operate heavy equipment for work, now is the time to verify that you have the proper credentials.

Learn more here. Massachusetts Hoisting Machinery Regulations – 230 CMR 6.00

Get or renew your license this December!

Saturday, December 5 | 9AM – 3PM

In-Person at Vineyard Transit Authority, Edgartown

Our Hoisting 2-A/1-C License Prep & Renewal Course is a single 6 hour class designed to give the applicant all the information necessary to pass the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Class 2-A/1-C hoisting exam.

This course covers: Application Process, Basic Information, Walk Around Inspection Procedures, Servicing, Start up and Shut down Procedures, Utilities, Trenching, Transporting Machines, Hand Signals, Department of Public Safety, Dig Safe, OSHA

Cost: $335 | Price does not include cost of the exam

Register

Newsletter Coworking Begins in November!

2026-10-29T12:42:54-04:00October 29th, 2026|News|

Join us for..

Newsletter Coworking Sessions

Monthly Newsletter Coworking

Tuesdays | 5:00–6:30 PM

In-person at Haven Shared Workspace

  • November 17th

  • December 15th

  • January 12th

  • February 9th

Join us for a monthly 90-minute coworking session designed to help you make steady progress on your email newsletter. Bring your ideas, draft, or questions and work alongside other small business owners and creators while Kay Frank provides hands-on support with Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Each session gives you dedicated time to work on your next newsletter, with help troubleshooting, improving your design, brainstorming content, and getting it ready to send.

What to expect:

  • Dedicated time to draft, design, and schedule your newsletter

  • Hands-on support in Mailchimp or Constant Contact

  • Troubleshooting and technical help

  • Design and layout feedback

  • Content ideas and suggestions

  • Help getting unstuck

  • Accountability to build a consistent newsletter habit

Cost: Includes all 4 sessions

$89/Early Bird Special (register by November 3)

$100/Regular Enrollment

Register

Other ACE MV Happenings This Fall!

SOS: School for Off-season Survival is back, baby!

2026-10-16T14:09:15-04:00October 10th, 2026|News|

Fall is in the air — the season for diving into projects, learning new skills & connecting with community is here!

Introduction to AI

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, learn, and communicate, and it is more accessible than most people realize. This one-time class covers what AI is, the trends shaping it today, and how to use it as a practical everyday tool while keeping the human side of our work at the center.

Financial Foundations for Wellness

Join us for a three-part Financial Wellness workshop series, introducing simple and approachable steps one can take to start building healthy budgeting and personal finance habits. Whether looking to reduce debt, get clear on a savings plan, or just get intentional around your finances, this offering is for YOU!

Business Planning 101: From Idea to Action

Have a business idea—or an existing business you want to strengthen—but aren’t sure how to turn it into a clear plan? This FREE four-part series, presented with SCORE mentors, will guide you from business concept to a practical business plan through a combination of instruction, hands-on exercises, group feedback, and one-on-one mentoring.

SketchUp: 3D Modeling

Learn the fundamentals of SketchUp, a powerful and accessible 3D modeling tool widely used in architecture, design, and construction. This hands-on, beginner-friendly course is ideal for anyone new to SketchUp who wants to create clear, accurate 3D models.

We Want To Hear From You

We are always open to finding new (and bring back old) ways to create opportunities for community learning and connection.

Let us know ways that you would like to connect, learn and expand this off-season.

An idea we are toying around with is a weekly drop-in evening for creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone else looking to work on a project, be it personal or professional, ideate together, or have an opportunity to step away for focus time.

Would you join a weekly drop-in Off-Season Creatives session? What are other ways you’d like to connect?