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The Charlestown Coalition News:
Issue 41
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| Coalition Director Speaks Out Against Human Rights Violations |
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Coalition Director, Sarah Coughlin, i
s also the President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MA). In that role, Sarah
united with advocacy groups this past week to call for an end to egregious behavior happening behind the walls at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC).
In the weeks following a serious assault on corrections officers, there have been widespread reports of unprovoked violence and human rights violations against prisoners at Souza-Baranowski. Alongside a group of activists and relatives, Coughlin said, "Targeting the prison as a whole through collective punishment is not only an ineffective strategy to shape behavior, it is criminal."
"While staff at SBCC are likely traumatized by recent assaults and years of working in difficult conditions, there is a legal process for responding to such conduct. Mass physical assaults inflicted by state employees onto the people they are charged to care for is unjustifiable and criminal, and requires full investigation by an outside party," she added.
Click here to read more.
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Highlighting Our
Community Partnerships:
We Want to Hear from You!
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Our community partners are critical in helping us tackle the most difficult issues that the Charlestown community faces. By enlisting multiple partners (residents, police, schools, healthcare, faith based organizations, and the business community), we use a collaborative approach to problem solving. Our ultimate goal is to effect change and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Charlestown.
The Charlestown Coalition has partnered with nearly 75 community organizations, and we'd like to say thank you to our collaborators by recognizing important moments since our inception in 2004.
If you've partnered with us, we'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email with details of how we've worked together along with any photos (if you have them), and we will share on our social media platforms. Let's show the community what great collaborations we've had with amazing organizations like yours!
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(Coalition staff members pose for a photo with Fit Body BootCamp trainer Ben,
after an exhilarating workout!)
Team building is essential to keeping a strong bond between co-workers. It can result in higher productivity and a better overall work environment, and that's why the Charlestown Coalition works hard and plays hard together. We not only practice self-care well, but team-care too!
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Turn It Around Newsletters
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Visit our Charlestown Coalition website to get a copy of the Official Family and Friends Turn It Around Newsletter which are sent out monthly to the guardians of our Turn It Around youth.
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Charlestown Family Support Circle
Task Force in Full Throttle at the Charlestown YMCA
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The
Charlestown Family Support Circle
(CFSC) works with local Charlestown providers to address community issues affecting families and to increase care coordination among Charlestown providers.
This week, the
Charlestown YMCA
hosted CFSC's monthly meeting and allowed the group to participate in one of the daily exercise classes offered. Thank you to the Charlestown YMCA for an amazing workout and for letting us share your space!
Task force meetings take place on the 1st Tuesday of the month at noon. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend and participate in meetings. Contact
Phenice
, Charlestown Family Support Circle Clinician, for more information and to be added to the mailing list.
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Where Are They Now?
Turn It Around Alumni
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Guess Who? It's Winifer Polanco in 2013! Find out what she is up to now and how Turn It Around has impacted her life!
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When Winifer joined Turn It Around as a teenager over 6 years ago, I remember immediately being so impressed with her maturity, resilience, and work ethic. It's been an honor to watch her grow and progress in her career over the years. Winifer recently joined the CCHI team at MGH, and I now refer to her as my colleague. Knowing Winifer, it may only be a matter of time before I will be referring to her as my boss!
-Sarah Coughlin,
Charlestown Coalition Director
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Turn It Around
:
Youth of the Month
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Josviel Diaz is January's
Turn It Around
Youth of The Month. |
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This month's Turn It Around Youth of the Month is Josviel Diaz. Josviel is always at Turn It Around with a smile on his face, a willingness to participate, and even doi
ng
the little extra things, like stayi
ng
after to clean-up. Josviel also is the first person to volunteer whenever we need extra help or when we have an event. Josviel is part of our new youth resurgence and has led by example for the other young members of Turn It Around. We are so happy and proud that he is now part of our family!
-Mswati Hanks
(Youth Prevention Coordinator)
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Kim Costa
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Kim Costa is sharing her journey in recovery with us this month in an interview with Program Manager of Addiction and Recovery Services, Shannon Lundin.
Click below for the full interview.
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Get Connected, Stay Informed
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To learn more about our programs, our staff, community partners, resources, upcoming events,
Turn It Around
, program impact, and more, click the button below:
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