|
The Charlestown Coalition News:
Issue 44
|
Pandemic Fueling Push to
Tighten Safety Net
|
|
|
On April 13th, Coalition Director Sarah Coughlin attended the first-ever virtual hearing at the Massachusetts State House to testify in support of House Bill 4622 - An Act to Provide Short-term Relief to Families in Poverty.
This bill is designed to help mitigate the harsh inequitable consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic suffered by vulnerable families, elders, and people with disabilities. To read more click here.
|
|
Turn It Around's Participation in the CopeCode Challenge
|
Turn It Around i
s
participating in the CopeCode Club-Campaign! The campaign promotes 9 methods to manage stress through youth stories: Move, Create, Sing, Think, Share, Rest, Breathe, Write and Bond.
Each method is grounded in stress science. To support young people and adults who work with youth during the pandemic, the launch is to encourage youth to practice these science-based stress relievers while home.
Each level of the CopeCode challenge comes with a list of activities that can be completed at home alone or virtually with friends. YOU can follow along with @healthyboston on Twitter and on Facebook using the #copecodechallenge.
This campaign is brought to you by the Mayor's Office of Recovery Services, in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
For a description of the challenge and challenge activities,
click here.
Check out some of the
Turn It Around
youth entries for the "Create" Challenge below!
|
| Turn It Around Staying Fit |
Youth Prevention Coordinator, Mswati Hanks, who runs the Turn It Around Youth Program is keeping our young people engaged in physical fitness and mental wellness activities during this unusual time. Three days a week, Turn It Around members can join a live zoom boot-camp style workout led by Coalition staff which focuses on health, fitness and overall well-being. It's initiatives like this that help keep our youth motivated, involved, and social. Not only do these comprehensive workouts help relieve the stress and anxiety around COVID-19, but they also give the youth something to look forward to.
|
Family and Friends
Turn It Around Newsletter |
Visit our Charlestown Coalition website to get a copy of the Official Family and Friends Turn It Around Newsletter which is sent out monthly to the guardians of our Turn It Around youth.
|
| Recovery Resources Give-Away |
This past month, Coalition Program Manager of Addiction and Recovery Services Shannon Lundin coordinated a pop-up table in partnership with
First Church in Charlestown
for people in the Recovery community to stop by and pick-up a FREE adult activity book and colored pencils.
According to research, escaping addiction is a great start, but it is not enough to ensure a satisfying life in recovery. Hobbies are more than just a way to fill time. They provide pleasure and improve mental and physical well-being. Such activities can give life in recovery more purpose, and this can help reduce the risk of relapse.
We're grateful for all who stopped by as we want to do whatever we can to support those in recovery. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to
Shannon
.
|
Student Resource:
Charlestown Lacrosse & Learning Center |
With schools closed for the rest of the academic year, the Learning Center is providing educational services to help you and your students achieve and get through these difficult times. If you are interested in getting some help for your student(s) and/or would like them to participate in some enrichment and social activities, please fill out their brief survey HERE. The information will be used to plan ways to better serve the community.
While the Learning Center typically serves students in 4th-8th grades, right now they are open to helping any and all students in need.
For more information, contact Executive Director
Reed Catlin.
|
Turn It Around
:
Youth of the Month
|
|
|
 |
Ariana Alarcon-Flynn is April's
Turn It Around Youth of The Month. |
|
|
Turn It Around's Youth of the Month for April is Ariana Alarcon-Flynn. Ari has really been a "breath of fresh air" for everyone in the group this month. Her participation, through our art contest and weekly workout sessions, has not only helped everyone else in the group, but has also been instrumental in helping Ari deal with a lot of the stress that COVID-19 has caused. We're hoping the rest of the Turn It Around members follow Ari's lead of relying on the group to help them TURN IT AROUND when COVID gets them down!
-Mswati Hanks
(Youth Prevention Coordinator)
|
|
|
|
|
| Meaghan Doherty |
|
|
Meaghan Doherty 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.
|
|
|
Get Connected, Stay Informed
|
To learn more about our programs, our staff, community partners, resources, upcoming events,
Turn It Around
, program impact, and more, click the button below:
|
|
|
