The Charlestown Coalition News: 
Issue 51
November 2020


Spread the Word:
Turn It Around Orientation

Our Turn It Around youth group is hosting their first open orientation for local young people. If you are 14-18 years of age and looking to join a group of like-minded people set on changing the world, then come to our Turn It Around Youth Program Orientation. Find out what being a community leader is all about! 
 
Join us on December 3rd from 4:30-5:30pm at the First Church in Charlestown (10 Green St.) to learn more.
 
If you'd like more information, contact Youth Prevention Coordinator,
 Mswati Hanks.
 
Teenagers: Just Say Know with The Charlestown Coalition

Today, young people who want to try marijuana can get much higher-potency strains than ever had before. They can buy ready-made infused brownies or candy-like edibles. So how does marijuana impact developing teenage brains and lives? How can young people make good choices in the era of legal marijuana? And, how can parents talk to their kids about cannabis?

In a recent episode of Different Leaf: the Podcast, host Brit Smith talks with Sarah Coughlin and Mswati Hanks of the Charlestown Coalition, a community coalition supported by the Mass. General Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI), about these topics and more.

Click here to listen to the podcast.
 
2nd Annual Winter Clothing Giveback
in Memory of John Collier Sr.

This holiday season, the Charlestown Coalition and Turn It Around with Nicole Collier, Monument Restaurant & Tavern, The Warren Tavern, and Phillip Edward Salon are holding the 2nd Annual Winter Clothing Drive in memory of John Collier Sr. We're collecting unworn winter hats, gloves, scarves, masks, socks and toiletry items to distribute to people experiencing homelessness.

Please join us on December 10th at 2:30pm at First Church in Charlestown (10 Green St.) to hand out the donations at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Blvd.

Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase these items. Please visit our Turn It Around support page on ways you can give!

Fifth IAG Meeting for Turn It Around
The fifth Impact Advisory Group (IAG) meeting regarding the proposed Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment project in Charlestown took place on November 18th. The meeting was held following the submission of the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) by Bunker Hill Redevelopment Company LLC (the "Proponent") to the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) on February 18, 2020.
 
Turn It Around youth leaders, Zaire Richardson and Fatima Fontes, served as youth representatives for this meeting. They both asked questions about how the developers plan to protect residents from toxins in the air created by the demolition and what the plans are to address problems with pests and rodents that will inevitably be caused by the construction. Zaire also asked how local businesses would be valued by the developers to ensure that larger corporations don't push out locally-owned vendors. 

Coalition Director Joins M.O.A.R. Board

Sarah Coughlin, Charlestown Coalition Director, has joined the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery (MOAR) Board of Directors.

"The Charlestown Coalition has been a longtime supporter and partner in the incredible work of Maryanne Frangules and MOAR. I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors of an amazingly dedicated MOAR team, as we work collaboratively towards their mission: To organize recovering individuals, families and friends into a collective voice to educate the public about the value of recovery from alcohol and other addictions."

Charlestown in Solidarity:
A Discussion on Race & Equity 
- 6th Meeting

Please join us on Monday, November 30th at 5:30PM, on Zoom for our Discussion Series on Race & Equity with City-Councilor Lydia Edwards, Charlestown Coalition and the Turn It Around youth group. We hope you will join in and continue to build relationships and community resilience with us!

Topic: 6th Race and Equity Conversation
Time: Nov 30th, 2020 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 865 0982 0167
Passcode: 767024
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,86509820167#,,,,,,0#,,767024# US (New York)
+13017158592,,86509820167#,,,,,,0#,,767024# US (Germantown)

Please contact Gabriela Coletta if you wish to attend the next virtual meeting.

CCHI Celebrates 25 Years
of Community Health

The Charlestown Coalition is supported by the Mass. General Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI), and we were proud to join the recent virtual Celebration of Community Health and the 25th Anniversary of CCHI. It was a great program that featured Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Attorney General Maura Healey, Kaiser Permanente's Dr. Bechara Choucair and MGH's Dr. Peter Slavin. Community partners (some you might recognize) sent along their heartfelt congratulations. Click here to view the celebration.

Peace Park Funding

The Charlestown Coalition and Turn It Around Youth Program along with the Charlestown Preservation Society (CPS) have submitted a grant application through the City of Boston's Community Preservation Act (CPA) for funding Open Space renovations.
 
After much analysis of the community feedback, the final schematic drawing created by COGdesign,
 found here, was submitted with the grant as a blueprint to assist with the future design of the park. It creates a sustainable foundation for the park with the memorial and maintenance being top priorities as noted in the community feedback survey. Depending on funding, as well as other financial or construction limitations, the park design may evolve, but it will continue to be guided by community input.
 
We will keep everyone informed as the process evolves and send updates as we have them.
 
If you are interested in being more involved with the Peace Park and wish to know more about the "Friends of the Peace Park," please contact Coalition Director, 
 Sarah Coughlin.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop of the project's progress, and please reach out to Ginaya Greene Murray with any questions. 

 Highlighting Our 
Community Partnerships:
Our community partners are critical in helping us tackle the most difficult issues that the community faces. By enlisting multiple partners (residents, police, schools, healthcare, faith-based organizations, and the business community), we use a collective impact approach to problem solving. Our ultimate goal is to effect change and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Charlestown.
 
For the month of November, we'd like to highlight the Charlestown Preservation Society (CPS). The Charlestown Preservation Society is an all-volunteer organization that was founded in 1967 to stop the destruction of Charlestown's historic buildings from urban renewal and gentrification. They seek to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes and other artifacts that are culturally significant to Charlestown and its residents. They are a group of professional preservationists, architects, urban planners, sociologists and concerned citizens. 
 
They believe Historic Preservation is more than just saving old buildings from bulldozers. They have adapted over the last 53 years to reflect what is important to the Charlestown community and will continue to adapt - with the community's help - to promote the cultural values of today. 
 
CPS has recently partnered with the Charlestown Coalition and Turn It Around youth program as the Fiscal Sponsor for the Peace Park Renovation Project.

"We are very excited about our partnership with the Coalition and the continued redevelopment of the Peace Park," said Amanda Zettle, President of CPS. "Our neighborhood is unique, with many layers of history. The Peace Park is an important addition to our community and culture that will not only honor our past, but will promote the inclusive values that our community values today." 


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!

Trauma Response Team

The Charlestown Coalition's Trauma Response Team was formed in 2016 and has been serving the community for over three years. Our team consists of mental health providers, residents, youth workers and recovery coaches who are on the front lines working to support the residents of Charlestown during times of tragedy and incidents of trauma. 
 
We train and support these responders and work to build strong relationships in the community, bring awareness and education about the effects of trauma and link residents to resources that can help them heal and build resilience. 
 
If you would like to refer a Charlestown resident to the Trauma Response Team or have questions about services, please feel free to contact our support line at (617) 643-0449 or Phenice Zawatsky at (617) 726-0058.

Upcoming Coalition Meetings
Steering Committee Meeting:
  • December 29th from 12 PM -1:30 PM.
Meetings are held virtually until further notice.
Contact Sarah Coughlin for more information.

Trauma Response Team: 
  • December 1st from 5:30 PM -6:30 PM. 
  • December 15th from 5:30 PM -6:30 PM. 
Charlestown Family Support Task Force: 
  • December 1st from 12 PM -1:00 PM.  
  • December 15th from 12 PM -1:00 PM.  
Meetings are held virtually until further notice.
Contact Phenice Zawatsky to learn more.

Where Are They Now?
Turn It Around Alumni



Guess Who? It's Renalido in 2019! Find out what he is up to now and how Turn It Around has impacted his life!
Renalido Etienne is one of the kindest, most athletic, and funniest youth from the Turn It Around Alumni. His laugh, smile, and willingness to help always made him stand out amongst his peers. Not to mention, his height. Having graduated high school, he set off to the sea and joined the Navy where his great work ethic will continue to pave a bright future for him. Thank you for always be a positive influence in the group, Rey -we miss you!

-Ginaya Greene Murray 
(Communication and Events Coordinator)


Turn It Around:
Youth of the Month

Sean Sullivan is November's Turn It Around Youth of The Month.
This month's Turn It Around Youth of the Month is Sean Sullivan. Sean has returned to the group after a hiatus that included summer programs and employment, and has picked up exactly where he left off. He's a valuable voice in our group discussions and never shies away from offering his opinion. He always has encouraging words for others in the group, and we are so happy to have him back!

-Mswati Hanks 
(Youth Prevention Coordinator)


Voices of Recovery

Elizabeth Splaine
Elizabeth Splaine is sharing her journey in recovery 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:


View our videos on YouTube

Charlestown Coalition | MGH Center for Community Health Improvement  
617-726-0059 | scoughlin1@partners.org

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.