2022 Sparks Gala
Save the Date for
November 17th, 2022
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On behalf of Madison Park Development Corporation, we are very excited to invite you to the year’s 2022 Sparks Gala, which will be held on November 17, 2022, at Hibernian Hall!
We are thrilled to welcome back our friends and supporters and look forward to an evening of celebration, outstanding performances, and connection.
We are also excited to be once again able to offer all of our sponsors Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC). Through the CITC program, donors who contribute to community development organizations like MPDC can receive a 50% state tax rebate on donations of $1,000 or more. For example, is your business considering sponsoring the Sparks Gala at the $5,000 level? Consider becoming a $10,000 level sponsor and leveraging the CITC program, resulting in a $5,000 donation out-of-pocket after your Massachusetts state tax rebate.
Please save the date for the evening of November 17th, 2022.
We can't wait to welcome you back and say thank you in person!
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MPDC Celebrates Sixth Annual
4th of July Celebration
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Madison Park Development Corporation had the opportunity to host its 6th annual Fourth of July Celebration at the Hope Community Garden!
At this community event, the attendees enjoyed eating delicious food, playing games, going on a plot tour (hosted by our wonderful gardeners), and listening to good music! Children also made colorful hats in the Kids Zone. To end the evening, beautiful fireworks were showcased and, of course, thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to all residents and staff that attended.
See you next year!
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MPDC x Urban Edge
Two Community Development Organizations, One Homeownership
Success Story!
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Madison Park Development Corporation has partnered with local housing organization, Urban Edge, to highlight one unique, amazing homeownership success story!
Wendy Mejia moved to Boston in 1998 and has lived here ever since. She has lived in her current apartment for 17 years. Last month, she purchased her first house.
Wendy’s homebuying process began with Urban Edge. In 2020, she took Urban Edge’s First Time Homebuyer course with Milagros Pascual. At first, she didn’t qualify to buy a home because of her income level. Then, the pandemic hit, and there was a pause in her home buying process.
The process was daunting and lengthy, but Wendy’s method was patience. She took Urban Edge’s first-time homebuyer course a second time and “waited patiently. Whatever assistance arrived, I took it. I filled out every application that came my way, and thank god I did!”
Many applications later, Wendy received a grant from Madison Park Development Corporation, funding from a savings escrow account through HUD’s Family Self Sufficiency Program, and a grant from the Bank of America.
The first offer Wendy placed on a house got accepted. The owner backed out at the last minute, but as Wendy would say, “everything happens for a reason”. Wendy and her partner went to several open houses and eventually found a beautiful house close to their jobs. Wendy knew it was the one. “There was something about that house. I knew this was my house, my kid’s house, my grandkids’ house." Their offer got accepted immediately.
To Wendy, the biggest challenge was navigating such a competitive housing market. Wendy found herself having to offer way over the asking price on houses that were already expensive. To people working to buy a home, Wendy stresses the importance of budgeting. She remembers Milagros telling her to “cut out coupons! Do your hair and nails! Skip the Dunkin run every morning!”
But most importantly, Wendy says to remember how many resources exist. “There are so many resources out there, and I didn’t know about them! You have to go out and look for them. There are people out there who will help you. Just ask!”
By using the resources at her disposal, taking every opportunity that came her way, and remaining patient and determined, Wendy could put 20% down and purchase her first ever home.
“It was really exciting because my dream finally came true. I never dreamed of buying a new car or new things – I dreamed of a house. And that came true!”
Special thank you to Urban Edge, Lydia Palumbo, and MPDC's Director of Real Estate, Intiya Ambrogi-Isaza.
Congratulations, Wendy!
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Real Estate Rundown:
MPDC Hosts Nubian Square Tour with
Urban Land Institute and Builders
of Color Coalition
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Along the way, staff shared information about the Whittier Choice Neighborhood (developed with our partners at POAH), Madison Park Village, The Dewitt Center, Smith House, and Haynes House. They ended the evening back at Hibernian Hall with a presentation on their proposal to revitalize the Parcel 3 site, which has been vacant land for decades.
Thank you to Urban Land Institute, Builders of Color Coalition, and MPDC's Real Estate staff for their efforts and hard work!
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Youth Development Download:
Summer Youth Employment Program Continues, Youth Interns Shine
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July was an exciting and (hot!) month for MPDC’s Summer Youth Employment Program!
At the beginning of July, MPDC's SYEP staff trained over 60 youth in key workforce development and life skills to prepare them for their paid internship sites. By the program's third week, 59 of the 60 teens, ages 14-20, were placed in internships. Placement sites range from non-profit partners, restaurants, radio stations, contractors, and even landscape design firms — so many choices to get experience.
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#DoItAtTheDewitt:
All New Summer Programming Joins
The Dewitt Center in July 2022
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The Dewitt Center started summer programming in July with five new programs! These programs include research, career exploration, and social and recreational activities. Each program is unique and catered to youth ages 5 years old to 18 years old. Check out descriptions for 3 of our new programs below!
On July 12th, the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program (CAP) had its open house at the Dewitt Center. CAP is a non-profit organization that serves as the civilian auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force. Participants between 12 and 18 years of age are in a year-round program where they learn leadership skills, self-confidence, and discipline! Seven participants of interest were amused by the program's benefits and the knowledge of how to fly a plane.
Additionally, within the month of July, Tenacity, a tennis summer enrichment program for children in grades 4th and 5th, visited the Dewitt! The program is structured uniquely. Participants are at the Madison Park Tennis Courts in the morning from 9 am to 12 pm, learning the fundamentals of tennis. After the first half, six campers come to the Dewitt Center in the afternoon from 12 pm - 3 pm. During this program's second half, lunch is provided, and project-based learning is taught.
3 Point Foundation is a program that fosters vital character education and social-emotional growth in all its 35 students. For this to happen, the program's leaders hold the students to high expectations and model for them daily what it means to be honest, compassionate, and respectful citizens.
For more information about the Dewitt Center space, its activities, and more, please contact Erica Davis at edavis@madison-park.org.
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MPDC's Kids Garden Club
Begins July in Style
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The kids in the Kids' Garden Club at the Hope Community Garden in Roxbury are off and running to an excellent start!
Our kids are learning how to become leaders, weighing harvest, data, teamworking, gardening education, and social and emotional skills. Our kids also train the newcomers how to turn and add soil. One big catch to joining the Kids' Garden Club is that you have to try the vegetables you don't like.
If you are coming to the area and would like a tour or to learn more about the Kids' Garden Club, please feel free to contact Leslie Stafford at lstafford@madison-park.org.
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MPDC's Health and Wellness Meal Prep and Participation Class Create Healthy Salads for July |
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Want to learn how to make your very own healthy salad? The "How to Create a Salad On a Budget" and the Meal Prep and Participation (MPP) class tour will be reconvening soon! Please stay tuned and read the MPDC Newsletter for the upcoming information on the next class held by MPDC's very own Health Equity & Wellness Coordinator, Leslie Stafford. Please contact Leslie at lstafford@madison-park.org.
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THANK YOU to our July 2022
Newsletter Contributors!
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Allison Anderson
Intiya Ambrogi-Isaza
Erica Davis
Daria Davis-Fleming
Arianna Guiseppone
Lydia Palumbo (of Urban Edge)
Kelly Ransom
Leslie Reid
Leslie Stafford
Justina Thompson
Yhinny Matos
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Roxbury Roots
@ Hibernian Hall
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Join Hibernian Hall for a night of collective storytelling and fun around the campfire!
AGE RANGE: Open to all
WHEN: Saturday, August 20th, 2022, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
WHERE: Hibernian Hall (located at 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Allow the night to take you through a diverse range of human experiences filled with laughter, tears, and truth. Each story is unique, each voice is authentic, and we will go through each journey together. “Roxbury Roots” was created by Haris Lefteri (Artistic Director of Hibernian Hall) and Leslie Stafford (Health Equity & Wellness Coordinator), who wanted to give a platform to the adventurers and the storytellers.
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The Dewitt Center is hosting 3x3 Basketball Tournaments every Monday this August
WHEN: Every Monday in August 2022
(August 15th, August 22nd, August 29th), from 3:00 — 5:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center (located at 122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Come through for fun, fitness, and good vibes!
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Job Corps Information Session
(hosted by WORC²)
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WORC² is hosting a Job Corps Information Session!
WHEN: Tuesday, August 16th, 2022, from 3:00 — 5:00 pm
WHERE: The WORC² Lab
(located at 2103 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Join WORC² for a FREE information session about hands-on training that can be received through Job Corps! Job Corps is FREE and offers campus living, meals, training, supplies, and a variety of career options to choose from. Claudel Leveille, Admissions Counselor, will also be present to discuss career-path programming and the Job Corps enrollment process.
For more information about the Job Corps Information Session, please contact Katrina Conrad at kconrad@NEIGC.com.
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WHEN: Friday, August 19th, 2022, from 8:00 am — 6:00 pm
WHERE: The WORC² Lab
(located at 2103 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Join WORC² and Optiline Enterprises for a FREE Job Fair! Optiline Enterprises specializes in a variety of construction services including interior and exterior steel framing, drywall and drywall finishes, insulation, and fire-stopping. Optiline Enterprises will be taking over operations at WORC² to meet and interview interested candidates for immediate opportunities for the following positions: General Laborer, Carpenter, Drywall Taper, Metal Framer, and Foreman.
For more information about the Job Corps Information Session, please contact Katrina Conrad at kconrad@NEIGC.com.
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MPDC x IMSO:
August Food Pantry @
The Dewitt Center
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WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(located at 122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
WHEN: Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 am — 1 pm
(for this month August 20th, 2022)
The Dewitt Center and the Islamic Multi-Service Organization (IMSO) host monthly food pantries. Canned goods, fruit, pasta, spaghetti, and more will be available for pickup! Supplies are limited. Masks and social distancing are required.
For more information, please contact IMSO at
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