Join us on
November 17th for Sparks!
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MPDC is very excited to invite you to the year’s 2022 Sparks! Gala 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 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. For more information, please check out the 2022 sponsorship packet.
Please make your sponsorship commitment before October 24 to be included in event publications.
We can't wait to welcome you back and say thank you in person!
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84 Warren Street receives BPDA approval |
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Madison Park Development Corporation has received Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) approval for 65 new homes at the 84–88 Warren Street development. Currently, the location of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, this project will create a new, modern 7,500 square-foot office space for the Urban League along with 65 homes including income-restricted rental and homeownership housing just outside Nubian Square. In response to this milestone, ULEM’s Vice Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, and Chairman of the Building Committee, Mark Walker, said, “The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts is very pleased to have received BPDA Board approval and community support for our development project at our headquarters on Warren Street. This project will bring much-needed affordable rental and homeownership housing opportunities to the Nubian Square neighborhood, and we look forward to breaking ground on this historic project.”
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It's happening at Hibernian Hall! |
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MPDC and Hibernian Hall will host a brunch for the Friends of Hibernian Hall FOHH) on Saturday, September 24th at 11 am. This will be an opportunity to hear about upcoming programs from Hibernian Hall's Artistic Director, Haris Lefteri. There will also be plenty of time to ask questions and connect with other arts supporters. Whether you're a current member or not, all are welcome! Learn more about the FOHH here.
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On Saturday, August 20th, Hibernian Hall hosted Roxbury Roots, a storytelling event organized and created by MPDC's Artistic Director of Hibernian Hall, Haris Lefteri, and Health Equity & Wellness Coordinator, Leslie Stafford. The event featured storytelling from Roxbury community members, including MPDC Vice President Dr. Ingrid Tucker. Thank you to District 7 City Councilor Tania Anderson for stopping by!
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Hibernian Hall is pleased to welcome Mary McCullough as its Playwright-In-Residence for a second consecutive year. Mary is workshopping her original play, “Ballahoo In The Hair Kitchen,” through Hibernian Hall’s Playwright Workshop Program, which began on July 18th, 2022, and is set to end on December 11th. McCullough’s play will have a final reading with professional actors on December 8th and will be open to the public. Stay tuned for details!
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The Dewitt Center had an Awesome August! |
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CCHERS focuses on acquiring skills in public health research and youth-led program interventions on the part of BPS students of color. During these past few months, they have been developing their digital equity initiative for independent elder residents of congregate public housing in Boston. Additionally, all seventeen participants began preparing the structure for their courses with elders and the youth-led community conversation with the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee. Two participants CCHERS would like to highlight are Robert Rose and Jazanayah Gomez, two very mature and self-aware individuals who consistently take the initiative and have taken leadership roles within the group!
The DREAM Program strives to help close the opportunity gap for young people in underserved communities. One of the ways that they do this is by offering a Summer Enrichment Program, where they provide a free day camp and summer learning for our participants. The program started programming at the Dewitt with thirteen campers on June 28th and has focused on building relationships with the kids, planning fun and engaging programming, and exploring the city of Boston.
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Thank you to the Madison Whittier Street Coalition Resident Leaders |
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MPDC is proud to highlight four of our Madison Whittier Street Coalition members for August. We extend a huge "thank you" to Bill Peterson, Alverga Buchanan, Lascene Hooker, and George Wilson. This group of outstanding individuals has met several times with the project manager and the engineers of the reconstruction of Ruggles Street to identify and resolve construction issues that have impacted the residents, particularly our elders, disabled, and parents with strollers.
When residents acknowledge a problem and come together to advance solutions, it creates a capacity for them, and their communities, to be successful.
Thanks again to the Madison Whittier Street Coalition team for their continued hard work!
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MPDC's Opportunity Employment Program celebrates graduates of the
Makeup Artistry Course
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OEP’s Makeup Artistry Course concluded its second cohort with a showcase and graduation for eight student artists in training. For the last eight weeks, our students worked closely with makeup artist Barbara Rodriguez mastering various looks. During the showcase, students had one hour to create a style of their choice on their models. The results of each look truly exemplified their hard work and dedication to their craft. We could not be any prouder of our graduates! Congratulations to everyone, and thank you, Barbara!
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MPDC Grants and Funders Updates |
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Summer has been a lively time for grants at MPDC, and we couldn’t be more grateful to all of our new and longstanding funders for their support!
New Funding
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MPDC is excited to continue our work to foster a healthy, active Roxbury neighborhood as part of a FY23 Mass in Motion community partner, alongside the Boston Public Health Commission and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
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We were honored to be selected as a new FY23 Community Development Block Grant recipient through the Boston Office of Workforce Development. This funding will provide critical additional resources for MPDC’s Opportunity Employment Program, which provides alternative education (via in-house HiSET classes) and workforce training opportunities to youth and young adults
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We are also proud to have received additional funding support from NeighborWorks America, including funds to advance our Strategic Planning and Racial Equity Diversity & Inclusion work, as funds to learn alongside other community development corporations and identify creative models for increasing affordable homeownership opportunities.
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Finally, MPDC is thrilled to have been selected by The Boston Foundation as a 2022 Open Door grant recipient!
Summer Funder Rundown
MPDC would like to take a moment to thank all of the incredible funders who once again made our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) such a success!
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Back to School with Orchard Gardens |
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The Orchard Gardens Resident Association hosted its Annual Back to School Jamboree on Friday, August 26th, with 200 residents, volunteers, and vendors. Special thanks to Wil Smart for hosting an MPDC Village in Progress table for the residents!
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A fabulous National Night Out! |
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On August 5th, MPDC celebrated National Night Out event at Orchard Gardens. The event welcomed over 250 residents, partners, and staff for a night of community fun. Highlights included free cotton candy, a cookout, and many games with prizes. Children enjoyed face painting, balloon artistry, and a visit from Boston EMS for tours of an emergency vehicle. The Boston Police Department provided an ice cream truck and played some games with the youth.
Shout out to MPDC staff and Orchard Gardens Resident Association members who helped plan and produce another successful National Night Out in Roxbury!
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MPDC Youth end Summer STRONG! |
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MPDC capped off the 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) with a Closeout Celebration acknowledging 60 youth participants. SYEP hosted interns for 22 dynamic internship sites representing several industries including, construction, food service, healthcare, broadcasting, childcare, and more.
The Closeout Celebration featured an Asian-inspired dinner, photo montage slideshows, youth summer project presentations, an awards ceremony, and remarks from Program Manager Yhinny Matos, Big Mike, Program Instructor for Beats, Rhymes, and Life, and Melissa Beltran, Youth Program Manager of the Boston Public Health Commission.
Each presentation demonstrated what the youth learned during MPDC's Career Exploration Exchange (CPX) Enrichment Program and included a healthcare demo, a finance presentation, a video produced by the youth that worked with Boston Neighborhood Network, a photography & graphic design exhibit, a book recital, and more!
Congratulations to MPDC's 2022 SYEP cohort!
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On August 12th, MPDC, Freedom House, and Hibernian Hall hosted an explosive performance showcasing youth led by collaborative community partner, Beats, Rhymes, and Life (BRL).
BRL is a hip-hop music therapy program under Children’s Services of Roxbury. The model combines narrative & expressive arts therapy with youth development principles, using therapeutic activity groups to inspire youth to recognize their capacity for healing and self-expression. BRL was a premier facilitator for MPDC's Summer Youth Employment Program and hosted nine youth interns.
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August 2022 Newsletter Contributors |
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Allison Anderson
Daria Davis-Fleming
Carlos Taveras
Erica Davis
Haris Lefteri
Intiya Ambrogi-Isaza
Javier Gutierrez
Justina Thompson
Kelly Ransom
Kyle Miller
Leslie Reid
Leslie Stafford
Meghan Higgins
Wilbur Smart
Yhinny Matos
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The Dewitt Center is hosting 3x3 Basketball Tournaments every Monday!
WHEN: Every Monday through October
3:00 — 5:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Come through for fun, fitness, and gym time.
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The Dewitt Center is now hosting senior-focused BINGO events!
WHEN: Every 3rd Wednesday through December
2:00 — 4:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Donate a canned good and play BINGO with your neighbors!
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WORC² Construction Project Management Training Series
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WORC² is hosting a Construction Project Management Training Series
WHEN: Wednesday, September 14, 2022,
4:00 pm — 6:00 pm
WHERE: The WORC² Lab
(2103 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
For more information about the Construction Project Management Training Series contact Katrina Conrad at kconrad@NEIGC.com.
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Savor the Square - Shop Nubian Square Day |
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Enjoy family-friendly fun, music, and ice cream in Nubian Square!
WHEN: Saturday, September 17, 2022
12:00 — 4:00 pm
WHERE: Nubian Square
(149 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Savor The Square 2022 is a Saturday-based series that aims to introduce consumers to Roxbury vendors, artists, artisans, and businesses.
For more information about Savor The Square or Shop Nubian Square Day email sts@tamcc.org.
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LISC Boston's Bridges to Green Jobs Program |
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Start your weatherization Career today!
WHEN: The deadline for applications is Monday, September 19th
Interviews will take place on September 14th to September 21st and the program will run from September 22nd - October 7th in Nubian Square, 9 am - 3 pm (most days).
Building on the success of the first cohort this past May, LISC and community partners will provide industry-specific technical and soft skills training to residents interested in entering the clean energy sector through weatherization. The skills gained through this training are in a field that is in high demand as companies aim to meet the state’s climate goals, and can open doors to new career pathways.
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MPDC Food Service Training Program |
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Kickstart your career in the Healthcare Food Service industry!
WHEN: Classes begin Tuesday, September 20th
10:30 am to 2:00 pm
Participants must be:
Between the ages of 18-24
Live in the Boston area
Fully vaccinated, and boostered against COVID-19
Classes will be held at The Dewitt Center (122 Dewitt Drive Roxbury, MA)
THIS IS A PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
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Church of Christ Community Grocery Giveaway @ The Dewitt Center |
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WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2022
11:30 am — 12:15 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Join Roxbury Church of Christ at The Dewitt Center for a grocery giveaway while supplies last.
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City of Boston’s Construction & Maintenance Contracting Opportunity Fair |
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Join the City of Boston for an Opportunity Fair in Roxbury!
WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
4:00 pm — 6:00 pm
WHERE: Bruce C. Bolling Building
(2300 Washington St, Roxbury, MA)
The City of Boston's Supplier & Workforce Diversity Department invites all Construction and Maintenance contractors to an Opportunity Fair on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 4 pm at the Bruce C. Bolling Building. At this event, you will meet with City departments and general contractors to learn about upcoming contracts. Please click here to register for the event.
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Meal Prep and Participation Class |
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Learn how to prepare, preserve and create healthy meals!
WHEN: Wednesday, September 29th to October 6th
5:00 pm — 6:30 pm
WHERE: The Haynes House Community Room
(753 Shawmut Avenue, Roxbury, MA)
- ALL AGES WELCOME - FREE -
Participants will receive a Certificate upon completion
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Healthy Smoothies with MPDC |
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Come create a healthy smoothie!
WHEN: Tuesday, October 4th
9:00 am — 10:30 am
WHERE: Outside Orchard Gardens
(25 Ambrose Street, Roxbury, MA)
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MPDC x IMSO
Food Pantry @ The Dewitt Center
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WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(l122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
WHEN: Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 am — 1 pm
(September 17th)
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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