MAY 2023

YouthBuild Students Visit the MA State House

On March 28th, YouthBuild students and staff visited the Massachusetts State House as part of State House Day 2023. Annually, YouthBuilds from across the state travel to visit their Representatives and Senators. Students tour the state house, meet with other YouthBuild locations and advocate for funding for our programming.

A speaker from each program gave a speech about their experience in YouthBuild and the impact of this opportunity. Our students were able to meet with 10 Reps and Senators from Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Cambridge, and Malden. We are thankful for this leadership and public speaking opportunity for our students. We are looking forward to State House Day 2024!

What's Happening at Rindge Commons

With the steel structure erected and in place last month, slabs have been poured and the final concrete slab on grade was poured at the beginning of May. The two elevator shafts are in, staircases are getting detailed, and wood framing on the upper three floors has begun.

Just A Start launched a $4.25 million campaign to provide needed funding for Rindge

Commons. We welcome Hong Kong Restaurant in Harvard Square to join many leadership

donors to support the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons. To date, we have raised $3.8 million, 90% towards the goal!

Will you help us reach the goal by giving towards the remaining $440,000? We welcome multi-year pledges and offer naming opportunities to recognize your generosity.

Please contact Carmen Chan, Director of Philanthropy at CarmenChan@justastart.org.

Carl Nagy-Koechlin Featured on Comcast Newsmakers

Creating Equitable Access To Housing and Employment Opportunities

Just A Start's Executive Director, Carl Nagy-Koechlin, was recently interviewed by Comcast Newsmakers about the state of housing, employment and the exciting progress at Rindge Commons.

"Housing stability is critical to economic mobility. It's very hard for people to think about moving forward economically for themselves or for their kids or for their family or even to get engaged in community."

Check out Carl's full interview with Comcast Newsmakers HERE.

Just A Start Resident Brings Fresh Produce to the Community

Rindge Commons resident, Sayed Nour, is the Founder and Executive Director of NUBIA, a nonprofit organization to spread the culture of Nubia through working with families, youth, and kids. NUBIA was founded in 2008 to reduce the impact of food insecurity in the Boston Metropolitan area and create an environment where families are able to learn how to be self-sufficient. Through sustainable gardening along with educational classes, NUBIA has been able to shape local communities.

Pictured above: Sayed sets up a farmers market every Thursday at 402 Rindge, where he sells fresh produce to Just A Start residents. Residents have expressed appreciation for the accessibility and ease of the market.

Photo courtesy of: Fenan Samuel

We Are Grateful - April Funder

Moses Kimball Fund

Our mission is to promote equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity.

1035 Cambridge Street #12 | Cambridge, MA 02141 | 617-494-0444