Secretary Marcia L. Fudge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers the keynote address at 2022 ABCD Community Heroes Celebration.

With 2022 Community Heroes Leandra Rivera and Shon Brown.

Listening intently to Roger Herzog, executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.

L-R: With Chrystal Kornegay, executive director of MassHousing, ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., and the evening’s emcee, Karen Holmes Ward.

With CHC event chair Russell Norris of Slalom Boston and his wife Jamie. 

(L-R) 2022 Community Heroes Felix Bezeredy and Fatima Ali-Salaam, with Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., Secretary Fudge and Juliette C. Mayers, founder and CEO, Inspiration Zone, LLC.

‘The Ache for Home Lives in All of Us, the Safe Place Where We Can Go and Not Be Questioned’

During her keynote address at the ABCD Community Heroes Celebration, Secretary Marcia L. Fudge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said she is reminded of that quote by Dr. Maya Angelou when she reflects on her decision to join the Biden administration. “Growing up, my family did not have much, but we had a home. I had that safe place. And my home–never mind how crowded or cramped it was–set a solid foundation for my future. I believe everyone in this country deserves that same security. Everyone in this country deserves a safe place to call home.”

ABCD agrees. Over the past year, ABCD staff worked tirelessly to meet the increased need for housing. Nearly $3.8 million in CARES and municipal funds from Boston, Medford, Malden, Everett, The United Way and the Cambridge Community Foundation was provided for rental, mortgage and move-in cost assistance to families in need. In addition, we offered critical stabilization counseling including working with landlords, budgeting and payment plans. 

In partnership with Metro Housing Boston, ABCD helped 266 additional families apply for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition. Utilizing the ABCD Homeless Mobile Outreach Van, we provided emergency support and resources to homeless individuals and families throughout the Mystic Valley Area. Over the years, with funding from HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, ABCD has developed four elder housing complexes in the Dorchester, Mattapan, North End and Roxbury neighborhoods, providing 206 units of affordable housing for seniors in need. 

Warm, relatable and always listening during her visit, Secretary Fudge said of ABCD, “There is no person in this community you won’t help, no job too small for you to take on. At 60 years, you celebrate your diamond jubilee. I believe that is fitting. For 60 years, you have met people’s challenges and the pressures they have faced, with a positive pressure of your own. Along the way, you have made diamonds. Diamonds in the form of people whose lives you’ve touched. Communities that have become stronger and better because of how you have empowered residents.”

Read Secretary Fudge’s full remarks and learn what HUD is doing to impact housing for Americans.

The Sound of Music at Ellis Early Learning and

ABCD Head Start Program

Enrollment Begins Fall 2023

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., looks on as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper engage with Ellis Early Learning and ABCD Head Start students.

(L-R) Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, NEC President Andrea Kalyn, Boston Public Schools Chairperson Jeri Robinson, Ellis Early Learning CEO Lauren Cook and preschool students.

A new pilot program made possible through a partnership with New England Conservatory (NEC) and the City of Boston to increase access to early music education will begin in the Ellis Early Learning and ABCD Head Start program. City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu made the announcement alongside NEC President Andrea Kayln, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, Ellis Early Learning CEO Lauren Cook and ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., at the Ellis South End site. The partnership with NEC and the City of Boston is funded by a $14.5 million grant secured by NEC to provide young people with music education that is instrumental to their academic growth, especially students who don’t typically have access to arts opportunities. 

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., said, “Studies show that consistent exposure to music through learning to play a musical instrument or taking voice lessons strengthens critical academic and social-emotional skills in all children, including preschoolers. We are delighted that the New England Conservatory of Music will bring its expertise and its humanity to ABCD Head Start, a very special early education program that offers comprehensive services to Boston’s under-resourced children and families."

The partnership will begin by expanding offerings for Pre-K through early elementary school students and increasing scholarships to NEC Prep by 150%. The new pilot will include:

• New courses through NEC Prep that establish a strong foundation in music for young learners.
• Financial aid to remove barriers for students across the City.
• Access to instruments that students can use at no-cost or borrow rent-free.
• NEC Prep faculty and staff support to foster the program, including a new early childhood director and professional training for faculty working with students.



Boston Public Schools has expanded music education specifically with the addition of the MassCore graduation requirement. This gift will create more access and opportunity for students across the city. These expanded NEC Prep scholarships will be offered starting for Fall 2023, and interested students and families can sign up for more information at necmusic.edu/prep/resources.

ABCD and the Animal Rescue League of Boston Celebrate 10,000 Wellness Waggin’ Appointments

ABCD and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) celebrated a major milestone, 10,000 Wellness Waggin’ veterinary appointments for ABCD clients! This high-quality, low-cost mobile pet wellness program launched in August of 2019 and has expanded to ABCD locations in Dorchester, Mattapan/Hyde Park and East Boston.   

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., said that ABCD seeks to meet as many needs of people who are struggling as possible, including health care for four-legged family members. “Because of the Animal Rescue League and its Wellness Waggin’ #39, people in under-represented and under-resourced communities have been able to access low cost, local vet care for their beloved fury friends. Pets are also family members and help get people through the tough moments, improve emotional well-being and make life a little brighter all around,” she said. “ABCD is so proud to be a part of this 10K Wellness Waggin’ moment and to partner with the Animal Rescue League of Boston on this creative, out-of-the-box approach to service delivery that meets unseen needs in the community.”

The idea for the Wellness Waggin’ was born out of ARL’s Healthy Animals, Healthy Communities Initiative, the goal of which was to improve the welfare of animals in Greater Boston, and to deepen the understanding of the human-animal bond and its connection with individual and community health.

ABCD Thanks Corporate Sponsors and Generous Individuals for Supporting the Winter Fund: Seeks Donations for Children, Elders and Families in Need

ABCD’s Winter Fund is seeking cash as well as in-kind donations toward Fuel and Housing Assistance, winter clothing and food to help under-resourced and under-represented individuals and families across Greater Boston who are in need this winter season. A partial list of Winter Fund donors includes: Encore Boston, Environments at Work, Gaston Electrical, Highwire PR, MerlinOne, Pathai, RBC Wealth Management, SEI, Target, Teamster Local 25 Team and Yahoo!

Show Me the Money

ABCD Provides FREE Tax Preparation for Residents

Earning $60,000 or Less

Residents of Greater Boston and the Mystic Valley who earned $60,000 or less in 2022 are eligible for FREE tax preparation services and should make an appointment in early January, 2023, by calling the nearest ABCD neighborhood center or ABCD Connect at 617-348-6329. Tax preparation begins January 30, 2023.

Last year, ABCD helped 2,565 residents complete their state and federal tax returns, resulting in $6,431.747 in federal and state refunds combined, $1,454.056 in Earned Income Tax Credits and $72,597 in Child Tax Credits. That economic infusion channeled dollars back to hardworking families and revitalized businesses in under-resourced neighborhoods. In the last 30 years, ABCD has provided more than 150,000 people with free tax help preparation across the city.

Milestones 

Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds

(L-R) ABCD ESOL Program staff Juno Potts, Lisa Garrone and Cheyenne Deveney. 

English for New Bostonians (ENB) recently recognized ABCD for its emerald anniversary, 20 years of uninterrupted partnership with the organization. ABCD’s English as a Second Language program (ESOL) was one of the original 13 grantees when former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino established ENB in 2002. 

Other ENB partners include Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, East Boston Community Council, Haitian Multi Service Center at Catholic Charities Yawkey Center, Jamaica Plain Community Adult Learning Program and St. Mark Community Education.

Rubies are in order for ABCD’s 40th anniversary as co-founder of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition MIRA, the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. MIRA is a dynamic and multi‐ethnic coalition with 140+ organizational members, including grassroots community organizations; refugee resettlement agencies; providers of social, legal and health services, faith-based organizations and civil and human rights advocates. 

With offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, MIRA advances its mission through education and training, leadership development, institutional organizing, strategic communications, policy analysis and advocacy. MIRA is a respected leader on immigrant issues at the state and national levels, and an authoritative source of information and policy analysis for policy-makers, advocates, immigrant communities and the media.

Whether you know someone that wants to work directly in the communities we serve or support our broad range of programs, below you’ll find a sampling of our most recent openings to explore and share with your network. Just click on a job title to learn more about the position and qualifications.

Program Support Coordinator – Health Services

The Health Services Department is committed to maintaining the optimal health of low-income residents of Boston and surrounding communities through the ABCD Family Planning Partnership, and several cutting-edge, community-based disease prevention and health promotion programs. The program support coordinator is responsible for managing the Family Planning Partnership’s robust inventory system. This position monitors on-site contraceptive inventory and storage of supplies.

Provider Services Specialist- Child Care Choices of Boston

Child Care Choices of Boston (CCCB) is a resource and referral agency that offers support, technical assistance, training and childcare expertise to families, childcare providers, employers and the larger community. The provider services specialist provides technical assistance and support to providers participating in the child care voucher program.

Program Services Assistant- Career Centers - Education, Training, and Youth Services

The MassHire Metro North Career Center connects qualified job seekers with employers, providing the tools and resources needed to start a career, increase skills or find a new job. As a member of the ABCD Career Center team, the program services assistant provides a high level of customer service, performing clerical and administrative support duties with the goal of driving higher marketability of our customer base. This role is responsible for processing walk-in inquiries while answering and routing a high volume of incoming calls.



*This position is located at the Woburn Career Center

ABCD Community Heroes Celebration Group 1

ABCD Community Heroes Celebration Group 2

ABCD Community Heroes Celebration Group 3

Contact ABCD Connect for information about programs and services.

Action for Boston Community Development | 617.348.6000 | bostonabcd.org