Lessons in Leadership

(L-R) Sharon Scott-Chandler, ABCD President and CEO; Jha D Amazi, Principal at Mass Design Group; Paris Alston, Co-Host of GBH Morning Edition; Tanisha Sullivan, President of the NAACP Boston; Boston Globe Columnist Adrian Walker and Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director at Embrace Boston

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler joined an esteemed panel that included Jha D Amazi, Principal at Mass Design Group, Tanisha Sullivan, President of the NAACP Boston, Adrian Walker, Columnist at The Boston Globe and Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director at Embrace Boston for GBH’s The State of Race: Embrace Changemakers Then and Now at the Boston Public Library. This was the second in a series of discussions about The State of Race sponsored by GBH World and the NAACP Boston.

The panel’s discourse centered around The Embrace monument on the Boston Common honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, as well as the legacies of historic Boston civil rights leaders who are featured in the 1965 Freedom Plaza including Melnea Cass, an original incorporator of ABCD, and Bob Coard who was hired by Melnea Cass in 1964 and went on to lead ABCD for 40 years of growth and national recognition.

GBH reporter and host of The State of Race Paris Alston queried Sharon about leaders who inspired her. In addition to Melnea Cass and Bob Coard, Sharon referenced Jean McGuire, the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee and long-time executive director of the METCO school integration program. 

“I am a product of METCO. . . I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have her leadership, her support. I remember her in the METCO office years ago, just encouraging all of us as young kids, ‘Do the best you can. Be who you are. Be yourself. Strive for excellence.’ She’s just an incredible, incredible role model.”

In response to a viewer question about supporting and creating social justice and equity for younger activists in today’s ‘follow the money’ society, Sharon acknowledged the times and gave a call to action. “We’re at a moment similar to the 50’s - 70’s where there is a lot of visible turbulence. Visiting the Embrace monument will give everyone real inspiration around what we can do for one another,” she said. “Get active. There are many organizations that people can get involved in even if they are following the money in their own jobs. I say give back and come work for organizations like ABCD who are really trying to give people opportunity, trying to create community, trying to develop leaders in the anti-poverty work and the social justice movement.”

Watch the full program here.

RBC Wealth Management Helps Take the Chill Off ABCD Clients

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler with Brian Katz, Senior Managing Director and Complex Director at RBC Wealth Management

ABCD staffers loading up winter items provided by RBC Wealth Management for distribution to clients

Back Row: Abbie Cavalier, Events Assistant; RaeAnn Whalen, Special Projects Director; Jim Carlisle, Complex Assistant Manager at RBC Wealth Management; Brian Katz, Senior Managing Director and Complex Director at RBC Wealth Management and Nick Owen Program Director - Food Insecurity

Front Row: Aiesha Washington, Legislative Affairs Deputy Director; Lillian Cunha, Complex Administrator, Assistant to Senior Managing Director at RBC Wealth Management; Sharon Scott-Chandler, ABCD President and CEO; Josh Young, Director of Field Operations and Legislative Affairs and Alexia Layne-Loman, Director of Development and Grants

ABCD’s long-standing community partner RBC Wealth Management recently stopped by our headquarters to deliver a multitude of warm winter items like coats, gloves, hats and other necessities for the ABCD Winter Fund. 

For the past 14 years, RBC Wealth Management has supported the Winter Fund through its own Keep Boston Warm campaign that includes participation from RBC branches across the region including Downtown Boston, Wellesley, Norwell, Danvers, South Easton, Providence, Rhode Island, Portland, Maine, Bangor, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Their philanthropic efforts extend to ABCD clients year round through grants toward Fuel Assistance, SummerWorks, Field of Dreams and the Community Heroes Celebration. 

A special thanks to Brian Katz, Senior Managing Director and Complex Director at RBC Wealth Management, who has championed their giving efforts with ABCD. “Collaboration is at the core of all of that we do at ABCD. We are beyond grateful for RBC’S partnership, generosity and commitment to helping people who are struggling move to stability and from stability to success,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler.

ABCD on Capitol Hill

ABCD joined other Community Action Agencies, nonprofits and utility companies on Capitol Hill for LIHEAP Action Day. Groups from nearly every state spent the day meeting with their Congressional delegations to highlight the importance of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and the need for adequate funding in the upcoming fiscal year. Massachusetts had one of the larger participating groups, which included staff from three Community Action Agencies and National Grid.

Josh Young, Director of Field Operations and Legislative Affairs, and Aiesha Washington, Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs in Washington, DC with staff from the offices of Congressmen Richard Neal and Seth Moulton.

ABCD’s Director of Head Start & Children’s Services, Flossy Calderon was in Virginia for the National Head Start Association’s Winter Leadership Institute. Flossy, along with Head Start colleagues from Ohio, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania were presented with the 2023 Paper Plate Award given to members of the Head Start Community that have gone above and beyond as an advocate for Head Start. Additionally, the Institute's Capitol Hill visit kicked off early with a visit from Senator Bernie Sanders, the incoming Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

(L-R) Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director of the National Head Start Association; Madison Williams, Family Advocate at the YMCA of Central Ohio; Flossy Calderon, Director of Head Start & Children’s Services at ABCD; Jacqueline White, Education Coordinator at the YMCA of Central Ohio; Linda Laliberte, Director of the East Bay Community Action Program of Rhode Island and Tommy Sheridan, Deputy Director at the National Head Start Association.

American Heart Association Partners with ABCD to Provide Blood Pressure Screenings for Mattapan Clients

The American Heart Association (AHA) and its partner Heart of a Giant Foundation have teamed up with the ABCD Mattapan Family Service Center for a monthly blood pressure screening and referral initiative. Blood pressure screenings are available to all ABCD Mattapan Family Service Center clients and other community members.  

In Boston, approximately 171,000 residents are living with hypertension. In 2013, 2015, and 2017 according to the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the highest rates of hypertension are in Mattapan (38%), Roxbury (30%) and Dorchester (30%). Those living in the BIPOC communities of Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, East Boston and Hyde Park make up 94% of Bostonians living with hypertension. 

On the fourth Monday of every month from 10 a.m. – noon, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner from Heart of a Giant will administer blood pressure screenings at the Mattapan Family Service Center at 535 River Street. Clients with an abnormal blood pressure reading will be referred to clinical partners Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center or Mattapan Health Center for additional care. 

The AHA is providing Heart of a Giant’s team with blood pressure cuffs and educational materials in multiple languages, along with ongoing resources and technical assistance to both ABCD and Heart of a Giant.

Whether you know someone who 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.

Office Coordinator - Climate Equity & Impact

The Climate Equity & Impact (CEI) Department provides heating and energy efficiency services to income-eligible residents of Boston, Brookline, Newton and the Mystic Valley. The Office Coordinator assists with the day-to-day coordination of the CEI Department. Daily tasks involve scheduling and coordinating meetings for the CEI Department, managing correspondence between internal ABCD departments, handling stakeholder inquiries, recording meeting notes, maintaining files and preparing reports or assembling data as requested. 

Youth Services Specialist - Education, Training and Youth Services

Every summer, the ABCD SummerWorks program provides jobs and education programs for low-income youth ages 14-21 from Boston’s under-resourced and under-represented neighborhoods. The Youth Service Specialist will supervise a group of youth participants in the SummerWorks program to guide and assist them through their work experience as it pertains to payroll, portfolio development, and career and life skills.

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Substitute - Head Start & Children’s Services

ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services is a family development program serving children from birth to age five, as well as pregnant women. The Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant Substitute is responsible for serving as a substitute teaching staff in the Head Start classroom currently participating in assisting Boston’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Boston & Medford teens can get a paid summer job through ABCD's SummerWorks Program.

ABCD Field of Dreams allows companies to play ball at Fenway Park for a great cause.

Contact ABCD Connect for information about programs and services.

Action for Boston Community Development | 617.348.6000 | bostonabcd.org