SAVE THE DATE!
Virtual Gala
Thursday, November 19, 2020
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for our annual
Sparks for Arts Gala
- a creative online evening with music, dinner, artists, and Community Catalyst Awards. Save the date and watch for upcoming information about this fabulous event, celebrating its 10
th
year.
Become a Sparks for Arts Sponsor
!
Support Sparks and enjoy benefits for yourself and your company as a major sponsor. For more information contact MPDC Resource Development Manager
Kay Mathew
.
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Thank you, Boston Resiliency Fund!
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We are proud and happy to announce that
MPDC has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the
Boston Resiliency Fund
, supporting our COVID-19 related efforts to
ensure that vulnerable households have access to healthy food
. The award will expand our food distribution reach to an additional 300 homes in partnership with Orchard Gardens Resident Association and
Ethnica Catering
, which will provide hot meals weekly through the Summer and beyond.
Thank you to our partners
,
Ethnica Catering
,
EatWell
, and
the City of Boston
for working with MPDC to ensure food distribution to the homes of older adults, people with disabilities, and families at the Madison Park Village, Orchard Gardens Estates, St. Botolph Terrace, and Schoolhouse properties.
Led by the MPDC's Health Equity and Community Wellness Team, our expanded weekly food distribution reaches nearly 2,000 households. In partnership with
Lovin' Spoonful's Food Rescue
,
families have received groceries delivered safely to their front doors by trained staff and volunteers
during COVID-19.
We want to thank the City of Boston for their continued support providing
volunteers and personal protective equipment
that supports our ability to continue to distribute healthy food to our community safely.
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Announcing MPDC's Virtual Job Fair
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Fall into your new career before autumn!
WHEN:
Tuesday, August 25
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Meet virtually with a variety of employers from construction & building trades about employment opportunities.
All participating GC’s have active projects right now!
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Updates from MPDC's
Community Support Team
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The COVID-19 pandemic continues hitting our communities hard, causing a great deal of trauma in families due to the uncertainty of access to food, paying their rents or mortgage, and increased violence. However,
violence has become one of the most problematic issues right now in Roxbury
. We are witnessing an escalation in violence within our communities, which we haven't seen in a while. Furthermore, we have to add the violence generated by the police, which detonated in massive reactions of communities nationwide under the leadership of Blacks Live Matter. All of this is causing much tension and trauma among residents and community members.
Under the leadership of
Lavell Fulks
, MPDC's Community Support Initiatives have been
working diligently to help prevent the issues of violence in our communities regardless of the current pandemic.
Violence Intervention Program (VIP)
· Facilitate neighborhood meetings to address residence safety concerns
· Organize community outreach activities and projects to reduce violence
· Identify Resident Block Captains and volunteers to lead community projects
· Support Youth Outreach and crime intervention
Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT)
· Respond to incidents of violence in Roxbury
· Provide residents with information to access trauma-informed services
· Support victims, family, and residents in identifying services
· Provide safe spaces within the community for healing
· Support at funerals
MPDC has responded to all incidents and provided the materials informing about trauma resources within the neighborhood that the violence occurred.
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Now more than ever, MPDC relies on its supporters to help see us through 2020's uncertainty. Your $1,000+ gift will
ensure that our programmatic work continues in relevant, meaningful ways.
We've migrated programs online and created new programs to meet our community's current needs, including increased food distribution and a
Relief Fund
, which provides mini-grants to small local Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises.
Your donation of $1,000 or more is eligible for the
Community Investment State Tax Credit Program
, offering a 50% state tax rebate on the gift.
You can make your donation at
madison-park.org
or contact
Kay Mathew
, MPDC's Resource Development Manager for more information on how you can give to MPDC and receive benefits from the CITC program.
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MPDC's Census Committee stays
busy all Summer!
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MPDC's nine-person
Census Committee
has called over 500 MPDC households
to help people complete the 2020 Census. The committee will now
combine Census and voter mobilization efforts
to educate MPDC residents and Roxbury community members on the three Massachusetts voting options this fall: the new mail-in ballot system, early voting, and day of voting. Stay tuned for a Voter Mobilization Speakers Series in late August, organized by the Census Committee and the high school Summer Youth Employment Program!
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Special Grants Awarded to MPDC
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MPDC is pleased and proud to announce recent grants awarded in support of our COVID-19 related work and ongoing programs.
We received a special $63,690 grant from
NeighborWorks America
to sustain MPDC’s capacity to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the community. Similarly,
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
awarded MPDC a special $20,000
grant in light of the pandemic to build our capacity to continue Health Equity programs and other key neighborhood initiatives. And,
Boston State Community Trust (BSCT)
awarded MDPC a $10,000
grant supporting our Summer Youth Employment Program. As steadfast partners with NeighborWorks, Dana Farber, and a longstanding recipient of BSCT grants, we remain very grateful for their continued confidence in MPDC's work!
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Youth stay creatively engaged
with MPDC this Summer
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MPDC's
Summer Youth Employment Program
kicked off in full force! MPDC's innovative Summer Program engages youth in
dynamic programming that includes a weekly 20-hour, five-tier program track
with virtual summer jobs, professional trades training, civic and enrichment workshops, and fitness activities. Our partnerships with other organizations and businesses include meaningful work with agencies such as
Include Innovation
,
Black Economic Justice Institute
, Councilor Julia Mejia's Youth Steering Committee, and more.
MPDC's Summer Trade Academy includes
education in investing, stock trading, real estate, music production, and dance
. For enrichment and civic justice initiatives, youth participate in
community organizing, photography, podcasting, wellness, and life skills
. Through a collaboration with
Mattapan Food and Fitness
, youth participate in weekly socially distanced nature walks.
VLA Dance
,
Trillfit
, and
AfroBeats Dance
have also enhanced the program curriculum with
creative movement and body conditioning
.
Thank you to all of our Summer Youth Employment Program partners!
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#DoItAtTheDewitt...
virtually
!
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The Dewitt Center is happy to host
The DREAM Program
. DREAM has
adapted summer programming to fit a virtual model
due to COVID-19. DREAM currently uses The Dewitt Center on Mondays to prepare activity bags for their campers in Madison Park Village and Orchard Gardens Estates, and on Wednesdays to film virtual activities.
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Ellis Memorial
reopened for camp at The Dewitt Center in late June, providing daily childcare for ten campers. Campers participate in daily
physical activities
to stimulate their minds and maintain their health. In July, campers participated in 'Coupon Math,' an
educational activity
on couponing and its value. Campers also
enjoy activities
such as 'Mood Charades,'
gardening
, and education surrounding COVID-19 safety.
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EVkids
started camp on July 6th at The Dewitt Center and has
four weeks of virtual sessions
planned. Campers were sent “Camp in a Box,” which has all the materials needed to participate in virtual activities, including
crafting, games, and singing
.
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The Kids' Garden Club can't be
beet
!
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MPDC's Kids Garden Club (KGC), organized by
Leslie Stafford
, MPDC's Health Equity and Wellness Coordinator, has been very active this Summer!
The Kids Garden Club supports and teaches Roxbury children how to grow vegetables and fruits and eat more of them!
This year's KGC includes thirteen participants, ages 2 to 10 years old. Recently, Leslie had the opportunity to speak with
8-year-old Daileylah
and her dad about her experience gardening at home.
Daileyah enjoys getting up every morning to check on and water her beans, carrots, cucumbers, and beets.
Daileylah is learning the cost-benefit of growing healthy food.
She sees the cost of cucumbers in the grocery store and compares it to the free cucumbers she grows at home. She feels very independent in her garden and is always looking for recipes for her harvested vegetables!
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MPDC Staff Spotlight:
5 Questions with Juan Leyton
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As a way for our community to learn more about our staff members, we have started the '5 Questions' series. These monthly interviews in our newsletters feature five random questions with an MPDC staff member.
This month we are chatting with Vice President of Programs,
Juan Leyton
.
1. What is your role as Vice President of Programs at MPDC?
J:
The Vice President of Programs oversees all the programmatic activities of MPDC (Community Action, Hibernian Hall, The Dewitt Center, and others), and provides support in other areas of the organization as needed.
2. What are some MPDC initiatives or programs you are excited about?
3. Where is your favorite place to visit in Roxbury?
J:
I like going to
Haley House
to grab some coffee and food and I love walking on Dudley Street.
4. What do you like to do in your spare time?
J:
I like to spend my free time gardening, taking walks, reading books, and watching soccer.
5. What do you hope for the future of Roxbury?
J:
I hope that our community remains organized, vibrant, and hopeful of what we can do together, given the hard times we are going through with COVID and racism.
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Summer Online Movement Series
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Join Hibernian Hall and
VLA Dance
for a summer of movement!
WHEN:
Mondays & Wednesdays
July 6th to August 12th
Hibernian Hall and
VLA DANCE
are excited to collaborate on the
Summer Online Movement Series
, a weekly mixed-level movement class for youth and adults taught by the professional dance artists of VLA DANCE. Classes include yoga, conditioning, and contemporary dance practices. All classes are taught on both Mondays and Wednesdays online and will be designed for small indoor spaces. Registration is free but donations are accepted.
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Community Spotlight at Hibernian Hall
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Hibernian Hall's weekly live stream featuring our community partners, local artists, & special guests!
WHEN:
Mondays at 2 pm
Join Olawumi as she checks in with artists and community members to learn how they have remained inspired during COVID-19.
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Boston Children's Chorus Auditions
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WHEN:
Virtual a
uditions will be held on the following dates:
August 12, 13, & 15
September 9, 10, & 12
BCC is open to singers 7-18 years old, and has a place for everyone, regardless of skill level. Their next season, Waves of Change, will use songs to explore the myriad impacts of human movement across space and time.
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UPDATED COVID-19 RESOURCES
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Factsheets for Young Adults
CDC has produced a series of factsheets for young adults, ages 15-21. The factsheets cover a variety of topics, including what test results mean, how to stay safe at the pool or beach, how to wear a face covering and other preventive measures.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Baker-Polito Administration announced a new $20 million, statewide fund to assist low-income households facing difficulty making rent and mortgage payments. The
Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program
will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
ERMA will expand eligibility for rental and mortgage assistance to more low-income households who have been impacted by the crisis by adjusting the income threshold beyond the state’s traditional Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. This includes households within the 50-80% range of Area Median Income (AMI). Like the RAFT program, ERMA will provide up to $4,000 for eligible households to pay rent or mortgage payments in arrears going back to payments due April 1, 2020. Beginning July 1, applicants can reach out to the eleven agencies that administer RAFT on the state’s behalf, this includes the
nine Housing Consumer Education Centers
, as well as
LHAND
and the
Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance
.
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Accredited Schools Online
Many graduating students lost the services of their community centers when the pandemic hit. Months later, now with school closed for the summer, those looking for guidance in the direction of their careers are still restricted to online sources.
AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org
is committed to promoting success in higher education. They have put together a series of guides to employment that covers graduate employment, master's degree hiring considerations, and internship fundamentals, and are hoping to reach students in Roxbury with your help.
You can take a look at their series here:
Employment Guidance Series
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Bluebikes
The City of Boston is offering
free 90-day Bluebikes passes
to help out some of Boston's most important workers: those employed at grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and local retail shops. Anyone who works in these industries is eligible for the pass.
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In the time of COVID-19. Sent by Kresge Foundation.
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The Center for Cultural Power / The
Kresge Foundation
If ever there was a moment for cultural strategy -- it’s now. A global pandemic has magnified the flaws of our capitalist system, but, also, the power art and culture to uplift, disrupt, and build community. The Center for Cultural Power offers
#NoGoingBack
: A COVID-19 Cultural Strategy Activation Guide for Artists and Activists to meet the moment.
Check it out!
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