The Charlestown Coalition News: 

Issue 60

August 2021

September is National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.

Now in its 32nd year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery. Each September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover.

Trauma Response Team

Recently, our trauma response team took time this summer to a create a resource magnet for the community, which you can easily add to your refrigerator. The magnet contains useful information about grief and trauma, provides local resources and supports, as well as important hotline numbers.  The resource magnets will be available to residents at Charlestown Coalition events and/or by request. Also, please feel free to download this information on our trauma response team page: Trauma Resources Info

Lisa Solomon has been a dedicated member of our trauma team since its inception. She is a well-respected member of our team and a trusted provider at the MGH Charlestown Health Center. Often offering a calm presence, sound advice, and consistent support to all those she encounters.  We recently learned that Lisa will be retiring from her position as the Director of the Children Behavioral Health Team at MGH Charlestown, after serving the community for over 34 years. Lisa has supported and effectively the lives of some many in the community and she will be deeply missed. Although Lisa will be retiring, she will still be working with our trauma team providing consultation support to trauma team members. We want thank Lisa for her years of service to the Charlestown Community and our trauma team and we wish her all the best as she embarks on this new chapter in her life. 

To learn more about Lisa or any of our trauma team responders please visit our website:

https://charlestowncoalition.org/trauma-response-team/

Turn It Around & Civic Health Month

Our Candidate Q&A with Andrea Campbell on August 20th

During the month of August, which is Civic Health Month, the Turn It Around young people have been learning about civic engagement and have had the opportunity to sit down individually with each of the candidates in the Boston mayoral race. It's rare to have an opportunity to have face time, in such an intimate setting, with all of the candidates, and the Turn It Around kids are taking full advantage! They've been able to not only learn about who the candidates are and why they joined the race, but they've also been asking the candidates questions about the issues that teens face in the city of Boston, and how Boston will become a better place for them and their families. We've also encouraged each TIA member to pick a candidate that they would like to see as Boston's next mayor and volunteer to help their campaign. 

Q&A with John Barros on August 26th

Q&A with Annissa Essaibi George on August 13th

Q&A with Michelle Wu on September 3rd

Race & Equity Discussion

at the Charlestown Peace Park

Join us on Tuesday, September 21st, at 5:30pm for our monthly Race & Equity Discussion at the Charlestown Peace Park. This series explores important topics about the impact of race, policing in urban settings, and equity. It is open to all members of the Charlestown community and the general public. We will continue meeting in person the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Peace Park.*

This forum is being co-sponsored by the Charlestown Coalition, Turn It Around Youth Program, and City-Councilor Lydia Edwards and her team.

*In the event of rain, this will become a virtual event on Zoom.

Turn It Around Artists

Come support our Turn It Around artists at the Art In The Park event in City Square on Saturday, September 11th! Our members will be selling their artwork from 10:00-2:00, so stop by and purchase your own original art by some incredibly talented Charlestown youth!

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Our 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament is coming up on Saturday, October 2nd.

Save the date now, more info to come!

Highlighting Our Community Partnerships:

Children of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (COASA) 

COASA (Children of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) is a community-based program of the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps and an affiliate of NACOA (the National Association for Children of Addiction). COASA has been a resource in Charlestown for over ten years, working in the schools, community centers, health centers and the recovery community-at-large. Through a partnership with the Charlestown Coalition and Family Support Circle, COASA has been an advocate, provider, resource, and support for one out of every four children in the community impacted by family members with alcohol and other substance-use disorders.  The goal of COASA is to, through supportive education and counseling, teach children and their families and friends about the impact of this illness on them. Additionally, they aim to help children gain information that help them increase their self-worth and recognize that their love one's substance use is not their fault. Finally, they work to help children build trust, increase safety, and form healthy, strong attachments while decreasing isolation, secrecy, and self-blame. 

Maureen McGlame, LADC1, M.Ed., LCSW, the director and founder of COASA, has spent the past 20 years working to support children from families with alcoholism and other substance use disorders. Within Charlestown she has run groups at the Edwards Middle School and Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, worked closely with the Charlestown MGH Health Center, is an active member of the Charlestown Coalition, and a resource to the community when seeking support. Over the years, COASA has run a summer program to support children who have a loved one with a substance use disorder, conducting group therapy, mediation, summer activities, and a place where kids can feel heard as well as connected. In addition, each year Maureen presents a declaration to the Mayor of Boston's office requesting that the week of Valentine's Day be Children of Addiction week, bringing awareness to this issue. We greatly appreciate Maureen for all her support to the Charlestown Community and partnership with the Charlestown Coalition.

If you've partnered with us, we'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email with details of how we've worked together along with any photos (if you have them), and we will share on our social media platforms. Let's show the community what great collaborations we've had with amazing organizations like yours!

Steering Committee Meeting

October 26th

from 12 PM -1:30 PM

Meetings are held virtually until further notice.

Contact Sarah Coughlin for more information.

Trauma Response Team

October 5th at 5:30 PM

Meetings are held virtually until further notice. Contact

Phenice Zawatsky to learn more.

Charlestown Family Support Task Force 

October 5th at 12 PM

Meetings are held virtually until further notice. Contact

Phenice Zawatsky to learn more.

To learn more about our programs, our staff, community partners, resources, upcoming events, Turn It Around, program impact, and more, click below: