"Love is the question and the answer." |
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We are deeply honored to acknowledge Mel King, a legendary educator, political leader, and champion of social justice. He was a guiding force in organizing for youth and community development, and his legacy will forever be felt in the neighborhood we serve.
Mel was a true visionary, a tireless advocate, and a passionate educator who dedicated his life to fighting for racial equity and justice in Boston and beyond. His impact continues to be felt by MPDC today, as the organization remains committed to his vision of community empowerment, equitable development, and social justice.
As we celebrate his life and legacy, we are grateful for the many ways in which Mel’s leadership, wisdom, and vision have inspired and guided us. We will continue to honor his memory by carrying forward his commitment to fostering a vibrant, healthy Roxbury neighborhood that supports the well-being and advancement of the community.
On behalf of Madison Park Development Corporation, we extend our deepest condolences to Mel’s family and loved ones. We join the entire community in acknowledging his transition and celebrating his remarkable life.
Learn more about Mel King here.
Photograph by Sean Alonzo Harris
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Join MPDC for the Pick-Up Basket Ball
on May 17th!
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Madison Park Development Corporation is thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating
The Dewitt Center’s fifth anniversary!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023
6:30 PM TO 9:00 PM
THE DEWITT CENTER
122 DEWITT DRIVE
ROXBURY, MA 02119
This beautiful community space in the heart of Madison Park Village, where MPDC’s earliest housing was built, has quickly become an irreplaceable part of the neighborhood. Its unique model has allowed dozens of program partners, many led by local leaders of color, to provide critically needed enrichment, mentoring, education, and recreation programming for hundreds of children and youth at The Dewitt Center at no cost to program partners.
In its first five years, The Dewitt Center has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, difficult economic conditions, and a significant overall increase in community need in Roxbury and beyond. Through all of these challenges, The Dewitt Center has remained exceptionally nimble and responsive, stepping up to meet these community needs even as the center had to shut its doors to in-person programming in 2020.
The strong foundation the center laid during its first year and a half, during which it established robust community partnerships, provided programming to hundreds of children, youth, and older adults, and attracted more than 3,000 visitors through education, training, and community-building events, allowed the center to make a seamless transition back to fully in-person activities in 2022. In addition to health and wellness offerings and providing technology access, the center has become a civic haven, symbolically and literally, even becoming a polling location in 2020.
Now celebrating this important anniversary milestone, we are so pleased to invite our partners, stakeholders, and donors back to The Dewitt Center, and we look forward to highlighting the center’s resources, programming, and assets, including the beautiful gallery showcasing talented local artists of color, for both longstanding and new supporters.
We invite all of you to join us as we reintroduce and celebrate this vibrant community space!
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A delightful Doughnuts and Grits with
Your Delegates
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In March, MPDC residents continued the 2023 Civic Engagement Sessions and prepped for MPDC's Doughnuts and Grits with Your Delegates. On March 16th, over 100 community members attended the event at Hibernian Hall to enjoy breakfast with their neighbors, ask elected officials and members of their staff questions about their roles in government, and discuss the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporation's 2023 legislative priorities.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
Attorney General Andrea Campbell
State Senator Liz Miranda
State Representative Chynah Tyler
State Representative Samantha Montaño
Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office
Boston City Council President / District Two Ed Flynn
District Six Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara
At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty
At-Large City Councilor Ruthzee Louijuene
At-Large City Councilor Julia Mejia
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MPDC'S 2023 Scholarship Program |
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MPDC's Scholarship Program is BACK for 2023 and will award $50,000 in scholarships to fund educational pursuits for those graduating in Spring/Summer of 2023!
Application Deadline: June 16th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
For more information about MPDC’s Scholarship Program, please email Youth Workforce Manager Yhinny Matos or call 617.849.6236.
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It's happenin' at Hibernian Hall in April! |
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MPDC is excited to announce two upcoming events at Hibernian Hall that celebrate culture, community, and storytelling. First up is the third 'Roxbury Roots' event on Saturday, April 22nd, inspired by the African Oral Tradition of storytelling. This year's theme is 'family' and features stories from community leaders in Roxbury and beyond, along with delicious food to enjoy while listening to the tales. 'Roxbury Roots' is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the unique experiences and perspectives of Roxbury residents and connect with community.
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Next, on April 30th, join us for 'An Evening in Ghana,' a vibrant and immersive event that brings Ghana's rich and colorful culture to life at Hibernian Hall. Inspired by artist Cornell Coley's travels to Ghana, the event features a multimedia presentation by Cornell, a sampling of Ghanaian food, a Ghana-inspired photo exhibit from artist Reginald L. Jackson, and live music from the West African drumming group 'The Akwaaba Ensemble.' This event invites the audience to travel to Ghana without ever having to leave home! Celebrate the beauty and diversity of Ghanaian culture through learning, engaging, and eating delicious Ghanaian food. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or simply curious about the world, 'An Evening in Ghana' offers a unique opportunity to experience an unforgettable journey into the heart of Ghana!
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A merry March for
MPDC's Youth Workforce Team
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March was a busy month for the Youth Workforce Team! MPDC is thrilled to welcome Peter Nguyen as Youth Workforce Coordinator. With prior experience at the Opportunity Employment Program and as a College for Social Innovation Fellow, Peter brings valuable expertise to our team. After graduating from UMASS Dartmouth, he started as a part-time staff member and is now a full-time Coordinator.
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In March, several youth had a blast participating in a Bowling Fundraiser hosted by MPDC partner, One Love Sports Academy at Boston Bowl. Congratulations to Diego and Daniel for scoring the highest!
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The Youth Workforce Team also collaborated with Children's Hospital to plan a special event for the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), which promoted fitness and wellness to the Roxbury community. Held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, the event drew over 150 people who competed in relay races, high jumps, javelin jumps, and more. Eight MPDC youth helped design the day's program alongside BAA and Boston Children's Hospital staff. MPDC was happy to attend and share opportunities for upcoming initiatives and engage with the community.
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MPDC is thrilled to announce that Digital Ready, one of the Office of Workforce Development's educational partners, recently celebrated the graduation of 17 young adults aged 21-25. These exceptional individuals completed a six-week intensive program in cybersecurity, green tech, architecture, design, and information technology, which included visits to Google, AutoDesk, The Foundry, Roxbury Community College, and the 'What the Heck is BioTech?!' event at the Roxbury Innovation Center.
The final celebration, held at the Media Arts building of Roxbury Community College, was opened by City-Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia and moderated by Keanna Green, Director of Visions Consulting, and Robert Finnegan, Director of Digital Ready. Attendees included MPDC and program leaders from Boston Day and Evening Academy, as well as proud friends and family of participants.
These talented young adults are now pursuing higher education and careers in the demanding fields of STEAM, and some will even enroll in Digital Ready's summer STEM immersion program at the Roxbury Community College campus. MPDC is incredibly proud of these youths' achievements and wishes them all the best on their exciting journey!
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Join MPDC’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) today!
SYEP provides underserved in-school youth, ages 14-19, with career internships, job readiness skills, and educational enrichment. SYEP is intended to provide early workforce experience for young people who might not otherwise have this opportunity while supporting them with completing academics and college readiness.
Application deadline: June 2nd, 2023
For more information about MPDC’s SYEP, please email Yhinny Matos, Youth Workforce Manager.
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MPDC gets cooking with MPP Classes! |
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MPDC recently celebrated the successful completion of the Health and Wellness Team's Meal Prep & Participation (MPP) Class with a certification celebration. Throughout the course, participants learned valuable skills to prepare, cook, and eat healthily on a budget. They also discovered new ways to increase the consumption of healthy foods while cooking with their neighbors and families. It was an excellent opportunity to make delicious and healthy food while staying within budget.
This year, for the first time, participants will have the chance to take the ServSafe training and co-facilitate classes, leading the way for the next generation of MPP leaders.
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The Dewitt Center had a marvelous March! |
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The community had another fantastic afternoon at The Dewitt Center, playing BINGO! Over 24 seniors from Madison Park Village, Roxie Homes, and Orchard Gardens joined for an afternoon filled with energy, laughter, and fun.
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Dewitt members recently participated in a friendly basketball game against Boston Police Officers from various districts in Boston. In cooperation with the Boston Police Department and WinnCompanies, members brought their skills and competitive spirit to the court, resulting in a thrilling game that ended with a 21-20 victory for The Dewitt Center. Thank you to all who came out to support the players and our partners and staff who made this event possible!
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The Dewitt Center recently hosted 'Abundantly Black,' a day filled with love, laughter, and cultural experiences while celebrating Boston's rich Black history. The event was coordinated and presented by the Handy Family of Boston. It featured various activities, including presentations by Black historians, specialty foods and desserts from young entrepreneurs who shared their success stories, and multiple vendors offering unique items like hats, monogram cups, artwork, soaps, oils, and ethnic jewelry. Thank you to all who participated and helped make this event successful!
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Thank you to MPDC's March 2023 Newsletter Contributors |
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Allison Anderson
Erica Davis
Haris Lefteri
Kelly Lydon
Leslie Stafford
Meghan Higgins
Yhinny Matos
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UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS |
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Resident Association Meetings for Madison Park Village are held monthly on Tuesdays.
April 11th
May 9th
June 13th
July 11th
August 8th
September 12th
Please join us at The Dewitt Center (122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
If a meeting is rescheduled, it will be the following Tuesday.
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NEW DATE AND TIME
MPDC x IMSO
Food Pantry @ The Dewitt Center
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WHEN: Every 1st & 3rd THURSDAY of each month
1:30 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA)
The Dewitt Center and the Islamic Multi-Service Organization (IMSO) host monthly food pantries. Canned goods, fruit, pasta, spaghetti, and more will be available for pickup! Supplies are limited.
For more information, please contact IMSO at
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Madison's Train 2 Trades Program Relaunch |
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APPLICATIONS DUE: Tuesday, April 11th, 2023
The Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC² ) offers serves as an incubator and one-stop shop for local, community‐based, and diverse businesses and workers in the construction sector. WORC² was born from the need for resources to help MBE subcontractors grow their businesses, build capacity, and expand their market.
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Flat 9 At Whittier Celebration |
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WHEN: Thursday, April 13th
10:00 am
WHERE: Choice Way
Roxbury, MA 02120
Flat 9 at Whittier is a collaboration between Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC), and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) to redevelop the Whittier Street Apartments site in Roxbury into a mixed-income, mixed-use site of 300 units. A third of the units are middle-income, a third are market-rate, and a third are public housing units, representing a one-to-one replacement of the Whittier units.
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Tai-Chi for Fall Prevention |
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WHEN: Monday, April 17th to June 14th
10:00 am to 11:00 am
WHERE: 207 Dudley Street
2nd Floor Community Room
Roxbury, MA
Call to register 617.238.2318.
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Dress for Success Annual Sale |
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WHEN: Saturday, April 29th
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
Join Dress for Success Boston at The Dewitt Center for the Dress for Success Annual Sale! Stock up on affordable professional attire in one place.
Dress for Success Boston is an affiliate of the Worldwide Dress for Success organization, which now has over 150 affiliates in 20 countries. Community members are invited to come to the Dress for Success Annual Sale and select discounted clothing from an exclusive collection of professional workwear.
All are welcome!
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One Ingredient, Three Ways
with Lovin' Spoonfuls
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WHEN: Thursday, April 27th
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Haynes House
(735 Shawmut Avenue, Roxbury, MA)
Learn to make the most of the food you have to eat well and waste less! In this workshop, you'll hear from Lovin' Spoonfuls' culinary educator and professional chef Jason Wang, who shows you how to make three simple, scrumptious new recipes using chicken as a base ingredient.
Attendance is capped at 15-20 people.
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MPDC's Scholarship Info Session |
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WHEN: Thursday, April 28th
3 pm to 5 pm
WHERE: MPDC Offices
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Come and join MPDC to discuss scholarship opportunities for high school seniors and non-students!
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MPDC is now accepting applications for the 2023 Garden Program |
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APPLICATIONS DUE: Thursday, June 1st, 2023
MPDC is now accepting applications for gardening at the
Hope Community Garden!
- The Garden opens in April
- All ages welcome
- Kids' Garden Club (2-18)
- Hope Garden Plots for kids and older adults
This program offers garden education and training, social connectivity, special events, home gardening, and other opportunities.
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