When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
— Audrey Lorde
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from around our community
The Imperative of NOW: Community Power and Healing Centered-Advocacy
Our Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing (NOW) is bringing together opportunities for shared storytelling, peer learning, and skill building around this year’s theme, Imperative of NOW: Community Power and Healing-Centered Advocacy.
 
In our latest NOW Leadership Blog Series, we invite you to contribute your stories, ideas, lessons, and wisdom. What does healing-centered advocacy look like in your community? What strategies have been effective in helping your community build and sustain power for transformative change? What have been some of the more impactful “ah-ha” moments of your experience with community and civic engagement?
 
Keep up to date with the Leadership Series Blog on the NOW website, and if you are interested in being a contributing author to the VVN 2024 Leadership Article Series, you can complete the online interest form found here.
Connect with Vital Village Networks at these upcoming events
Join us at the March Network Connecting Meeting!
Monday, March 11th | 5:30 pm
Check out available resources relevant to children and families
My“Self”in the World Children Storytime 
Attend the My “Self” In the World Children Storytime series with your young children every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. ET via Zoom. Join us for readings, activities, and reflections focused on social-emotional learning.
CONtext
CONtexts (Community Resources On Health Nearby Fun) is a free text messaging service and interactive resource sharing map that promotes child and family wellness by providing current information nearby community resources, wellness tips, and family-fun events.
 
Once you’re subscribed you will receive 3 weekly free text messages: Monday’s text - nearby community resources, Wednesday’s text - wellness tips, Friday’s text - a family-fun events
Free Sign-Up To subscribe, text KIDS to +1 (844) 806-0616
Abundance Boston Food Access App 3.0.2 is now available! Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!
Events, resources, and opportunities by our partners and community organizations
Alliance for Early Success
Wednesday, March 13th | 12 pm EST
Virtual Event
Join the Elephant Circle, the Alliance for Early Success, and advocates from states that have adopted Medicaid coverage of doulas.
Fourth Annual HOPE Summit: The HOPE Transformation
Wednesday and Thursday, March 20th & 21st, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm EST
Virtual Event
HOPE is transforming the way we are able to support children’s growth into health, resilient adults. Join colleagues from around the country and world as we network and collect fresh insights and actionable strategies for cultivating HOPE.
Seeds in the Dirt, Fists in the Air: A Kid-led Call for Climate Justice
In Person Event
Celebrate the arrival of spring during an afternoon of learning, creativity, and environmental advocacy with C1 and friends! This event is especially great for families with kids ages 5-13, but we'll have activities and actions for folks of all ages to enjoy. Snacks will be provided!
Date & Time:
Saturday, March 23rd, 2-4:00 pm
Address:
The Civic Pavilion at City Hall Plaza, 5 Congress Street
Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change, Ep. 1
Wednesday, March 27th, 3:00 pm EST
Virtual Event
Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change returns with three new conversations featuring inspiring leaders working on the frontlines of current and emerging issues for children and families. Ep. 1: Reigniting Kānaka Hawaiʻi Identity Through Education: Experiences of a half-century of decolonizing and indigenous social justice work with Walter Kahumoku, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor & Associate Professor at UH West O’ahu
Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Stronger Generations Initiative’s Free Yard Sale
In-Person Event
Stronger Generation is hosting a free spring community event for community members expecting and/or parenting a child/children ages 0-5 across Greater Boston. Community members do not need to RSVP, but it is helpful for supply counts and expediating registration at the event.
Date & Time:
Saturday, April 27th, 11:00am – 1:00 pm (rain date: May 11, 11a-1:00p)
Address:
BCYF Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain (20 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130)
The Early Childhood Agenda Spring Convening
In-Person Event
The Early Childhood Agenda works alongside community members and organizations throughout Massachusetts to leverage our collective action and bring heightened awareness to early childhood issues to improve the well-being of young children and their families. This is an in-person gathering for friends, partners, and supporters.
Date & Time:
Wednesday, May 8th, 4-7:00 pm EST
Address:
Polar Park, Madison Street,
Worcester, MA
There is currently a shortage of human donor milk at Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, a non-profit milk bank located in Massachusetts. When a mom’s milk is not available, donar milk is the next best option. For pre-term and medically fragile babies, breastmilk reduced their risk of developing life-threatening conditions. For more information on how to donate milk to the milk bank, please click the button below:
Remix Recovery
Remix recovery is a 100% free substance use and addiction coursework program led by Hiba Khan, LMSW, LCDC focused on giving you the tools that you need to enjoy life without the struggle of addiction. Remix Recovery is not affiliated with any religious groups, and therefor the only requirement to attend is that you be yourself.
Volunteer Crisis Counseling
If you find yourself going through a crisis around violence, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, suicide, self-harm, and other issues; you can get help by texting someone 24/7. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor – free 24/7 support at your fingertips.
Boston Opportunity Agenda, the Birth to Eight Collaborative, and the City of Boston’s Office of Early Childhood partnered to administer a survey to over 600 educators and administrators across the state. Click the button below to learn the demographics, educational backgrounds, work experience, wages, and more about our Massachusetts educators.
Child trends has published “A 100-Year Review of Research on Black Families,” an extensive body of work chronicling research on Black families from the 1920s through 2020.
The Center for Healthcare Strategies has compiled this brief that highlights the importance for health care organizations to integrate and compensate for the knowledge and experiences of community members in their policy and program design. Learn more about the importance of these processes, and how to implement them by clicking the button below:
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our community
Policy & Project Coordinator
Health Care for Everyone
If you are interested in joining a dynamic team committed to fighting for health care equity, affordability and justice in Massachusetts, consider sending an application.
Masters Level Clinician
Serene Way Therapy & Wellness Center
Join a team of competent, compassionate, and culturally responsive professional clinicians of color as a Master’s-Level Clinician in an Outpatient Setting providing virtual and in-person therapy.
Promise Venture Studios is hiring for 3 key opportunities:
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO): Lead the operational aspects of our organization, ensuring that our programs and initiatives align with our commitment to social innovation and racial equity.

  • Executive Assistant: Contribute to the smooth functioning of our programs and initiatives while supporting the Managing Partner and Leadership team.

  • Program Associate: Work on a variety of key programs and initiatives that support the growth and impact of our work.
Applications are now open to become a RISER Mentee or Mentor!
RISER Network
Riser Network is a collaboration between senior, mid-level, and early career scholars conducting applied child development research focused on the positive development of Black children.
Medical-Legal Partnership to Improve Maternal Health Access & Outcomes, Session1
Tuesday, April 2nd, 1:00 pm ET
Virtual Event
Designed to empower participants with an increased understanding of how the social drivers of health impact maternal health and help them learn how to use MLP to improve maternal health outcomes for patients and their communities.  
Call for Proposals
A View from All Sides
Application Deadline: Thursday, April 25th, 2024
Apply now to present at this year’s A View from All Sides. Learn and connect with peers and experts dedicated to family support and family wellbeing. Share you experience, insights, strategies, and resources with family and support staff across New England.
The Boston Tree Alliance Program’s Tree Planting Grant is Live!
The Boston Tree Alliance
Open to non-profits and community-based organizations to fund impactful tree planting projects alongside landowners to grow and care for the urban tree canopy. All applications are due by Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Annual Children’s Mental Health Matters Conference The Impacts of Race-Based Discrimination on Children and Adolescents Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
Thursday, May 2nd, 10:00am – 12:00 pm EST
Virtual Event
Join William James College for their Annual Children’s Mental Health Matters Conference. This program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners/ practitioners, or other individuals looking to gain knowledge in this area. $30 for those requesting Continuing Education Credits, FREE for those who are not!
Doula Care Has Proven Health Benefits that Advance Equity
Doula care has proven health benefits.
Doulas provide physical and emotional support, advocacy, information, improve communication, and work to center the needs of the family. Doula care is associated with positive birth perception, shorter labor, fewer cesareans and improved breastfeeding.
Why is Doula Care Important?
An estimated 8% of pregnancies involve complications that could pose a risk to the mother and/or child if left untreated.

  • Maternal mortality in the U.S. is increasing, with an estimated 17.4 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.
  • The rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. is more than twice that of most other high-income countries.
  • The rate of maternal mortality for non-Hispanic Black women in the U.S. is almost three times that of white women, at 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births

The CDC estimates over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable
How do we expand Doula Care?
Ancient Song Doula recommends the following steps to expand community-based doula support and ensure it is sustainable: (1) adjust reimbursement rates to ensure a living wage; (2) collaborate with and invest in community-based doula programs; (3)support best practices like peer mentorship and support and training; (4) develop a comprehensive network of resources to support wellness; (5) fund and support a diverse doula workforce; (6) incorporate community engagement as an essential component of health equity; (7) raise awareness about benefits of community-based doulas.
Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?
Vital Village Networks is a network of residents and agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community well-being.