Village Voices
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community. 
Youth Advocacy in Action
Granddaughter of Vital Village Community Partnerships Network Member Soraya Harley, went to Washington D.C. to speak up about the impact the opiod crisis has on youth in Boston. Here’s how it went.
Breastfeeding Coalition Targets Racial Disparities
With drop-in support groups and a service-learning program, the Vital Village Network seeks to support breastfeeding and create economic opportunity . Read the full article in Health City here!
A Deep Dive: Vital Village’s Service-Learning and Leadership Model
In our most recent blog post, Vital Village Community Partnership Programs Coordinator, Desiree Hartman, goes into detail on how Vital Village Network uses a Service Learning and Leadership Model to create leadership opportunities for every community member. Read the entire post here .
Network Events

Connect with Vital Village Network at these upcoming events. Click
 event to RSVP or learn more .
Black Breastfeeding Week 2019
This is National Breastfeeding Month and Black Breastfeeding Week is on the horizon!
T he Boston Breastfeeding Coalition & Boston Association for Childbirth Education- Nursing Mother's Council are hosting a screening of the documentary Chocolate Milk , followed by a community discussion.
In this nine credit certificate program, students will acquire tools and develop skills to serve as better advocates in their home, their workplace, their community, and beyond.  Apply by Monday, August 5!
Engage with the Male Engagement Network this month!
The Male Engagement Network (MEN), is a multi-neighborhood collaboration between neighborhood development corporations and non-profits with a focus on providing social, spiritual, and financial support to men of color living in the Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury neighborhoods. Check out the following:
8:00am 3:00pm @ George Sherman Union
Mark your calendars for 6th Annual Leadership Summit, hosted by Vital Village! This one-day summit, unlike any other, will bring together change makers from around Boston and across the country who are dedicated to ensuring that children and families have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to thrive. Register for Early bird tickets before August 9th
Miss our last Network Connection Meeting? Check out our Meeting Snapshot for highlights!
Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.
12pm-6pm @ Franklin Park in Dorchester
Enjoy a fun day with entertainment, free food, games and much more at the 1199 SEIU Community Fair. Don’t miss in sharing this exciting day with your whole family and community!

1pm - 7pm @ Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury Crossing 
Come take part in enjoying the Taste of the Caribbean Food Festival and explore the delicious food, live entertainment, arts and natural products of the many Caribbean culture, and more!

August 5 & 6: National Night Out
Bring the family out to National Night Out for a celebration in your Community. This Community Celebration will take place across all Boston neighborhoods for 2 days and will include free food, entertainment for everyone, activities for kids, and much more!

Join Codman Square Health Center as they review the year and honor Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Boston Police Commissioner Willie Gross.

1pm - 4:30pm @ First Church in Roxbury
Take part in "Remembering Ndikho Xaba" at The Makanda Project summer concert. There will be live painting sponsored by MassArt's Sparc! the ArtMobile. For more information contact Isabelle Higgins.

10am-2pm @ The Waterford Room (Russell Auditorium) in Dorchester
The Beauty Hurts conference creates a space for women to connect, relate and release in order to really tap into their true inner beauty. More Information here!

Join DSNI as they celebrate cultural diversity and a shared vision for change during this Multicultural Festival. Enjoy colorful stage performances, traditional music/dances, martial arts, circus, sports, clinics, recreation games, face painting, inflatable entertainment, and a wide array of food and crafts from the cultures of the neighborhood.

August 24: Ruth Barkley Unity Day
The Annual Unity Day will have free food, games, fun, and much more, Please contact Jamie DeLude for more information at 617-988-5379.

Check out more community events on our Website  and Facebook
Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
JOBS:
 The Outreach Coordinator will support local stakeholders in the region to improve access to quality school and summer meals for children.To apply, please be sure to submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to  jobs@projectbread.org .

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Boston CASA invites you to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). A CASA is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement is being determined in juvenile court. Learn more here!

TRAININGS & EDUCATION:
August 14: 6 – 8:30pm @ Roxbury Community College 
Learn how to grow your wealth through real estate investment in this workshop series! With the goal of providing tangible steps that people of color can take to increase their net worth, participants will walk away with concrete strategies that they can apply to wealth creation. 

August 14: 5:30-8:00pm @ Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Learn self-care exercises, Do It Yourself healing remedies, Art, Music Therapy and more. Wholistic Health is an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit!

Parenting Engagement and Wellness Workshop
August 6, 13, 20, and 27: 10:30am-12:30pm @ 2201 Washington St. Suite 307 in Roxbury
Join this workshop series over the month of August to learn more about Self-Care, Family Stress Management, Communication, Childrens Emotional Development, and Supporting Self-Esteem. Learn more here!

Trauma and Resilience Workshops
August 7, 14, 21, and 28: 10:30am-12:30pm @ 2201 Washington St. Suite 307 in Roxbury
Also take part in weekly Trauma and Resilience Support Groups, along with Healing Through the Arts Workshop on Wednesdays. Learn more here!
Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.
Free Summer Resources!
Free meals are provided to children 18 years of age and under, without regard to race, color, national origin,sex, age, or handicap. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times  found here . The free summer meals program will run continue this month.

Enjoy Free Fun Fridays each Friday for the Month of August
Highlights for this Friday include free entrance to Franklin Park Zoo and the Old State House all day! Check out Free Fun Fridays for all events and dates happening this month.

Free Back to School Supplies
Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to child and family well-being.
Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
The  Abundance App  is now available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!
CONtexts aims to promote positive outcomes between caregivers and children by sharing weekly resources through a FREE text service and interactive resource sharing map. These resources are ideal for anyone working with or caregivers of children ages 0-5.

To subscribe, text KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8
Once you're subscribed you will receive 3 weekly FREE text messages:
  • Monday: Nearby community resources
  • Wednesday: Wellness tips
  • Friday: Family-fun events
Our Mission

Vital Village is a network of residents and
agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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Stay Connected
Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?

Complete this  form !