Village Voices Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from around our community.

Through the Eyes of Children in the Village, They See Community! Read the Child Perspective Blog by Cathy Luo, Vital Village AmeriCorps VISTA Community Mobilization Coordinator. Hear from children in our Village about their hopes and experiences, and be sure to check out the poll at the end! Read the Blog!

Vital Village Community Champion and BMC Patient Navigator, Smith Lamothe (pictured above with his mother), was featured in the Boston Globe speaking on the role of healthcare workers in protecting the health and wellbeing of Black lives. Smith shared powerful words with his colleagues on June 11th as healthcare workers across Massachusetts joined in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. “This isn’t a white fight or a Black fight. The truth of the matter is this a human condition fight, and we need to come together. We are in this together." - Smith Lamothe Vital Village Community Champion Boston Medical Center Patient Navigator Read the article here

Community Input Needed! Our Wellness Ideas Bank was created in response to COVID-19 in March. As the situation evolves, we are updating our Wellness Ideas Bank to match the community’s needs and improve user-friendliness. Please take a couple minutes to share your thoughts here! Share Input!

Network Events Connect with Vital Village Network at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more .

Children's Mental Health Storytime Tuesdays July 14, 21 & 28, 6:00-7:30pm From your computer or smartphone! Families with young children are invited to Children’s Mental Health Virtual Storytimes co-hosted by the Vital Village Network Mental Health Committee and Boston Public Library. We will bring families together for book readings, activities, and resources focused on Social-Emotional Learning inspired by our Children's Mental Health Storytime Toolkit. Sessions are designed for children 3-8 years old, but younger & older siblings are welcome! Register here!

REGISTER for July 11th REGISTER for July 17th REGISTER for Aug 7th Share the FLYER!

STRIVE Trauma 101 Workshops for Early Childhood Providers & Administrators Saturdays July 11, July 17 and August 7, 9:30am-12:30pm, Online Supportive Trauma Interventions for Educators  (STRIVE) is a collaborative project between Boston Medical Center’s  Child Witness to Violence Project and  Vital Village Network . STRIVE is providing trainings for Early Education and Care (EEC) settings across all seven regions in Massachusetts supported by the Attorney General Office's  Trauma-Informed Care for Young Children Grant Program . Our Summer 2020 trainings are hosted in partnership with Massachusetts StrongStart Professional Development Centers .

Certificate in Community Leadership and Advocacy Scholarship | Apply by Aug. 8 In partnership with Urban College of Boston, Vital Village Networks is accepting applications for scholarships to the Certificate in Community Leadership and Advocacy, a year-long, 9-credit, college-level certificate program that builds upon the capabilities of community leaders who are working to maximize child, family, and community wellbeing in Boston. Learn more on our website and apply by Aug. 7 here !

Support is available by phone, email, or virtual groups! Boston Breastfeeding Coalition VIRTUAL Supports available seven days a week ! Call or email the Warmline: 857-301-8259 BreastfeedingBoston@gmail.com Join a virtual support group!

Community Events Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.

July 11: Boston Public Schools Fall Reopening Community Meeting 10:00-11:30am, @ Online - Register for Zoom information Countdown to Kindergarten is hosting a conversation with Superintendent Dr. Brenda Casselius on Boston Public Schools' Fall Reopening. This meeting is specially designed to hear from new incoming Kindergarten families about your questions and concerns in regards to the Reopening of Schools in the fall. We ask that you please register and we will send you a link to the Zoom meeting.

July 11: 4th Annual “All That Jazz” Virtual Community Awareness Event 1:00-3:00pm, @ Online - Register for meeting information For National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the Dorchester / Mattapan / Roxbury Support and Advocacy Network (DMR SAN) of NAMI is hosting this free annual community awareness event to have dialogue about the importance of mental health and self-care, inform about resources available, educate about aspects of dealing with mental health and create opportunities to share mental health concerns and needs.  Learn more and register here for the 4th Annual All That Jazz!

July 14: Racial Equity in Housing in the COVID-19 Era 1:00pm-2:00pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting information This event in the 2020 Greater Boston Housing Report Card series will feature a presentation by UMass Donahue Institute on communities with the highest rates of COVID, intersection with race, income, and work (essential workers), and a policy discussion on the role of residential segregation, history of policy choices concentrating low income/POC, housing costs. Learn more and register here.. July 16-30: Health Justice Academy - Building Health Care Power in Our Communities Thursday July 16, 23 &30, 3:00pm-4:30pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting information The Health Justice Academy from Healthcare For All is a free training curriculum for advocates, community leaders, community members, and health care / social service providers seeking a better understanding of how to advance health justice and protect access to coverage and care for MA residents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Register here!

July 18: DeeDee's Cry Presents Journalism and Mental Health 7:00-8:30pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting info Join DeeDee's Cry's month-long series Black Mental Health Matters. On July 18th, DeeDee's Cry presents Journalism and Mental Health featuring Boston 25's Crystal Haynes, James W. Hills of Java with Jimmy and more. Discussion moderated by Dr. Brandy Brooks and hosted by Robin Saunders. Register here!

July 21: Know Your Rights Workshop for Teens 7:00pm-8:30pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting information Learn about your constitutional rights and how to exercise them in encounters with law enforcement. This workshop, hosted by the Boston Public Library in partnership with ACLU of Massachusetts, is for teens in grades 6 through 12 (including 2020 high school grads). Register here to receive meeting information! July 29: Sharing Hope - A Community Conversation on Mental Illness 3:00pm-4:00pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting information This event hosted by NAMI DMR SAN brings the community together to share experiences in order to help increase mental health awareness in African American communities by addressing a number of important topics related to signs and symptoms of various mental health conditions. Click here to register! Every Tuesday: Uplift the CAN Tuesdays Tuesdays, 2:00pm-3:00pm, @ Online - Register to receive meeting information Join the Boston Public Health Commission Community Action Network (CAN) for Uplift the CAN Tuesdays. Share safe spaces, navigate the many self-care resources that exist within our network, and celebrate coming together to learn, grow, support one another at a safe physical distance. Register to attend here! July 14th Menstruation During The Pandemic cofacilitation with Bria Gadson of Love Your Menses. July 21st Maternal Health Legislation Updates & Action cofacilitation with Tierney Flaherty, Intergovernmental Relations @ BPHC July 28th Herbal Remedy Workshop with Nneka Hall CAN & Planning Committee Member. August 4th Growing Greatness (Urban Gardening & Growing Techniques)

Check out more community events on our Website  and Facebook.

Opportunities Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our community.

JOBS: Assistant Director, Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs The Department of Public Health is seeking an energetic, dynamic and self-motivated individual to serve as the Assistant Director of the Division for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs. The Assistant Director will be responsible for the Division’s internal needs, including handling the oversight of operations, activities and support for clinically-oriented programs. Learn more and apply here. YOUTH: SuccessLink Youth Employment Program (Boston residents age 15-18) Meaningful employment opportunities available to Boston youth ages 15 to 18 in a wide variety of job fields like the arts, government & advocacy, STEM, sports & recreation, childcare, education, and more.  Learn more and apply for a summer position here! YOUNG ADULTS: SuccessLink Leader (Boston residents age 19-24) The Department of Youth Engagement & Employment Internship Program is designed to support department goals by engaging Boston youth in workforce readiness development and providing access to resources, civic and learning opportunities. Learn more and apply to be a SuccessLink Leader here! YOUTH: BPL 2020-2021 School Year Homework Helpers (Grades 10-12) Roles: Provide homework help and mentorship to students in grades K-8; Attend trainings to build your problem solving skills; Work with other mentors and librarians to make library branches a safe and fun place for children. Must be in grades 10-12, maintain a 3.0 GPA or above, and be able to work a minimum of two shifts per week from September 21, 2020-May 14, 2021. Bilingual teens are especially encouraged to apply.  Learn more about the program here and complete the application here !

Resource Connector Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.

Mattapan Square Farmers Market Opens Saturday July 11th Every Saturday, 10:00am-1:00pm, @ Corner of Cummins Hwy & Fairway Hosted by the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC), the Mattapan Square Farmers Market is not only a place to purchase healthy food, but also serves as a place to bring residents together and as a resource for health education and other social issues. SNAP and HIP benefits, WIC farmers' market coupons, and Senior Farmers Market coupons are accepted! Learn more about MFFC Food Access Work here!

Click the images to learn more about visiting farmers markets during COVID-19.

SNAP / Cash Renewals: Interim Reports and Recertification Information Have questions about requirements for submitting Interim Reports and Recertification paperwork for SNAP and other cash benefits? Check out this resource from MassLegal Services with information on what and when to submit to renew benefits.

Connections and Healing: Every Thursday: Can We Talk? Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing Thursdays, 6:30pm-8:00pm @ Virtual - Register to receive meeting information hare your thoughts and feelings about whatever you are going through - personally and as part of the larger community. This is a safe space to share about trauma, loss, and grief - whether it be from personal losses, racism and historical/systemic trauma, or COVID-19. Visit the event page for Zoom meeting information. Every Other Friday: Men's Trauma Recovery Online Support Group Next Meeting: July 17, 6:30pm-8:00pm, @ Virtual - Register to receive meeting information The Men's Support Group of The Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing is a free, open group that meets every other Friday via Zoom and is facilitated by Douglas Lomax. It is open to all men who are looking for support over trauma, loss, addiction, and all the challenges of these current times. The next meeting will be Friday July 17. Visit the event page for Zoom meeting information.

For Children: Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester Virtual Summer Program: July 13 - August 21 Sign up for the Virtual Summer Program with Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester ! Space will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. These activities will run from the week of July 13th-August 21st. To register, email Brendan McDonald at bmcdonald@bgcdorchester.org  with your Child's Name, Age, and Programs they wish to join. Check out the flyer for more info and a complete list of programs!  Sitters Without Borders: Free Virtual Sitting Sitters Without Borders is now offering Virtual BabySitting Sessions to parents who are taking on-line classes. The sitting sessions are available to parents while they are taking an on-line class or if they need time to do homework. Learn more and apply for a FREE sitter here!

Relief Funds:

Boston Childcare Entrepreneur Fund Apply by July 22 Virtual info workshops: Wed July 15, 12- 1pm (en Español) Sat July 18, 11am-12pm The Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement is offering $3,500 grants and business support to help your family childcare business keep our little ones safe. Apply at www.boston.gov/childcare-fund.

Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Contractor Relief Fund Emergency financial assistance for local Minority and Women Owned entities in Greater Boston. The MWBE Contractor Relief Fund will offer a one-time relief grant of up to $2,500 to qualified contractors who have been sidelined due to COVID-19. Learn more and apply at bit.ly/MWBEContractorsReliefFund.

Other Resources for Boston COVID-19 Response: Mayor’s Health Line: 617-534-5050 City of Boston Non-Emergency Line: 3-1-1 Meal sites in Boston:   Food Access Map: Meal Sites MA Non-emergency helpline: 2-1-1 or call 1-877-211-MASS >> Deaf/Hearing Impaired: 508-370-4890 TTY >> For more info on Mass211:  https://mass211.org/about/

Scoop on the Stats Explore data related to child and family well-being.

What Families Need to Know About Reopening Child Care How are child care centers ensuring the safety of children and families? As child care begins to reopen across the state, here is some info from the Massachusetts Dept of Early Education and Care on what to expect at your child care center.

Masks & physical distancing required at all times during drop-off and pick-up. Staggered drop-off and pick-up times to minimize crowds. Visual screening during drop-off & affirmation that child & members of the household are symptom-free. For the most part, caregivers will not be allowed to enter to keep space clean. Transportation may be available . Children will be screened before boarding vehicle. What to Expect During Drop-off

Activities and Routines Circle & nap time will happen at a distance. Groups will not mix and will stay the same each day. Staff are trained in safe food handling . Face masks not required , but encouraged when there is prolonged close contact. Individual play stations & sensory bins instead of communal Outdoor play, small group playground time, and sprinkler fun encouraged!

Related Resources and Events Panel Discussion - Black Mothers Matter: Child Care is Social Justice | July 20th, 7PM Join US Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and experts for a conversation centering on the voices and experiences of Black mothers. Register here! Articles: > School openings across globe suggest ways to keep coronavirus at bay, despite outbreaks >  The Forgotten Essential Workers: Women of Color in Child Care Tool: COVID Racial Data Tracker from BU Center for Antiracist Research and COVID Tracking Project.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stay Connected ‌ ‌ Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network? Complete this  form !