After a year of unprecedented challenges, rapid adaptations, and a total transformation of our day-to-day lives, we enter 2021 with anticipation, hope, and perseverance. May this year be filled with success, and prosperity for you and for all members of the Vital Village community!
The Vital Village Networks Team
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Village Voices
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community.
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Over the past few months, Vital Village has partnered with Tech Goes Home to provide free Chromebooks and a year of Internet as well as free technology training to our first cohort of ten members of the Vital Village community as a way of supporting Technology Justice.
Check out a recent blog post made by one of our trainers, Jenna Novy, about the training process and the importance of supporting technology access and learning here!
Also, as a part of the trainings, participants were asked to create final projects that would benefit them in some way. With permission, here are some of the wonderful projects that our community members created to conclude our training!
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Calling All Community Partners!
This year, we want to emphasize engagement and connection with the wonderful community organizations that are partnered with Vital Village Networks. If you have any post or event that you would like us to share over social media, email, or newsletter, we welcome you to reach out to us via:
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Interested in how to plan and lead meetings, especially in a virtual environment? NOW Program Coordinator Tiffany Rodriguez has recently penned the newest blog post for NOW about how to organize your time and responsibilities effectively and efficiently during meetings, especially remotely. Check out her post here!
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COVID-19 and the Reinforced Importance of Remote Work
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“With the onset of the pandemic came the need for VVN to transition to a completely different format of work, from one that emphasized physical, in-person engagement to one that necessitated physical distance and flexibility.” Troy Biermann discusses the adaptations made by Vital Village Networks and its community members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Are you a school or organization interested in being a partner site with SJMP?
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Social Justice Leadership in the Network |
The Vital Village Social Justice Mediation Program (SJMP) aims to build the capacity of our neighborhood by training community members in conflict resolution skills that can be used at home, in the workplace, in schools, and beyond.In December 2020, at the 7th Annual Social Justice Mediation Institute 22 new certified mediators joined the team and are using these tools for meaningful social change in our communities.
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Network Events
Connect with Vital Village Network at these upcoming events. Click
event to RSVP or learn more.
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Save the date for our January Network Connection Meeting: Emerging Brighter: New Year, New Hope! Join us for a visioning and design session to plan for an unprecedented year of service and social impact and transformation in 2021! We will also be announcing and celebrating our 2020 Unsung Hero Awardees!
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January 21st, 12pm-1pm
Save the date for our first Boston Breastfeeding Coalition meeting of the new year where we will return to continue to craft our policy agenda for 2021. We will continue to explore equity in lactation and policies. The Coalition will explore why Breastfeeding equity requires all people and stakeholder institutions' involvement and participation in the support and benefits derived from breastfeeding.
January 26th, 6pm-7:30pm
Join us for a timely discussion, led by Peer Scholars throughout the network. We will be discussing COVID-19 and vaccine recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers with guest speaker Dr. Elizabeth Barnett. Dr. Barnett is an infectious disease pediatrician at Boston Medical Center. We will hear from her as well as engage in a discussion among scholars about how to effectively engage clients in vaccine conversations.
January 27th, 5:30-7:00pm
The participants of the Vital Village's first-ever virtual Social Justice Mediation institute will be meeting again later this month to reconvene, discuss future plans, and practice their mediation!
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Thursdays at 3:30
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.
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Call or email the Warmline:
857-301-8259
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Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.
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January 25th, 6pm-8pm
Are you an entrepreneur, blogger, photographer, designer, or small business owner looking to build a beautifully designed website quickly and easily? Join Boston Public Library and General Assembly for this online, live-streamed class that will teach students the basics of the Squarespace platform including selecting templates, editing designs, managing content, and implementing advanced features like e-commerce. Register HERE!
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January 27th, 12-12:45pm
“The only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it—and then dismantle it.”
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America-but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Dr. Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it. Register for this webinar HERE!
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February 3rd, 12-1:30pm
As the pace of change in our world intensifies, the need to belong and be in community is increasingly paramount. There are many paths we can take to respond to this moment: some encourage greater cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity, while others incite fear, polarization, and competition. This important and timely conversation with Dr. john a. powell, an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, structural racism, housing, poverty, and democracy will explore the concept of belonging and how to move beyond othering to advance our collective progress. Join us as we seek to understand what is required, from an individual to an institutional level, to strengthen practices and principles that offer a path forward toward a world where all belong. Register for this webinar HERE!
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Every Tuesday, alternating morning and evening sessions; 10:30-11:30 am or 6:00-7:00 pm
Boston Public Schools Countdown to Kindergarten is supporting the registration process for the school year 2021-2022. In order to help families register during the prime lottery season, we need your assistance to get families the information they need to apply for a seat with BPS.
Countdown is hosting a series of registration information sessions in January and February.
Click here to r egister for an info session with Countdown to Kindergarten for January!
"Through the Night" Viewing Event and Discussion for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 18th, 8:00pm
Neighborhood Villages, the Coolidge Corner Theatre, and partners from the early education and racial justice communities invite you to a special film event examining the consequences of our national child care crisis and the power of bearing witness through storytelling. Tickets are available at: https://coolidge.org/films/through-night
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Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
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JOBS:
The Associate Director of Advocacy will lead the center’s development and research-based advocacy projects and initiatives that respond to current and emerging campaigns and racial justice movements.The individual should have a record of organizing and policy change work, and experience cultivating a network of activists, influencers, policymakers, institutions, and organizations to challenge racist systems, structures, policies, and practices.
The Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) is seeking a manager for their new Center for Action and Learning. This Center looks to build a national network of organizations around the country to develop their ability to build and engage in parent leadership.
The CHAI Works Day Program is a fast-paced and fun program for adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome. We are looking for energetic, compassionate, and dedicated staff to join our team. This position is great for someone who has work/volunteer/lived experience, or who is eager to enter the field and learn.
The Boston Public Health Commission is seeking a contractor guide and build foundational structures to better integrate health equity into City of Boston policies.
The Patient Navigator Network at the Boston Medical Center is looking for a Program Manager to work with pediatric providers to help families overcome barriers to health. We encourage BPOC and bilingual/bicultural in Haitian Creole or Spanish to apply.
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TRAINING PROGRAMS:
This is a full-time, 12-week training program with job placement support. Program Start: February 22, 2021
This is a full time, 8-week training program with job placement support. Program Start: January 2021
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Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.
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VVN Wellness Bank Resource Guide |
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The Wellness Idea Bank is a comprehensive and community-driven guide for those in the Greater Boston Area that helps collect events, ideas, and resources for supporting wellness and social connections. Please check out the new January edition of our community-created Resource Guide, tailored to and focused on relevant and time-sensitive resources for residents of the Greater Boston Area here.
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Connections and Healing:
The Community Advocacy Program provides support to survivors of intimate partner violence remotely; carefully and safely providing crisis intervention, safety planning guidance, emotional support, referrals to community resources and advocacy via hotline. If you are a provider or an agency that feels it could be a mutually beneficial connection with our program, please reach out to us at 857-303-9047.
Lawyers for Civil Rights connects affected workers with volunteers who can help complete the unemployment application in English and Spanish resources available here and free legal support to small businesses affected by the pandemic located here.
In this article, American Academy of Pediatrics offers tools on how you can improve you and your family's health amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.
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For Children:
Pre-register for BPS online
Families can now pre-register for BPS online. Pre-registration allows you to complete the majority of your registration paperwork online, including ranking your school choices for next year. Pre-registration allows you to save time during BPS Priority Registration, which starts on January 5, 2021 for grades K0, K1, 6, 7, and 9.
NEW AS OF 2020: All BPS Welcome Centers are temporarily closed to the public due to the pandemic. You can now upload your required residency verification documents when you pre-register online! Learn about How to Pre-Register for BPS here.
CreatedBy e-Festival 2020: Video Library The video library below has been graciously created by amazing educators, creators, makers, artists, and do-ers from the Greater Boston Area and beyond. Please enjoy! – The Boston Children’s Museum Team
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Check out the NEWEST ADDITION:
Updated meal pick-up sites throughout Boston that are available for everyone 18 years and younger!
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Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to communications about vaccines!
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Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
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The Abundance App 3.0.1 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!
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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:
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Monday: Nearby community resources
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Wednesday: Wellness tips
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Friday: Family-fun events
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Our Mission
Vital Village is a network of residents and agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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Share with Us
Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?
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Stay Connected
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