“Real leadership is not just the act of being in charge...it also is quiet space with others who are trying to develop their leadership skills...to be there for them, to help them to grow."
– Tamika D. Mallory
Activist, Co-chair of the 2017 and 2019 Women's March, Changemaker and Author
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Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community.
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Thank you to everyone who attended and was a part of the National Community Leadership Summit! |
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Opportunities and ways to stay connected post-Summit
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Register for our November 17 NOW Workshop, "Food as a Public Work," with Pantaleon Florez III of Maseualkualli Farms and VVN 2022 Community Food Systems Fellow. This dynamic workshop on the Food As a Public Work Campaign seeks to reintegrate private lands into public commons while enacting food and agricultural producer justice via a targeted universalism approach. Register here.
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Apply for the 2023 Community Food Systems Fellowship: Are you a community food systems advocate in your local region? We encourage you to apply or nominate someone for our 2023 program, focused on supporting community leaders from various communities across the country who are committed to food justice and equity in the food system. Deadline is November 7, 2022. Apply today.
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Learn more about VVN’s 2023 Data Storytelling Workshop Series: Join this series from January to April 2023 focused on building capacity to create and share stories that support social change using data tools. Register here for an introductory call on December 7, 2022 at 5:30 - 6:30pm ET.
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We are currently accepting nominations for our 2022 Unsung Hero Award! We're looking for a community leader who's doing exceptional work in their community or organization to promote child and family wellness. Know someone who deserves more recognition? Nominate them here.
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Federal Student Loan Forgiveness |
The Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Application website is open!
Although the initiative has been put on pause due to a lawsuit from 6 US states (you can learn more here), this does not mean that you shouldn't fill the application out. The White House encourages individuals to fill the application out if they have not already.
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The International Dyslexia Association declared October to be Dyslexia Awareness Month in 2002. The goal of this month is to educate families, caregivers, and teachers on how to better include children with dyslexia in the classroom and learning process by being more flexible and recognizing learning diversity and neurodiversity.
Dyslexia is a difficulty with reading, but typically has no correlation to intelligence. It includes issues with recognizing letters and sounds in words, as well as decreased fluency in reading or writing.
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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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October Scholar Support Night |
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October Mental Health Committee Meeting |
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Children's Mental Health Storytime
Thursday, October 27
3:30pm - 4:00pm EST
Sessions are designed for families with children 3-8 years old, however, younger and older siblings are welcome to join the fun! **We require a caregiver register and join the child during the session.**
At the end of our session, there will be an opportunity for Q&A and resource sharing with parents/caregivers. If you are interested in learning more about the Children's Mental Health Storytime Toolkit, please email Amainaris.sanchez@bmc.org
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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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Wednesday, October 26th at 1:30pm
The first-ever Massachusetts Coaching Academy on Resilience & Trauma (CART) will help support communities in addressing trauma, fostering healing, and building resilience to ensure all children and families can thrive. Learn all about CART and how YOU can become a Certified Trauma-Responsive Community leader at our upcoming informational webinar on Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m.! The webinar will discuss how you can learn more about trauma-responsive strategies and receive up to $20,000 for your community-based team.
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Monday, October 31
6pm - 8pm EST
Halloween is known as a day of fun and mischief, but we're making it one of service too! Join SPARK Boston at Women's Lunch Place, Back Bay's premiere day shelter for unhoused women to see their incredible programs in a whole new light. Over drinks and snacks, you can learn more about their incredible work empowering this vulnerable community and how you can get involved as a volunteer or a member of their Young Professionals program. Costumes are encouraged - it is a Halloween party after all!
You can support WLP by bringing a pair of new socks, gift card to Dunkin' or Starbucks, or another high need in-kind donation item. We'll also be doing an on-site service project as part of the event. So tell your friends and get your spooky season on with SPARK Boston!
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Mattapan Hugs and Play
10:30am to 12:30pm
Held every other Wednesday (next group September 28th)
Join the Mattapan Family Engagement Network for Mattapan Hugs and Play, a parent/caregiver and child playgroup for infants and toddlers! Included will be circle time, story time, independent play, as well as education about child development for parents and caregivers.
Please email hugsandplay@gmail.com with any questions.
This event is held at the Mattapan Public Library at 1350 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan MA 02126
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Taller Salud is a community based feminist organization dedicated to improving women’s access to health care, to reducing violence within the community and to encourage economic growth through education and activism. Founded in 1979, Taller Salud is an independent, non-government based, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
PayPal: @TallerSaludINC
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Techos Pa' Mi Gente (TPMG Corp.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the construction of decent roofs and the rehabilitation of homes in communities affected by natural disasters. It contributes to improving the quality of life of the individuals that make up these communities. Promotes self-management and provides training in basic construction skills to build resilience.
PayPal: @techospamigente
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Corporation La Fondita de Jesús is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to transforming the lives of the homeless and those who live in vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico.
PayPal: @LaFonditaDeJesus
PayPal: @bancodealimentopr
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PayPal: @brigadasolidaria
PayPal: @fundacionsinlimites
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Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
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Free Wi-Fi Routers Available from the Boston Public Library
The Office of Housing Stability is partnering with the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Boston Public Library (BPL) to provide residents who need internet service with a free wi-fi router. BPL will also be able to provide free Chromebooks when funding is allocated.
To sign up, you will need to follow the instructions below:
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You will need an active and accessible email account. If you do not have an email account, you can sign up for a free Gmail account at www.gmail.com.
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You will need a Boston Public Library card number. If you do not have a BPL card/number, you may sign up for an e-card at bpl.org/ecard.
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Once you have your email and library card, go to bpl.org/long-term-lending to complete the request for a router and/or Chromebook.
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Pick up your router at the Office of Housing Stability, located at 43 Hawkins Street. Call (617) 635-0328 or email OHSIntake@boston.gov for more information.
If you do not have access to a device to complete the above steps, you may use a computer at a Boston Public Library.
The routers will have free connectivity at least until the end of June 2023 and are anticipated for longer. Act quickly! These devices are limited in number! After receiving devices, sign up for free computer and technology classes at www.bpl.org/computer-classes or call (617) 859-2323.
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JOBS:
Accompany Doula Care is looking for an Executive Director. This position is a full-time exempt employee, who is committed to addressing inequities in birth work and has the ability to support our diverse, dynamic, and growing organization. If you have a background in development and nonprofit management, an interest in working in a non-profit start-up environment, and a passion for maternal and child health or public health, we would like to meet you! Learn more here.
PROGRAMS and GRANTS:
Applications close Monday, November 7, 2022 at 12:00am ET
Are you a community food systems advocate in your local region? Do you know someone who is doing innovative food systems work that centers community leadership? If so, we encourage you to apply or nominate someone for our 2023 Community Food Systems Fellowship! We are looking for emerging community leaders from various communities across the country who are committed to food justice and equity in the food system.
PowerCorpsBOS is a green jobs program that provides young adults with training, career readiness support, and connections to employers in the green industry. An “earn and learn” program, PowerCorpsBOS pays members to participate in hands-on training that prepares them for living-wage careers. Over the course of its 6-month training program, PowerCorpsBOS teaches Corps members a variety of transferrable soft skills and technical forestry skills that can be used in the green industry and beyond. For their commitment, Corps members are paid $15.75/hour at 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday, 8:30-3:30) and also receive a monthly T pass. Learn more at the website here, or download a flyer here.
The Grassroots Fund's grant programs are designed to energize and nurture long term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and environmentally sustainable communities. We offer three grant programs for different types of groups:
- Seed grants are designed to support new (often less than 1 year old) environmental projects.
- Grow grants support initiatives that look to deepen their work or broaden participation.
- The Young Leaders program supports efforts with significant leadership by organizers under 25 years old.
Learn more here about the different types of grants.
VOLUNTEER:
Youth Transitions Task Force
The Youth Transitions Task Force plans to continue the conversation around early college and career alongside our current work on dropout prevention and re-engagement integrations.
Please contact Inanna.Pickering@bostonpic.org if you would like to be added to the calendar invitations for our monthly meetings on Thursdays from 9:00-10:30am.
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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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Now that temperatures are dropping once again, below are some resources to help combat the Boston late fall/early winter cold. |
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Community Choice Electricity provided by the City of Boston allows residents (renters and homeowners) to opt into 100% clean, renewable electricity through their normal utility provider while paying a lower rate. Similar programs are run through Somerville, Cambridge, Chelsea, and other MA cities.
Eversource is raising the cost of electricity from $0.15 to 0.17 per KwH for Boston residents on July 1. The Community Choice renewable electricity rates are 20-40% lower and are capped through December 2023.
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Find COVID-19 Testing Near You find your nearest testing site, including many with walk-in availability at boston.gov. Regular COVID-19 testing, both when sick and asymptomatic, can help prevent community spread of the virus, so we appreciate you taking advantage of these opportunities!
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For Children and Caregivers:
HandholdMA.org, is a family friendly website designed for parents of school-aged children in Massachusetts who are worried about their child’s mental health. Is your kid just being a kid, or is their behavior something to worry about? If so, what are the next steps you can take? HandHold will help you figure that out.
Sitters for Scholars, our volunteers are prepared to provide high-quality babysitting in person for children while parents pursue their education. To maintain the safest environment, both sitters and parents will be required to be vaccinated and boosted, and all individuals, including children two years and up, will also be required to wear a mask. You can sign up here, or see more information here.
Find your ideal therapist of color and boost your wellness journey with content written by and for people of color.
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Scoop on the Stats
Explore data from across the United States
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This study, conducted by Children's Health Watch and the Boston University School of Public Health, demonstrates that the Child Tax Credits (CTC) corresponded with increased food security.
The authors write that, "national data show that parents report spending the monthly CTC payments on food, utilities, rent, clothing, and educational expenses.12 A growing body of research13-16 indicates that the advance CTC monthly payments were associated with reductions in the child poverty rate and financial hardship among households with children and with improved dietary quality for children. Prior research10 using nationally representative data showed a 26% decrease in food insufficiency among households with children after introduction of CTC payments in July 2021. This cross-sectional study examines changes in household food insufficiency following the first missed advance monthly CTC payments in 2022."
The findings of this study suggest that there was an increase in food insufficiency among households with children after they stopped receiving monthly CTC payments. Given the importance of food security and lifelong health outcomes, the authors recommend that "Congress should consider swift action to reinstate this policy."
If you are interested, you can read the entire report here.
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Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
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The UPDATED 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!
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The COVID-19 Resource Map now has updated addresses and hours of over 90 locations in Boston currently provide free breakfast, lunch or dinner for youth, and 10 free community fridges open to the public 24/7.
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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 844-806-0616
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We Did it Together!
Collective actions and investments.
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Thank you for championing our shared mission to expand a collective responsibility for all children |
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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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