Network Connector, Volume 1, Issue 4; July 2014





Network Connector 
A monthly newsletter brought to you by the Vital Village Network.
 
Volume 1, Issue 4 - July 2014
Vital Village Network's Unsung Hero Award goes to...
 
 Vivien Morris, MS,  RD, MPH, LDN





In recognition of outstanding dedication, commitment, and extraordinary creativity used to maximizing child, family and community wellbeing.Vivien is the Senior Project Manager for Boston Health Equity Goals at the Boston Public Health Commission and was previously the Director of Community Initiatives for the Nurturing and Fitness for Life Program at the Boston Medical Centerwhere she oversaw nutrition eductation and fitness programs and projects to improve access to healthy, affordable foods and physical activity needs in under-served communities. A well deserved CONGRATULATIONS to Vivien for all of her outstanding work!
Mattapan Square Farmers' Market and Mobile Market
Our Unsung Hero is also the Chairperson of Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC), which hosts the Mattapan Square Farmers' Market on Saturdays through October from 10:00AM-1:00PM. 
Join Mayor Walsh on Saturday, July 12th to celebrate the Mattapan Square Farmers' Market grand opening! A brief program with the Mayor and other political leaders will take place from 10:30-11:00AM. 

And don't forget to pick up some delicious produce while you're there!
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative Events

We are so excited by the work of our friends at DSNI, who have mobilized Caring Adults in the neighborhood to serve as Reading Buddies for Dudley Street Charter School elementary scholars 1-2 times a week!

Through a collaboration with the Food Project and
the Boston Children's Museum, DSNI is putting on a Pop-Up Spot every Thursday on the Dudley Town Common. Come learn, grow, and discover the Power of Playwith fun activities for the whole family!
Trauma-Informed Practices in Group Well Child Care

Our innovative partners at Codman Square Health Center have incorporated a new trauma-informed curriculum piece into their group well-child visits as a way to explain both neuroscience and toxic stress to new mothers using the Hand Model of the Brain created by Dr. Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell.

Flipping Your Lid:
1. Make a fist with your thumb tucked inside your fingers. This is a model of your brain - your fist is the brain and your forearm is the spinal cord.
2. Your thumb is the midbrain, the "emotional brain."
3. The back of your hand and fingers is the cerebral cortex, the "rational brain."
4. Sometimes the emotions of the midbrain are too overwhelming, our flight-or-flight response triggers, and we"flip our lid."

Think: What makes YOU flip your lid? What makes your child flip their lid? What can you do for yourself and your child to help? Click here for more info.
In This Issue

 Vital Village Unsung Hero Award

 Mattapan Square Farmers' Market
 DSNI Pop Up Spot & Reading Buddies
 Trauma-Informed Group Care
Network Connection Meeting
 
Upcoming Network Connection Meeting!

 When: Monday, July 14, 2014
 Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
 Location: Boston Children's Museum
 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA
 Meeting Highlights:
  • Recognize our Unsung Hero Award winner
  • Introduce The Black Fatherhood Project film screening
  • Debrief from the Social Justice Mediation Training
Our Team is Growing!
 
Please join us in welcoming Morgan Brockington, our Outreach Health Educator, to the Vital Village team!

Morgan will be working to support the Innovations in Group Well-Child Visits pilot project at Codman Square.
 Contact Us

Vital Village Network
Boston Medical Center
Boston University School of Medicine
88 East Newton Street, Vose Hall
Boston, MA 02118
 
Renée Boynton-Jarrett, Director
renee.boyntonjarrett@bmc.org

Tania Rivera, Project Manager
tania.rivera@bmc.org
  
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