"“If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
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Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from around our community |
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In December of 2022, Nieisha Deed was awarded the Vital Village Innovation Award for her pioneering work for black mental health in Boston and unfaltering drive to improve the community’s well being.
Nieisha Deed is a Boston native, educated at Howard University, with over fifteen years of experience as a corporate accounting professional. Due to her personal and familial struggles with mental health, including living with bipolar disorder and surviving a suicide attempt in 2017, Nieisha decided a change was due. She redirected her skills and drive to helping black Bostonians with their mental health and wellbeing. In September of 2021, born out of her passion to help others, Nieisha launched PureSpark.
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Additionally, connect with PureSpark on social media: |
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Connect with Vital Village Networks at these upcoming events |
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April Network Connection Meeting 2023
Parent Leadership for Educational Equity
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Monday, April 10th 2023 I 5:30-7:30 PM EST |
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Parent leaders will share strategies for organizing and advocating to achieve educational equity. Members of the Boston School Committee will join us for an open discussion on avenues for transformative change. |
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This virtual meeting will take place in English and Spanish. Esta reunión virtual se lleva a cabo en inglés y español
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Taking Action During Black Maternal Health Week 2023
Boston GLOWING: Ensuring Equity & Beauty for All Birthing Families
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Boston Glowing let's reimagine what it looks like for Boston families to welcome their little ones into the world. Join us in designing systems and spaces that welcome Boston babies into the world in beauty and joy. Join the conversation!
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My 'Self' In The World:
Children's Mental Health Storytimes
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Thursday, 3:30-4:00 PM EST |
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Check out available resources relevant to children and families |
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Read Together:
DommiesBlessed garden themed Book List For April
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Resource for Talking to Children about the Shootings
by the National Traumatic Stress Network
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Shootings can evoke many emotions—sadness, grief, helplessness, anxiety, and anger. Children who are struggling with their thoughts and feelings about the stories and images of the shooting may turn to trusted adults for help and guidance. See this resource sheet for tips on talking to children about shootings. |
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Baby Cafe's and Breastfeeding Groups
by the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition
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Need lactation support? Or is someone you know struggling with breastfeeding? Come to one of our virtual, in-person, or hybrid drop-in support groups around Boston! Our groups offer professional lactation counseling, fun playgroups for your young child, and support for anyone struggling with the ups and downs of parenting. Scan the QR code or click the link to register! |
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Click the button to register! |
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Making Wealth Possible for Al |
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Commonwealth, a non-profit research organization, is recruiting participants to be part of their research on new stock market investors. Participants who sign up for a free investing account will receive $150 in that account to get started investing. That money is yours to keep.
As a participant in this research, you’ll consent to Commonwealth temporarily collecting data from the platforms on your investing activities to better understand the behavior of new investors.
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Requirements for participation: |
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● You have a checking account with your bank |
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● Your annual household income is between $30,000 and $80,000 |
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● You have access to a smartphone or tablet and an internet connection |
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● You are interested in investing in the stock market |
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Interested in participating? Fill out this short survey, and Commonwealth will follow up with you through the email address you provide in the survey.
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Saturday, May 6, 2023 | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM EST |
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From Stronger Generations: We are planning to host a free “yard sale” for young families (any family in the Boston area who is expecting a child and/or with kid(s) 0 - 5 years old). Our first is planned for Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11 am to 1 pm at the BCYF Curtis Hall (20 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130). At the event, parents will have the chance to get free resources such as a grocery gift card, kids clothing, kids books, diapers, wipes, hygiene kits, and supplies for the summer (sunscreen, kids sunglasses, toys), and more! |
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Phone/ Tablet Free Internet! |
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^There will be a table at the Stronger Generations BCYF event where families can sign up for free or low cost tablets/internet/phones
Note for comms team - both of these flyers are also available in Spanish and Haitian Creole. Milan has these and can share as the newsletter is being drafted.
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Learn more about events and resources by our partners and community organizations |
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Housing Search Workshop
Free Workshop
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Thursday, March 30, April 13th |
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Every other Thursday, the Office of Housing Stability (OHS) hosts an in-person housing search workshop. Free.
Address:__1 CITY HALL SQUARE
___________ROOM 705
___________BOSTON, MA 02201-2006
Phone:____617-635-4200
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Boston Tuition Free Community College Plan
Three Years of Tuition and Fees for Boston Residents
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Interested in earning an associates degree or short-term certificate? Attend a Tuition Free Community College Plan partner college and get it for free! The plan pays for up to three years of tuition and fees for Boston residents. |
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Thomas J Ruffen Community Leadership Fund
Do you have a proposal?
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The Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund is now accepting applications for funding of new programs, initiatives, campaigns, projects, organizational start-up costs, etc, up to a maximum of $10,000 each! |
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Explore data from across the United States |
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Endorsement Coordinator, IECMH |
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The MSPCC/MassAIMH Partnership team is growing! MSPCC, a division of Eliot, is currently seeking a candidate with two years experience or more to work closely with MassAIMH to strengthen, diversify and support the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health workforce. Seeking a bilingual bicultural candidate who speaks Spanish along with proficiency in English to support the Endorsement system in MA.
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Multiple seasonal and full time positions |
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- Lynn, MA Assistant Grower - $20 to $21/hour dependent on experience
- Boston, MA Assistant Grower - $20 to $21/hour dependent on experience
- Crew Leader Positions - $18/hour
- Greater Boston (moves between Boston and Lincoln, MA)
- North Shore (moves between Lynn and Wenham, MA)
- North Shore Operations Coordinator - $19/hour (moves between Lynn and Wenham, MA)
- Boston Farm Worker - $18/hour
- Wenham Farm Worker - $18/hour
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- North Shore Youth Development Manager (moves between Lynn and Wenham) - $48 to $62.4K
- Wenham Field Manager (Wenham, MA) - $48 to $56.5K
- Communications Manager - $48 to $60K
- Development Associate - $42 to $45K
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We wanted to share that our organization has several full time and seasonal positions that are open here at The Food Project. If you have any questions, please reach out to jobs@thefoodproject.org.
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Clinician and Family Advocate |
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Smart empowers families and communities with the tools, resources and support they need to break cycles of chronic school underachievement and generational poverty. Email cherie@smartfromthestart.org and samantha@smartfromthestart.org for more information on the positions and how to apply.
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Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center Camps with locations in Mattapan and West Roxbury Join a team that brings caring, passionate people together to make a real impact on the next generation of environmental leaders
Hiring ages 16 and above
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Explore data from across the United States |
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal initiative that supports individuals and families by increasing food budgets and expanding access to healthy food. In March 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded SNAP benefits to include Emergency Allotments that increased financial supports for food budgets and enabled more caregivers to provide their children with nutritious foods. On March 1, 2023, these additional Emergency Allotments expired, initiating a rapid reduction in benefits for up to 16 million families.
In a recent write-up for STAT News, Children’s Health Watch’s Dr. Megan Sandel and Charlotte Bruce highlight the critical, urgent need to increase SNAP benefits and expand eligibility. Bruce and Sandel write that expanding SNAP is proven to not only reduce hunger for families, but also improve nutrition outcomes that are critical for the physical and neurological development of young children, reduce emergency room visits, and even slow the state of Massachusetts’ overall Medicaid costs.
On April 4, Governor Martha Healy announced that Massachusetts will temporarily expand state SNAP benefits for three months, allowing families to receive up to 40% of their COVID-19 Emergency Allotments on April 7, May 2 and June 2. While this is a step forward, advocacy is needed at the federal level to institutionalize SNAP expansions in the upcoming Farm Bill that will be reviewed this year, and to advance child tax credits, medicaid expansion, and other material supports that address intersectional social determinants of health for children.
Reference: Megan Sandel and Charlotte Bruce. Rolling back SNAP benefits puts millions of children at risk of hunger and long-term health consequences. Published March 28, 2023 in STAT News.
For more information about Children’s Health Watch: https://childrenshealthwatch.org/
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Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?
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Vital Village Networks is a network of residents and agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community well-being. |
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