"Ableism is connected to all our struggles because it undergirds notions of whose bodies are considered valuable, desirable and disposable."
- Mia Mingus
Writer and Community Organizer for Transformative Justice
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If you would like to read our Spanish Network Connector Newsletter, you can access it here! |
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Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community.
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Listening is powerful. This month we would like to highlight the digital stories authored by young parenting Latinas residing in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Our partners at UMass Amherst created the “Hear Our Stories: Diasporic Youth for Sexual Rights and Justice” program which uses digital storytelling to examine sexual and reproductive health disparities. We invite you to listen to their digital stories shared here.
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An Invitation to be in Community
The recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Ruling of the United State Supreme Court will have an immense impact on individuals, families, and communities. Reproductive justice and access to community resources and services are key to advancing health equity and supporting the wellbeing of children, families, and communities. Our work as a network is rooted in centering, honoring, and respecting the dignity of children and families. We are all unique, from different walks of life, with different life experiences and perspectives and we don’t agree on all things and this makes our work as a network beautiful, complex, and powerful. Here, all voices matter. We invite you to join us and other network leaders in conversation about what these decisions mean for you and the families you partner with, uplift, and support, as well as, share resources to support collective actions underway.
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Would you like to co-host or help design space for dialogue?
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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.
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Black Indigenous People of Color Mental Health Month |
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"For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), generations of trauma, systemic racism, and cultural barriers lead to resilience looking very different than what we have taken it to mean in our society... While resilience can be developed, we should consider how some have no choice but to be resilient. For BIPOC such as myself, being resilient is an act of resistance and survival, while we also celebrate the joys across and within each community."
-Gustavo A. Molinar "(Re)Defining Resilience: A perspective of 'toughness' in BIPOC Communities"
To learn more about how individual cultures can impact individual resilience, what protective factors exist from culture to culture, and how individuals, practitioners, and communities can address mental health, please see here. The link includes guides for Black/African American, AAPI, Latinx/Hispanic, Multiracial, and Arab/Middle Eastern/South Asian communities.
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Disability Pride is a chance to focus on honoring and accepting disabled individuals, as well as working towards a more equitable and accessible world. To learn more about Massachusetts-area organizations contributing to this cause, you can click the button below: |
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Purposeful parenting/caregiving is no being the perfect parent. Rather, "it is more about cultivating a willingness to think purposefully about the impact your actions have on your child’s growth." (Bonnie McClure, Psych Central) This can be striving to provide opportunities for growth and nurturing a positive bond with a child. |
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July is National Black Family Month |
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We would like to share some resources for families that provide guidance on how to promote joy, resilience, and positive racial identities for children. |
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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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July Scholar Support Night
July 27th
6:00-7:30pm EST
Join us on Wednesday, June 27th, for our monthly Scholar Support Night!
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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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Through July and August
Varying times
The Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment is offering free financial coaching at the Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment! The courses tackle a variety of topics, including Introduction to Financial Coaching and Credit Building Workshop, Homebuyer Readiness Workshops (available in Spanish), and Saving for College workshops, to name a few. To see the months ahead, read descriptions of the courses, and register, see the official calendar here.
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Every Friday from July through September 2nd
6:00AM - 8:00PM EST
This program is an extension of the "Can We Talk? Community Conversations on Trauma and Healing" Program Hosted by the Roxbury YMCA, aimed specifically at youth.
If you are an adult interested in this program, you can join on Zoom on Thursdays (except on July 21st, which is in-person). To learn more, please go here.
If you are a youth interested in participating in this program, please go here or view the flyer attached.
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Monday, July 25
6:30PM - 7:30PM over Zoom
The Roxbury Social Impact Center continues offering the opportunity to share YOUR story and experiences AND/OR to witness and listen to others. Everyone is welcome! You can choose to share in words, music, or poetry. The Artists-in-Residence will also offer their music. Learn more to join here!
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Summer Celebrations, Opportunities, and Events
Through July and August
Varying times
Join us for interactive stories for children told by professional storytellers! The program is best suited for kids ages 3-8 years old, but the whole family is welcome. Every child who attends takes home a free book. Learn more here!
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Through July and August
Varying times
Learn more about the variety of events sponsored by the City of Boston that are happening all over the city this summer! From the Tito Puente Latin Music Series, park movie nights, puppet shows, and arts and crafts for children, the City has much to offer this summer. Learn More Here!
Through July and August
Varying times
Are you interested in cooling off during this summer heat? Visit a BCYF swimming pool near you! Not only can you take a swim, but the BCYF pools are offering a variety of programs - including swimming lessons and community enrichment programs, - water safety classes, and youth programs and camps. Learn More Here!
Through July and August
Varying times
All Access Boston Harbor offers fun, FREE day trips for youth and teens ages 7-17 that provide youth groups from community organizations to visit DCR’s Spectacle Island and Georges Island during July and August. You can download an informational packet here, or sign up here!
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Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
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Technology Goes Home Scholarship /
Becas de Technology Goes Home
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Are you interested in applying to a Scholarship through Technology Goes Home? If you have any questions or would like to apply, please email Amy Sanchez at Amainaris.Sanchez@bmc.org
¿Le interesaría solicitar la beca de Tech Goes Home? Si tiene preguntas o le gustaría recibir la solicitud, por favor mande un correo a Amy Sanchez a Amainaris.Sanchez@bmc.org
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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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New American Integration Program (NAIP) AmeriCorps Member
As an AmeriCorps member serving in the New American Integration Program, you will join a cohort of up to 30 NAIP members to serve at partner sites across Massachusetts to provide job readiness training, ESOL/civics instruction, and/or citizenship application assistance. For the 2022-2023 AmeriCorps service year, BCNC will host two NAIP members at two separate locations – one in Boston and one in Quincy.
Click on the flyer to download and learn more! You can also press the button to go to the application directly.
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JOBS:
The Family Mobility Program Coordinator will be primarily responsible for coordinating and supporting Family Mobility initiatives that move families towards economic independence (i.e., Job Readiness Workshops, parenting supports, coaching). Please reach out to Ella Zimbalist with any questions!
This position will bring the voice of those with lived child welfare experience into program planning and implementation to improve outcomes for the children and families engaged in the Safe Babies Court TeamTM (SBCT) approach. If you are a parent with lived-experience in child welfare and are interested in being a parent leader, please complete this Interest Form.
TSNE (tsne.org) is working to build a more just, equitable society of belonging. TSNE does this by providing capacity building services, consulting and training services, and operational support to hundreds of nonprofits, foundations, community-based groups, and others working for social change. As part of its work, TSNE is hiring for a cohort learning program manager. The starting salary is 85K and TSNE is looking to hire as soon as possible. Apply here!
INTERSHIPS and PROGRAMS:
The scope of work for this internship will include supporting two community initiatives - OFJ’s Community Grant program and the Boston Food Access Council Mayor’s Food Access Agenda. This intern will work closely with the Deputy Director of the Office of Food Justice but may be asked to contribute to other work in the office. See more here!
Boston immigrants who want to become leaders in the community can now apply for this opportunity through the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement. Through a 12-week course, 20 selected residents will meet key City of Boston officials and learn how to effectively navigate local government. Ideal candidates are emerging leaders committed to advocating for their immigrant community. Register for a virtual information session on July 30 from 10-11 am; and apply by August 7. Learn more here!
VOLUNTEER:
Leah Wing (Co-Founder of Social Justice Mediation Program/ UMass) is developing the Kapok app to improve efficiency and communication among medical responders working in disaster situations. Leah is looking to bring on a Program Manager (5-6 hrs per week) and a Mobile App Developer (5-10 hrs per week) who can help finalize and deploy the app.
Program Managers will lead a team of student developers and are required to have programming knowledge with Flutter and either Javascript, Java, Python, C or C++ Node.js.
Program Developers are required to have experience with Flutter and Dart; object-oriented programming languages; programming for Android or iOS; Firebase; and experience with remote data via REST and JSON.
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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Battling the Heat: Tips from the City of Boston |
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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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What Does it Mean that Roe v. Wade was Overturned? |
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On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court Ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ended federal protection for a right to an abortion that had been upheld by the landmark Roe v. Wade Ruling. Practically, this means the legality of abortion is now a states' rights issue, and therefore states can decide to what extent - if at all - abortion is legal within the state.
What does this mean for reproductive healthcare and health equity?
There are multiple reasons as to why the right of abortion being left up to states may impact health, wellness, and health equity. Access to reproductive health care will now vary by state of residence, access to resources and economic circumstances. This will have implications for equity for all birthing people, and this includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, transgender men and gender non-conforming people, people of color and lower income communities. At times, an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the birthing parent or in cases where the fetus is not viable, but not yet born. The legal reasoning behind the Dobbs v Jackson Ruling also has potential implications for other rights, such as the rights to privacy, same-sex marriage, and contraception.
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Some states, such as Massachusetts, announced a sanctuary. Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order to "protect reproductive health care providers who serve out of state residents." As such, MA will not comply with requests from other states to pursue non-MA residents who came to MA to receive abortion care. You can read the full executive order here.
The Center for Reproductive Rights has published a map explaining which states have what specific laws at the current time. This map demonstrates the controversy of this decision nationwide, as more and more states join Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and California to expand their protections for both in-state and out-of-state patients.
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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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Update! CONtexts: Community Resources on Health & Nearby Fun Promotes positive outcomes for caregivers and children ages 0-5 by sharing resources through a FREE text service and interactive map. CONtexts is temporarily under construction until further notice. Please see our social media for resources.
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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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