NETWORK CONNECTOR NEWSLETTER
Volume 4, Issue 11; November 2017
Vital Village News
Upcoming Events:
  • November 13, 6-8pm: November Network Connection Meeting (register here!)
  • November 16, 12-2pm: Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting
  • November 21, 6-8pm: Trauma Training with Boston Public Health Commission 
  • December 11, 6-8pm: December Network Connection Meeting
  • December 18, 5:30-8pm: Managing Bias in Mediations with Boston Law Collaborative

     

All of the events listed above will be located at 72 E Concord St, Boston, MA 02118.
Around the Network
BPS Cares: Unidos por Puerto Rico y el Caribe
The Boston Public Schools (BPS) is hosting  Pop-Up Centers for families who have been displaced by the recent Hurricanes in Puerto Rico or the Caribbean and are looking to register their child(ren) in to the Boston Public Schools and obtain access to important resources to help families get settled.  Click Here to view hours and locations .

Social Emotional Learning for Massachusetts (SEL4MA): Promoting Effective SEL in Your Community 
Join social-emotional learning advocates from across your region and discover approaches for developing an effective SEL plan for your school, district, or community. 
When: Wednesday, November 8th, 8am-3:30pm
Where: Old Rochester Regional Junior High School,  133 Marion Road
Mattapoisett, MA 02739
More Information

RTSC's 6th Annual Making A Difference Conference: A Community Approach to Trauma Sensitivity
FREE registration available: type "Vital Village" in the comment box when registering! Our very own Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett will be speaking.
When : November 14,
8:00am-3:30pm
Register by: November 7
Where : Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center
181 Boston Post Rd W, 
Marlborough, MA 01752

Around the City
Our Shared Table: MIRA's 13th annual Thanksgiving luncheon
Who: Massachusetts
Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
WhenNovember 21, 
11:30 AM-1:00 PM
Where :
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02133


Managing Your Finances Workshop 
Northeastern Crossing has partnered with the Vincita Institute to bring this special financial education program to local community participants.
When: November 18th, 10am-12:30pm
Where: 1175 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02120


Free Women's Self Defense Training 
Boston Dads' Group is hosting a training for women/girls over age 14 by trainers from Impact Boston on International Women's Self-Defense Day.
When :  November 18, 1:30-3:30pm
Where : Nonprofit Center
89 South St
Boston, MA 02111
Village Voices

What would happen if you texted KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8? 
Vital  Village  is excited to offer a free texting service, in which users will receive information about: 
  • Community resources (Mondays)
  • Useful youth wellness tips (Wednesdays)
  • Fun family activities (Fridays) 

To subscribe, please text KIDS to 88588. You can also join the Facebook page here or check out the map hereTo give feedback on what information you'd like to hear about or to share resources you know about, e-mail vitalvillage@bmc.org with the subject "CONtexts" or post on the Facebook page.       



Social Justice Mediation Institute

In the past month of October, 23 participants completed 40 hours of training at the Social Justice Mediation Institute! Mediators learned conflict resolution skills that acknowledge identity and power when solving problems with family, friends, in the work place, and in volunteer meditations. VVN Mediators are meeting regularly and will soon be able to provide free meditation services in the community. 
Email  vvnmediators@gmail.com  with any requests or questions.


VVCP: Neighborhood Kits Project

The   Vital Village Community Partnership (VVCP) is seeking resources for child and family enrichment in the community for their Neighborhood Kits Project!  If you have any handouts, materials or other resources to include, please bring them to the Monday, November 13th Network Connection Meeting or email  desiree.hartman@bmc.org .
Job Opportunities
Fathers' Uplift, Inc. Now Hiring Clinicians 
Description: Father's Uplift, Inc. is seeking dynamic clinicians who are interested in working with fathers and individuals experiencing fatherlessness.   More Information.


Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) Seeking Resident Theatre Teaching Artist
Descrip tion: The Resident Theatre Teaching Artist is  respo nsible for co- teaching theatre to a group of teens in the  ensemble-based theatre program, ¡Acción! Community  Theatre (ACT!).  S/he   is present during specific program hours and is available d uring occasional performances and events. Additional planning and administrative hours are flexible. Email Eva Farrell, Theatre Programs Coordinator, at  Eva@HydeSquare.org for more information .

Scoop on the Stats
Physical Activity is Associated with Academic Achievement
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 83.3% of students who receive mostly As are more likely to be active than students who receive mostly Ds and Fs. One way to increase children's amount of activity is walking to school, as long as it is safe.

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) promotes a collaborative, community-focused approach that fosters mutual partnerships between advocacy groups, law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments that all work together to promote safer routes for elementary and middle school students to get to school. October 4th, 2017 was International Walk to School Day (iWalk) and thousands of elementary and middle school students throughout Massachusetts participated, including schools in our Boston neighborhoods such as, King, Haynes Early Education Center, Higginson-Lewis, David A Ellis Elementary, Haley Pilot School, Patrick Lyndon School, and Josiah Quincy School. 

If you missed out on this year's iWalk event, you can participate on Massachusetts Walk and Bike to School Day taking place the first Wednesday of May! Email erin.reed@dot.state.ma.us to get your school involved.

Belmont Chenery Middle School participating in iWalk

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