Village Voices
Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community. 
Black Breastfeeding Week 2019
On Thursday August 29, over 50 people celebrated Black Breastfeeding Week at the Dewitt Center . Co-hosted by the Vital Village Network Boston Breastfeeding Coalition and Boston Association for Childbirth Education & Nursing Mothers' Council , the event included eight local business vendors, a movie screening of the Chocolate Milk Documentary© , and a panel discussion with Boston caregivers. Panelist Anthonina Fenelon said, “I knew what I was doing was right, and with the right support I am reaching my breastfeeding goals.” Congratulations to planning committee members: Mikel Jones, Chelli Keshavan, Jenny Weaver, Amita Wanar & Porsha Eden.
FIRST Ever Bostonian of the Month: Nneka Hall
Nneka is a full spectrum doula, Womb Health Specialist, International Bereavement Specialist, and Vital Village Boston Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. As founder of the Quietly United in Loss Together (QUILT) campaign, she has steadfastly worked to support mothers and families who have lost children from conception to age 2. Read more about her advocacy efforts in this article.
A Strengths-Based Approach to Screening Families for Health-Related Social Needs
JoHanna Flacks (Legal Director, MLPB ) and Renée Boynton-Jarrett (Vital Village Founding Director) discuss six recommendations to ensure that families are respected and not diminished during screenings for health-related social needs. Read the full article here.
Network Events

Connect with Vital Village Network at these upcoming events. Click
 event to RSVP or learn more .
September 5, 1-2pm ET/10-11am PT
Join NOW for a virtual opportunity to learn from tribal partners and Brazelton staff on engaging tribal families in culturally competent ways is vital in strengthening community collaborations. Grounding practice in a community’s indigenous knowledge, expertise, and cultural traditions is critical for strengthening early childhood education initiatives. Register for webinar here.
PLEASE NOTE: A  Spanish language line  is available for participants who would like to listen to live interpretation during the webinar. This audio line will be recorded and also posted on the Forum. To access this feature, after logging in and launching the webinar, dial into this Spanish language audio line:  Dial In: +1 (312) 757-3121; Access Code: 297-839-645
12-2pm @ Boston Medical Center, 85 E. Newton St., Room 2208
Join the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition for an opportunity to share innovations in breastfeeding, coordinate resources for caregivers, and connect with a larger network of support groups. Lunch will be served and parking validated at the 710 Albany St Garage. RSVP online or by phone at 617-414-3674.
September 16: Network Connection Meeting - Communities In Action: Meaningful Service and Leadership
5:30-8pm @ BU School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord St., Evans Seminar Room 112A
Join the Vital Village Network's Social Justice Mediation Program , Boston CASA , and the Fresh Truck for our September Network Connection Meeting. We will uncover the layers of service and provide tools for creating meaningful service and leadership opportunities within our communities. When we connect and lead in service, we foster unity. See the flyer for more details and RSVP today!

October Weekends 5-6 and 12-14: Sixth Annual Social Justice Mediation Institute (SJMI)
9am-5pm @ Location TBD (attendance required for all 5 days)
SJMI is a cost-free, 40-hour training where participants learn mediation skills to reduce conflict at home, in their neighborhood, with co-workers, in educational settings, and beyond. Graduates receive a certificate and utilize their new skills after training by completing a 6-month service-learning pathway with the   Social Justice Mediation Program (SJMP). See flyer and complete an application today! Questions can be directed to vvnmediators@gmail.com or 617-414-3640.
8am–3pm @ George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave.
Register today for 6th Annual Leadership Summit, hosted by Vital Village! This one-day summit, unlike any other, will bring together change makers from around Boston and across the country who are dedicated to ensuring that children and families have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to thrive. Please share the flyer and event page with your networks widely! Registration available until October 1st.
Miss our June Network Connection Meeting? Check out our Meeting Snapshot for highlights!
Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.
6:45-9:30am @ Dearborn STEM (36 Winthrop St) & Lilla G. Frederick (270 Columbia Rd)
All community members are invited to join the tradition of welcoming our community's children back to school! As Carlos Henriquez said, "Our success is tied to their success". The first greeting is at 6:45am @ the Dearborn STEM Academy and the second greeting is at 8:45am @ the Lilla G. Frederick Middle School. See Facebook event for more details!

12pm-1:30pm @ Codman Square Branch of BPL, 690 Washington St.
A community meeting for all parents, caregivers, and champions of young children’s social emotional wellness. RSVP to attend the Boston Alliance for Young Children’s Social Emotional Wellness (BAYCSEW) September meeting.

9am @ 55 Dimock St.
The Dimmock Center, in partnership with the Boston Athletic Assoc. and Hoodfit, is excited to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Road to Wellness 5K Walk/Run. All are welcome to join in our celebration of health and wellness. Registration ends on September 5th at 5pm!  

12-6pm @ Hawthorne Community Center, 9 Fulda St.
Join the We Are Better Together Project as they welcome the fall season and celebrate our children going back to school! This is a free event open to ANY family who has been impacted by community trauma. See flyer for more details.

6-8pm @ Mount Olives Community Center, 1283 Hyde Park Ave.
Mount Olives Evangelical Baptist Church in Hyde Park is having a grand opening of Mount Olives Community Center with a focused on providing services to families and children in the areas of music, computer literacy, tutoring and education. Call (617) 364-1408 for more information.

September 20: Teddy Bear Clinic
3-5pm @ DotHouse Health Center, 1353 Dorchester Ave.
Bring your favorite friend (stuff animals/dolls) and explore the Teddy Bear Clinic at DotHouse Health Center ! The goal of the Teddy Bear Clinic is to show children that the doctor’s office is a place for them to receive comfort when they are sick and to help them feel good and grow up to become healthy adults. See flyer for more details. There are also volunteer opportunities at this event! If interested, c ontact Rosa Beriguete at 617-288-7120 x1161 or via email rberiguete@bgcdorchester.org .

1-4pm @ Boston Teachers Union, 180 Mt. Vernon St.
Join Boston Teachers Union for their 6th Annual Back to School Fair! Activities and thousands of free books will be available for Boston Public School families. See flyer for more details.

September 28: Birth Resource Fair
11am-3pm @ Union Capital Boston, Inc., 1544 Columbus Ave.
Join the Birth Community Collaborative for this special event in honor of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month to build connections, learn about resources and supports available in the local community to foster perinatal health and well being. See Facebook event for more details.

Time TBD, Boston University, 1 Silber Way
The Mothers Against Violence: Empowering Women for Action National Conference will offer women a chance to connect, network and inspire each another. The conference is being convened by Mothers for Justice and Equality, a grass roots civic leadership organization founded by mothers who lost children to violence.

September & October 2019: Union Capital Boston (UCB) Network Nights
See flyer for times and locations
UCB Network Nights are an opportunity to come together, build relationships and trust, engage in meaningful conversations about issues and action, and exchange favors and resources. Every Network Night includes a 20-25 minute breakout session called "Table Talks". It is an opportunity for people to host conversations about questions they want to talk about in the moment.

Check out more community events on our Website  and Facebook
Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
JOBS:
Brigham & Women’s Hospital: Stronger Generations Family Partner
The Family Partner supports participants in the Stronger Generations Family Partnership Program who either receive prenatal care services at BWH’s OB Ambulatory Care clinic and/or are community members who plan to deliver their baby at BWH. As a key part of the Stronger Generations program team, the Family Partner acts as a bridge between the program participant and Stronger Generations’ programmatic network and strives to address individual, institutional and community level barriers associated with access to care, as well as to support participants in building social opportunity as a strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the life course.

Child Witness to Violence Project @ Boston Medical Center: Mental Health Clinician
The Child Witness to Violence Project is seeking a child mental health clinician to join our team as part of a new partnership with the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. The clinician will provide assessments and treatment to young children and caregivers referred by the court who have been impacted by family violence and other trauma. This position is full-time. The ideal candidate will have experience working with young children who have been exposed to trauma and/or working with families affected by violence. 

Urban College of Boston: RAMP Project Administrator
The Urban College of Boston is hiring an energetic, detail-oriented, and dependable part-time (15 hours per week) Project Administrator to support the RAMP (Research Apprenticeship Multicultural Partnership) certificate program. This certificate program will open a new pathway to clinical research and will involve collaboration with other grant stakeholders, including area hospitals and research institutes. 

Medical-Legal Partnership Boston: Legal Advisor
MLPB Legal Advisors are legal generalists responsible for supporting work forces across many domains of public interest law. The Legal Advisor will join a passionate, talented team and advance MLPB’s mission and successful growth by anchoring an innovative, state-wide partnership with Healthy Families Massachusetts (HFM) – an intensive, evidence-based family support and parent coaching program for first-time parents during pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life.

Rosie's Place offers a wide range of rewarding career opportunities to individuals who are committed to our mission. When you join Rosie’s Place, you become part of a dedicated team that each year offers 12,000 poor and homeless women shelter, sanctuary and support. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
3:00-7:00pm @ Boston Teachers Union, 180 Mt. Vernon St.
Volunteers are needed to help sort books in preparation for the 6th Annual Back to School Fair. All are welcome to pitch in, including students fulfilling community service. Contact Liliana lgutmann@btu.org or Brenda bchaney@btu.org if you can volunteer on any day!

Center for Early Relationship Support: JFCS Lauren & Mark Rubin Visiting Moms®
Volunteers who live in Boston and are familiar with Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan neighborhoods are needed for a brand new Rubin Visiting Moms team. Volunteers provide nurturance and support to families with newborns. Training and ongoing group supervision encourages personal growth and enhances connections between volunteers. Supervision group will meet in Dorchester twice a month, and visits happen once a week. Experience living in Boston and working/being with families affected by trauma is required. People of color are encouraged to apply, as well as others who are actively committed to cultural humility/awareness. Contact Debbie Whitehill via email dwhitehill@jfcsboston.org  

TRAININGS & EDUCATION:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Proud 2 Parent Young Parent Ambassador Program
The Young Parent Ambassador Program is a graduated tier employment and leadership development program that focuses on public health outreach, education completion, job readiness, and parenting/life skills. The program includes three tiers with increasing involvement and training throughout the program duration. This program is part of the Proud 2 Parent program of the BWH Center for Community Health and Health Equity’s Stronger Generations Initiative, which aims to eliminate the racial disparity in poor maternal and infant health outcomes. Apply today!
Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.
Fall Resources and Programs!
Finding a great-fit school is one of the most important decisions a family can make for their child. Boston School Finder offers resources, training, a professional network, and more to support your families on this important journey. See flyer for more details.

First Teacher Boston places parents and caregivers at the center of their children’s growth. Their mission is to help parents and caregivers identify authentic, organic ways to engage children and build their brains. Check out their programming calendar for monthly workshops, play dates, and fun fairs for parents, caregivers, and students! 

Tuesday starting Sept. 10, 9:30am-12pm @ Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp St Ext.
Families will develop respect, care, and cooperation through this 15-week program. Learn about strategies such as conflict resolution, age appropriate expectations, communication, and how to navigate stress. See flyer in Spanish for more details.

Mondays Starting Sept. 16, 6:30pm-8:30pm @ Epiphany School, 230 Centre St.
Calling all Dads! What would you do for your child? If your answer is “anything”, then this program is for you. 365Dad welcomes all fathers to attend this four month program to learn nurturing skills, improve parent-child relationships, and be the BEST Dad you can be. Meetings take place every Monday from September 16-December 20, 2019 at 6:30pm-8:30pm. See flyer for details and contact information. 
Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to child and family well-being.
Which neighborhoods in America offer children the best chance to rise out of poverty?
The Opportunity Atlas answers this question using anonymous data following 20 million Americans from childhood to their mid-30s. Now you can trace the roots of today's affluence and poverty back to the neighborhoods where people grew up. See where and for whom opportunity has been missing, and develop local solutions to help more children rise out of poverty.
Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
The  Abundance App   is now available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!
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 8-8-5-8-8
Once you're subscribed you will receive 3 weekly FREE text messages:
  • Monday: Nearby community resources
  • Wednesday: Wellness tips
  • Friday: Family-fun events
Our Mission

Vital Village is a network of residents and
agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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