Saturday, June 4, 2011

NETWORK: JOBS, Walk w/ Yancey--Dorch Parade, City Hearing--Ward Precinct Changes, Census (mis)Counting Prisoners, ZBA Hearings, Rte 66 Mtg, NAACP Legal Trainings,RoxSMPOC Mtg, SDP Basic Training, + more 4 U...

THE NETWORK
JUST FOR U!
 
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Please pass this on.
 
The Roxbury Home Coming Committee’s
Annual Juneteenth Event
is still on June 19th ALL—DAY-- LONG @ FRANKLIN PARK PLAYSTEAD AREA
(new location between White Stadium and F P Zoo—now closer to the Seaver Street side of the park)
STAY TUNED FOR FLYER.
 
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CONTENTS
 
1.         Dorchester People 4 Peace, Marching in the Dorchester Day Parade                                                                              (6/5—Noon)
 
2.        Urgent Hearing Alert--re: BOSTON WARDS+PRECINCTS. Is the City of Boston structure about to change. City Council Hearing                    (6/6--10:00am)
 
3.       Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee Meeting                                                                                     (6/6—6:00pm)
 
4.         REMINDER: MBTA Key Bus Route Meeting for Bus Route 66                                                                                           (6/6—6:00pm)
 
5.         ZBA Hearings--Zoning Board of Appeals – GUESS WHAT’S COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD                                              (6/7—9:30am)
 
6.         Codman Square NDC: Talbot Avenue Station Groundbreaking                                                                                       (6/7—4:00pm)
 
7.         Boston Branch NAACP Legal Trainings/Identifying Discrimination “It is what it is. Or is it?”                                                          (6/8-5:30-8:30pm)
 
8.      Franklin Park Schedule of Meetings + Events                                                                                                     (June)
9.       BRA COMMUNITY MEETING:  Christian Science Plaza PDA Master Plan                                                                               (6/9—6:00-7:30pm)
 
10.       Whittier Street Health Center May E-Newsletter                                                                                                         (6/11/2011)
 
11.      COMMUNITY ACTION NEEDED FOR 6/15 HEARING:  Support Massachusetts Youth Proposed Election Laws on June 15th                        (DEADLINE 6/15)
 
12.       Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Basic Training - for SDO Certified Businesses   (HEADS UP MWBE’s)                                                (6/16—9:30am-12:30pm)
 
13.       Union of Minority Neighborhoods (Juneteenth Activism Event)                                                                                       (6/19/2011)
 
14.       Community Forum: Black Community Losing Power: Counting Inmates in the Wrong Place                                                 (6/21—5:15PM)
 
15.       JOB  OPENING
 
DETAILS BELOW…
 
 
 
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1.      Dorchester People 4 Peace, Marching in the Dorchester Day Parade   (6/5—Noon)
 
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR CONTACTS!
(and apologies if you got multiple copies of this message)
 
 
We are Marching Again this Year
in the Dorchester Day Parade. . .
 
JOIN US,  Sunday, June 5!
 
 
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SAVE THE DATE!
Dorchester Day Parade
Sunday, June 5. 
Gather 12-12:30pm
(Parade Kick-off 1pm sharp)
Look for us along Dorchester Ave. in Lower Mills,
between Richmond and Adams (Division 1)
 
Please let us know if you can make it by responding to this email, writing to info@dotpeace.org
or phoning 617-288-4578
 
 
As in years past, Dorchester People for Peace will proudly bring our message to End the Wars, Reduce Military Spending and Fund Our Communities -- to thousands of Parade participants and watchers.
**We’ll have  parade flyers to distribute,
along with banners and signs to decorate our “float”.  
**Bring your organization’s flags and banners.
Don’t miss it. . . And help us to get the word out!
 
COOKOUT following the parade (from about 3:30pm) at
Jeff’s house, 123 Cushing Ave, Jones Hill (617-288-4578 to RSVP or to arrange drop-off of food before the parade)  We’ll have hamburgers and hotdogs, condiments;  pot-luck dishes and drinks welcome.
 
 
 
 
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2.      Urgent Hearing Alert--re: BOSTON WARDS+PRECINCTS.  Is the City of Boston structure about to change.   City Council hearing  (6/6--10:00am)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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3.       Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee Meeting    (6/6—6:00pm)
 
 
RSMPOC Meeting
Monday, June 6, 2011, 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM
Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren Street, Roxbury
 
Project Description:
Updates on the RFP for Parcels 9 & 10 RFP, in Roxbury (located at the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street). Also, updates on the proposed Whittier Street Health Center and Ruggles Place development projects on Parcel P-3 (on Tremont Street, across from the Boston Police Headquarters), community updates, and unfinished RSMPOC business.
 
The RFP is for Parcels 9 & 10 is available for purchase at the BRA Office of the Executive Secretary on the 9th floor at City Hall. A copy of the RFP is available for public viewing at the South End, Dudley, and the Grove Hall Branch Libraries. Planning Reports, Meeting Notes, and Meeting Schedules are available for viewing on the BRA web site and at:
 
http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra , select “Planning Initiatives”, and select “Roxbury Strategic Master Plan”.
 
Meeting Date Place: 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM, June 6, 2011, at the Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren Street Roxbury.
 
Next oversight committee members working session is scheduled for
Monday, June 20, 2011, at 6:00 PM at the Central Boston Elders Services, 2315 Washington Street, Roxbury.
 
EMAIL TO:        Hugues Monestime, Senior Planner
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ONE CITY HALL SQUARE, 9TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02201
FAX TO: 617-367-6087
PHONE: 617-918-4320
 
 
 
 
 
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4.        REMINDER: MBTA Key Bus Route Meeting for Bus Route 66        (6/6—6:00pm)
 
 
 
Bus Route 66 Community Meeting
Dear MBTA Riders and Interested Parties,
This is a reminder that the MBTA will host a community meeting to discuss Bus Route 66 as part of the MBTA Key Bus Route program this Monday at the Honan-Allston Branch Library. The MBTA has been working with the community to develop a series of improvements to Bus Route 66. Based on community feedback, the MBTA will be presenting progress design plans for implementation, including: the addition of customer amenities and bus stop consolidation, which will result in the changes to the location of some bus stops. Bus stops may be relocated and/or eliminated. We want your feedback on these proposed changes.
Bus Route 66 operates between Harvard Square and Dudley Station via Union Square, Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, and Brigham Circle. It provides high frequency service to these areas in addition to serving important destinations such as Harvard University, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Reggie Lewis Center and several schools. It also provides connections to the Red, Green, Orange and Silver Lines as well as many other bus routes including Key Bus Routes 1, 15, 22, 23 28, 71, 73 and 77 and the following local and crosstown routes – 8, 14, 19, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 68, 69, 72, 74, 75, 78, 86, 96, 170 and 171. The following meeting will discuss potential improvements to Bus Route 66. Please join us to share your ideas.
Monday, June 6
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Honan-Allston Branch Library
300 North Harvard Street, Boston
 
The Honan-Allston Branch Library can be reached by Express Bus Routes 501 and 503 and Bus Routes 64, 66, and 70.
All are invited to attend this meeting. Past presentations and meeting handouts can be viewed at www.mbta.com\keybusroutes. Project handouts with current recommendations will be available for viewing shortly before the meeting. Your input will help create a better bus service for your community!
For detailed project information, please visit www.mbta.com\keybusroutes.
Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in this project.
 
 
 
 
 
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5.         ZBA Hearings--Zoning Board of Appeals – GUESS WHAT’S COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD    (6/7—9:30am)
 
                BOARD OF APPEAL HEARINGS
                                ROOM 801
                    Tuesday, June 7, 2011
 
 
BOARD FINAL ARBITER:                             9:30a.m.
 
BZC-28144       6 Wordsworth Street, Ward 1             Eric Danilchuk
BZC-28145       8 Wordsworth Street, Ward 1             Eric Danilchuk
BZC-28615       265 West Second Street, Ward 6  Eamonn Solan  (by Niles Sutphin)
BZC-30055       5 Beckler Avenue, Ward 6                James & Linda Haugh
BZC-28059       33 Kilmarnock Street, Ward 21           Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc
 
 
HEARINGS:                                                     9:30 a.m.
 
BZC-31167       1035 Saratoga Street, Ward 1            Daniel Toscano
BZC-31134       99-105 Addison Street, Ward 1           Patricia Thibert
BZC-31135       107 Addison Street, Ward 1              Patricia Thibert
BZC-31149       30 Jeffries Street, Ward 1              Dr. M Reada Bassiouni  (by Vanessa A. Mendizabal)
BZC-31165       220 William McClellan Highways, Ward 1   Capital Advertising LLC
BZC-31166       20 Monument Street, Ward 2              Eric & Scott Darci
#5324           20 Monument Street, Ward 2              Eric & Scott Darci
BZC-31148       162 Endicott Street, Ward 3             Glenn Taylor
#5323           162 Endicott Street, Ward 3             Glenn Taylor
BZC-31193       196 Endicott Street, Ward 3             Esmaeil Mahdavi (by Dan Toscano)
BZC-31238       4-6 Newbury Street, Ward 5              Tribeca Newbury Street Owner, LLC
#5327           4-6 Newbury Street, Ward 5              Tribeca Newbury Street Owner, LLC
BZC-31147       150 West Fourth Street, Ward 6  150 West Fourth Street LLC (by Arthur Choo, Jr)
BZC-31162       882-884 E Broadway, Ward 6              Daniel Clark
BZC-31211       618 East Second Street, Ward 6          503 East First Street, Inc
BZC-31140       46 Forest Street, Ward 8                John Duran
BZC-31131       2 Linwood Street, Ward 11               Powahouse LLC (by Simon Hare)
BZC-31163       246-248 Parker Hill Avenue, Ward 10     Steven Schlom                          
                                                                
 
HEARINGS:                                                    10:30 a.m.
 
BZC-31151       50 Sydney Street, Ward 13               Dung & Tam Thanh Le
BZC-31153       636-638 West Park Street, Ward 14       Richard Daniels (by Jonathan Bradshaw)
BZC-31150       8 Columbia Terrace, Ward 15             Ryan Connelly (by Niles Sutphin)
BZC-31168       415-415A Neponset Avenue, Ward 16       Dennis Hayes
BZC-31141       44 Spencer Street, Ward 17              Duc Vo
BZC-31192       197 Norfolk Street, Ward 17             Anthony Gurley
BZC-31144       1213-1223 Commonwealth Avenue, Wd 21   Contal Realty (by Daoud Tayeh)
BZC-31154       29 Seattle Street, Ward 22              Tarun Jhamb (by Salvatore Monteillo)
BZC-31155       29R Seattle Street, Ward 22             Tarun Jhamb (by Salvatore Monteillo
BZC-31160       25 Quint Avenue, Ward 22                Nalin Mistry (by Anwar Faisal)
 
 
RE-DISCUSSION:                                     11:30a.m.
 
BZC-31164       100 Arlington Street, Ward 5            Arlington CFII LP
BZC-30989       546 East Broadway, Ward 6               Clare Coyne
BZC-31083       546 East Broadway, Ward 6               New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (by Timothy Greene)
BZC-31017       253 Boston Street, Ward 7               Sean Byrne
BZC-31029       16 Nahant Avenue, Ward 16               Aongus Mcmanus
BZC-30367       33-47 Quint Avenue, Ward 21             Alphox Management (by Anwar Faisal)
BZC-30884       28 Quint Avenue, Ward 22                28 Quint Avenue Parking Trust (by Paul Minihane)
BZC-31042       41-43 North Beacon Street, Ward 22      North Beacon Realty Trust
BZC-31048       239 Foster Street, Ward 22              Mai Phung
       
      BOARD MEMBERS:
                                                 CHRISTINE ARAUJO- SECRETARY
                                        ANGELO BUONOPANE
                                        PETER CHIN
                                        BRUCE BICKERSTAFF                                       
                                           MICHAEL MONAHAN                                                     
                                         ANTHONY PISANI
                                        ROBERT SHORTSLEEVE-CHAIRMAN            
 
 
 
 
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6.          Codman Square NDC: Talbot Avenue Station Groundbreaking    (6/7—4:00pm)
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Talbot Avenue Station Groundbreaking
 
Codman Square NDC,  along with our community partners and stakeholders,
invites you to an earthmoving event.
 
When:     Tuesday, June 7, 2011
 
Where:  Talbot Avenue Station Construction Site
                          (The Levedo Building – across the street @ 245 Talbot Avenue – in case of rain)
 
Time:       4:00 PM
 
                                               Please RSVP to Marcos Beleche at 617-825-4224 ext. 142
 
                                                                                    Refreshments will be served.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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7.         Boston Branch NAACP Legal Trainings/Identifying Discrimination “It is what it is. Or is it?”   (6/8-5:30-8:30pm)
 
 
 
Each of you have huge networks and the Boston Branch NAACP is asking you to please post the information regarding our upcoming Discrimination Training on your FB pages or distribute via email.  Whether an urban professional, blue color worker, the chronically unemployed, a young person or a senior, a Democratic or Republican...folks have likely experienced some form of discrimination if you're black or brown in Boston.  However, we find ourselves questioning whether it's us or them.  We may struggle with making the case or with finding an attorney to represent us.  We often avoid the time, expense and energy required to challenge the person, the institution or the system--but what's the effect of that choice on long term change.  We have entitled our training "It is what it is.  Or is it?" and we're confident this will be a major step toward reawakening the much needed conversation on discrimination and race.  I would like to ensure there is not one empty seat in the Kroc Center, since this training is so important and rare.
 
The official marketing of this FREE training will begin Tuesday, May 23rd, but we have already begun to receive RSVPs from community residents, local attorneys, activists and academics.  We will not hear individual cases at this training, but will announce ongoing legal clinics where residents can work with attorneys on their specific complaints.  Space is limited to 250 people.
 
Please help us spread the word...
 
Michael Curry, President
Boston Branch NAACP
 
NAACP legal trainings at Kroc Center
By Bill Forry
May. 19, 2011
On Wednesday, June 8, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Boston Branch NAACP will hosting a Racial Discrimination Training at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, located at 650 Dudley Street,Dorchester. The training is co-sponsored with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts' Young Professional's Network (YPN) and the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, and supported by the Attorney General's Civil Rights Division and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
What is racial discrimination? How do you prove it? What are the roles of the various local, state and federal agencies and law enforcement entities? How do you respond if you've been a victim of discrimination? What is MCAD and how do you navigate the complaint submission process? What if you're represented by a union? These are just a few of the questions that we plan to address during this three-hour training. Following the training, the Boston Branch NAACP will work with the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and possibly a local law school to develop ongoing legal clinics where people can come for assistance with their specific cases. RSVP at rsvp@bostonnaacp.org.

 
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8     Franklin Park Schedule of Meetings + Events
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Franklin Park Coalition
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wednesday, June 8th - 6:00-8:00pm
Boston Park Advocates Annual Meeting

Join citywide park advocates for a celebration of our parks. Barbara Ferrer, Director of the Boston Public Health Commission will speak about the role of open space in making Boston a healthy and vibrant city. There will be hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and opportunities to meet other people who are working on open space issues in Boston. If you'd like to walk or bike to the event, there will be groups meeting in the Fenway and all along the route to Franklin Park (RSVP to learn more).

As representatives of the largest and best park in the city, we'd love to have a Franklin Park contingent in the room! And it's close to home - at the Golf Clubhouse. Free, but please RSVP.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADVOCATE for FRANKLIN PARK!
Wednesday, June 15th 2:30pm
City Council Budget Hearing on Parks

Let City Councilors know how important Franklin Park is to you. Tell them what improvements you would like to see. This is an opportunity to appreciate the Boston Parks Department for their maintenance efforts and request changes to make the park better. Park constituents can sign up to give "testimony." Call or email with questions and to let us know if you can be there. At City Hall, 5th floor council hearing room. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Even More Spring Activities
 
 
Final Franklin Park History Tour
Saturday morning, June 11th 10:00am-Noon
Meet at the rear entrance to the Zoo
Hear the story of the old bear cages, wander through the woods, and see Olmsted's Field House, the Overlook Shelter, now a stone ruin. Made possible with support from Mass Humanities and co-sponsored by Discover Roxbury and the Dorchester and Jamaica Plain Historical Societies. 

Bicycle Tours of Roxbury
Monthly rides from May - September with a different theme for each tour. Helmets required. Register at www.discoverroxbury.org - all rides start or end in Franklin Park. $10.00/ride.
- Thursday, June 16th 6:00pm - Eliot Square to Franklin Park - a neighborhood introduction

Juneteenth / Roxbury Homecoming
Saturday, June 18th 
At the Playstead ballfields and all over the park
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summer Preview
 
 
Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park
Tuesday concerts at 6:00pm

Opening Night! July 12th - The E-Water Band - dance to your favorites from all the decades!

July 19 - We Jazz Up with Frank Wilkins, Tim Ingles, and friends - smooth jazz for a summer evening in the park.

July 26 -
Zili Misik, featured on the cover of G Magazine - Afro-Caribbean all-female musicians

Tuesday daytime children's shows at 11:00am for summer camp groups and families: July 12th - Stajez Dance Troupe; July 19th - Batukaxe with Marcos Santos and his fabulous drummers; July 26th - TBA; August 16th - Children's Festival with music, games, food, and fun!

Movie Nights
Tuesdays at Dusk

August 9th - Latino Movie Night featuring shorts and a feature length film from the Boston International Latino Film Festival

August 19th - Mayor's Movie Night showing Toy Story 3. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you love Franklin Park, want to see it continue to improve, and enjoy programs like the Playhouse in the Park, spring bird watching, or volunteer days - become a member today! Click here to donate online. Members bring political clout and power as we work to make the park the best it can be.

Forward this email to a friend or encourage them to sign up on the website www.franklinparkcoalition.org to get on the Franklin Park list for events and alerts. In addition to FPC facebook pages and twitter, join the Franklin Park Ski and Snowshoe Club or Ultimate Frisbee on facebook.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For more information and to RSVP for all events, please email rsvp@franklinparkcoalition.org or call 617-442-4141.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quick Links...
 
Contact Information
Phone: (617) 442-4141
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 302333, Boston, MA 02130
Website:
http://www.franklinparkcoalition.org
Come visit our office - 2010 Columbus Ave, Roxbury - we have great park photos, nature books, and historical documents. Call first in case we are out in the park!
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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9.       BRA COMMUNITY MEETING:  Christian Science Plaza PDA Master Plan       (6/9—6:00-7:30pm)
 
Good afternoon –
 
Please be advised that the BRA will host a community meeting on Thursday, June 9, 2011, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, at The First Church of Christ, Scientist, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 210 Massachusetts Avenue, regarding the Master Plan for Planned Development Area No. 80, Christian Science Plaza, Huntington Avenue/Prudential Center, Boston (the “PDA Master Plan”) for the proposed revitalization of the Christian Science Plaza (the “Plaza Revitalization Project”), located at Huntington Avenue, Belvidere Street and Massachusetts Avenue and containing approximately 14.83 acres of land. 
 
The PDA Master Plan was submitted by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Church Realty Trust and the Christian Science Board of Directors.
 
The Plaza Revitalization Project would consist of significant upgrades to the Christian Science Plaza’s privately-owned open space, including reconstruction of the Reflecting Pool, additional green space, seating and other improvements, and envisions the construction of three new buildings, totaling approximately 950,000 square feet of gross floor area, as well as an approximately 2,000 gross square-foot pavilion building, all of which would be proposed projects within one or more subsequently filed Planned Development Area Development Plans.  One new building would be located on Huntington Avenue and would not exceed a height of approximately 291 feet.  Two new buildings would be at the intersection of Belvidere and Dalton Streets, one of which would not exceed a height of approximately 251 feet and the other of which would not exceed a height of approximately 512 feet and both of which would contain underground parking. 
 
The pavilion building would be located near the intersection of Huntington Avenue and Belvidere Streets and would not exceed a height of approximately 35 feet.
 
Close of Comment Period:            July 1, 2011
 
Please send comments to:              KRISTIN KARA
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ONE CITY HALL SQUARE, 9TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02201
or
Fax to:                                                617-742-7783
or
Email to:                                            kristin.kara.bra@cityofboston.gov
 
Kristin Kara
Senior Project Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone:  617-918-4263
Fax:       617-742-7783
 
 
 
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10.      Whittier Street Health Center May E-Newsletter  (6/11/2011)
 
 
May 2011
Support Whittier
Visit our Web site: www.wshc.org
 
Our New Home: Get A Behind The Scenes Look At Our New Medical Home
Whittier in the Neighborhood: Learn More About Our Newest Partnership
Program Spotlight: Project ME
2011 Men's Health Summit on Saturday June 11th, 2011
Vote for Whittier: Livestrong and Whittier, We Need Your Vote
Whittier News and Upcoming Events
 
Our New Home: Building our Legacy - Building Our Future
If you have spent anytime driving down Tremont street by Roxbury Community College you have certainly seen the rapid ascension of the newest building in the Roxbury skyline. Whittier Street Health Center's new home at 1290 Tremont street is progressing quickly as we are nearly finished with the terra-cotta outer shell. With each passing week and month our new location is taking shape from its foundation months ago, to steel pillars, and now to the nearly completed outer walls.
The new building will be a state of the art 79,000 square foot health center equipped to provide high quality and accessible services designed to improve health and eliminate the disproportionately high rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, HIV/AIDS and violence that plague our community. It will include:
  • The creation of a community resource room that will include access to health education resources, computer kiosks and health professionals to help community members lead healthier lives.
  • An expanded urgent care walk in clinic located on the first floor that will help cut down on over utilization of emergency room departments at local hospitals.
  • A community cancer clinic in collaboration with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that will include fixed mammography and cancer specialists to help reduce disparities in cancer mortality rates for our community.
Thank you to all of our partners including corporations, foundations, individuals, community members and political representatives who have provided support.
Whittier is currently in the midst of a Buy A Brick campaign for the new building. Please call (617) 989-3071 for more information on how to become involved and to have your name engraved into Whittier's new building.
 
Whittier in the Neighborhood: Our Partnership with Boston Housing Authority
On May 13th, the partnership between Whittier Street Health Center and the Boston Housing Authority hosted the "Building Vibrant Communities" open house at the Boston Housing Authority's Lenox-Camden Development. Through a Kresge Foundation funded initiative, Whittier Street Health Center and our community partners are working with five public housing developments in the area to create an environment where residents are empowered to overcome significant social and environmental barriers to lead healthier lives.
According to Frederica Williams, Whittier Street Health Center's President and CEO, residents of public housing face significant social and environmental determinants of health that are leading to poorer health outcomes.  "Isolation, social conditions, higher rates of unemployment from the continued economic downturn, cultural differences, stress and violence all contribute to disparities in health outcomes for the residents we serve.  Over 80% of our patients live in public housing and we work closely with the Boston Housing Authority to provide services that help link our community to health care."
Through the Building Vibrant Communities initiative, we seek to empower residents to adopt positive behavior change related to individual and community health, while providing support when needed. One of the primary findings from our community needs assessment was that residents have "too much going on" to worry about their health. We want residents to have the tools and resources to gain control of other parts of their life, so that individual and family health can become a priority. Not only does "too much going on" often manifest itself through stress, depression and domestic violence, but it also impedes the individual's ability to take the steps necessary to lead a healthier life including through diet, exercise and accessing health care. Whittier and the Boston Housing Authority envision working with families to mitigate this feeling of despair and being out of control, while supporting them with resources to take proactive steps towards healthier lives through nutrition, exercise, management of chronic diseases and community and family development.
With offices located in each of the five target housing developments staffed by a Social Health Coordinator, outreach nurse, behavioral health life coach, nutritionist, and exercise/sports coach, residents will know they can turn to us for any of their social and health needs. We are going to them, not hoping they will come to us.
 
May Program Spotlight: Project Me
In May's program spotlight we wanted to feature one of Whittier's newest projects based within the community, Project ME. Project ME is a program designed to connect those hardest to reach to health care services, with a specific focus on HIV prevention and care. The program's focal point is a drop-in center located in Dudley Square that offers free HIV rapid testing and health promotion workshops, and links clients to other social and health services.
The Boston Public Health Commission's Health of Boston Report indicates that in 2006, Roxbury's HIV/AIDS incidence rate was 64.6 cases per 100,000, which represents the second highest rate in Boston among its 15 neighborhoods. Project ME targets those most at risk for HIV infection or transmission who are hard-to-reach. Some of the subpopulations include: Latino and African American heterosexual men and women at risk for HIV infection or transmission, Latino and African American injection drug users and their partners, and men and women of color living with HIV who are not accessing care and/or do not know their status.
The drop-in center provides a safe haven where patients who have been overlooked or fear the stigmatization of a traditional clinic can begin the process of connecting to the health care community. Project ME represents Whittier's commitment to patient centered care by engaging patients not just in the health center but by going into the community and creating environments where patients feel most comfortable. To learn more about the Project ME Program visit us at 130 Warren Street in Roxbury.
 
 
2011 Men's Health Summit Saturday June 11th
Join us for the 8th Annual Men's Health Summit: A Healthier Me, A Stronger Us on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. The keynote address will be delivered by Roberto Clemente Jr., eldest son of baseball legend Roberto Clemente and founder of the Reviving Baseball in the Inner-Cities (RBI) program in Puerto Rico.
The Men's Health Summit plays a vital role in the community by connecting male patients, who are often hesitant to seek out care, with the information and screenings they need. According to the Boston Public Health Commission's 2010 Health of Boston report, in 2008, black men in Boston were 3.3 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men. Additionally, Black residents of Boston are twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents. A recent needs assessment conducted by Whittier through a grant funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found only 1/3 of men surveyed in our target area eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, less than half regularly exercise and only half get regular medical physicals.
The Summit raises awareness on men's health issues, provides necessary screenings, and promotes a lifetime commitment to leading healthy lives. The Summit will include a health fair, health screenings (high blood pressure, glaucoma, prostate cancer etc.), and a formal program, which includes an awards ceremony, a keynote address and a Q&A panel discussion with health professionals on men's health topics.
This year, we are honored to award the Health Champions Award to: True See Allah of the Boston Re-entry Initiative, Dr. Jacques Carter of Harvard Medical School, John Jenkins of West Insurance Agency, Dr. Roderick King of the Disparities Solution Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Raul Medina of El Planeta, Richard Lynch of CeltiCare, Fernando Domenech of Domenech, Hicks & Krockmalnic, and Byron Barnett the host of Urban Update on 7 News WHDH.
For more information call 617-989-3028 or click here.
Be sure to watch Urban Update on Sunday June 5th for an in depth interview with Whittier Street Health Center's President and CEO Frederica Williams and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Dr. Christopher Lathan about Men's Health and the importance of the Men's Health Summit.
 
 
Vote for Whittier, Vote for our Community!
Help Whittier Street Health Center bring a Livestrong Community Impact Project model to our community! By offering the Promotores Program, we seek to engage the ever increasing number of Latino cancer survivors who are not currently connected to any form of cancer survivorship programming. A strong focus of Whittier's implementation of the Promotores Program will be to engage immigrants who were treated for cancer prior to arriving in the United States. Please support Whittier and the Promotores Program by voting for the project here:
 
 
Upcoming Events and Whittier in the News
June 11th 2011: Men's Health Summit
 
 
 
 
 
 
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11.        COMMUNITY ACTION NEEDED FOR 6/15 HEARING:  Support Massachusetts Youth Proposed Election Laws on June 15th     (DEADLINE 6/15)
 
Lorraine,
On June 15th a bill to let 16 and 17 year-olds pre-register to vote will get a hearing in front of the State Legislature's Joint Committee on Election Laws. Your phone calls, letters, and online petitions made all the difference.
Today, when teens get their licenses at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, they are usually too young to register.  If they fill out the form anyway (and many do) they then receive a rejection letter from their local elections official, asking them to come back in a year or so.  It's a bad experience for new voters and a waste of time and money.

Pre-registration will strengthen high school voter registration drives. Better yet, pre-registration can be systematically implemented in high school Civics, Social Studies, and American History classes.

In order for pre-registration to become law, the bill must first pass through the Election Laws Committee with an "Ought to Pass" recommendation.  I want to ask for your help.  The best way to accomplish this is to pack the hearing room with supporters - and people to testify - to demonstrate that this is an issue that matters.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15th, at 2pm in Hearing Room A2 in the Massachusetts State House.
 
Sincerely,
Jasmine Hicks
Youth Program Coordinator

 
41 West Street, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 542-8683 - www.massvote.org
 
 
 
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12.      Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Basic Training - for SDO Certified Businesses   (6/16—9:30am-12:30pm)
 
 
Basic SDP Program Overview - Services and Resources for SDO Certified Businesses.

This three hour training session is opened to Minority and Women-Owned Businesses, who are interested in learning how to use their SDO certification in the procurement process, find opportunities for SDP partnerships and market as an SDP participant to state entities. An overview of Comm-PASS is provided including an interactive session on how to navigate the system, search for open opportunities, and list your business as an interested bidder and other Comm-PASS features.
 
(This workshop will be cancelled or rescheduled if the minimum number of participants (8) is not met)
Date:            June 16, 2011
 
Time:                   9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location:                The McCormack Building,
One Ashburton Place, 10th Floor,
Boston, MA. 02108 directions
 
Registration:    You must Pre-Register.
         Please register via the Office of Supplier Diversity by clicking on this link SDP workshop online Registration.
Be sure to include your email address on the registration form to receive session notifications.
If you have questions regarding this training, please send an email to sdp@state.ma.us
 
 
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13.      Union of Minority Neighborhoods Event   (6/19/2011)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
One of the great legends of the Black community's experience in America is that of Juneteenth.
 
Tradition has it that on June 19,1865 our ancestors in Texas were the last indentured servants to be informed of their freedom.  Penniless, having never owned a thing in their lives, our ancestors embarked on a arduous journey to build upon this "freedom" knowing that all would fail if they did not have communal solidarity.  Our ancestors knew that history would ultimately judge them on what they did and how they did it and their impact would determine the course of Black people for future generations.
 
Our ancestors struggle and suffering is a significant part of American history. 
 
Almost 150 years later, we in Massachusetts have both a black president and governor, yet our community is more isolated, more ill-informed, more powerless and in pain than at any time in our lives.  Depravation has replaced hope and for the first time since our ancestor's journey, the next generation of black folk will not outlive, out earn, and own less than the generation preceeding it.
.
It is no secret...in order to go forward, we must build community. The purpose of this letter is to ask that we join together AS A FAMILY OF BLACK ORGANIZATIONS  this Juneteenth, June 19th in an activity that seeks to reach out to the community while also showing our collective power when we as Black organizations work together.
 
Specifically, we propose that Black organizations and its members join together in a door to door canvassing in the black neighborhoods of Boston on Sunday June 19th from 1-4pm.  We will visit houses and projects, leaving important information about programs and services, engaging our brothers and sisters in conversation as to the important issues affecting their communities and their lives, and using the canvas as an opportunity to help determine possible new community activists. 
 
This is an activity by black people for black people. This is not about any one organization taking credit, styling or profiling...this is about something that we all must and can do together as a singular family of black people and organizations, committed to the cause of empowerment and  justice in the black community.
 
   
If the Black community is to have anything remotely resembling a future, it is crucial that we take the  meaning of Juneteenth as an opportunity to work together to help our people.  It will be fun... it will be good...it will make our ancestors proud.
 
Please, as a family, let's do something together that could  make a difference to our community and to each other.
 
Please get back to me and let me know your thoughts...good, bad or indifferent.  Hopefully you will respond by saying that you're in!
 
Peace and thanks,
 
Horace
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42 Seaverns Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-522-3349
 
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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14.    Community Forum: Black Community Losing Power: Counting Inmates in the Wrong Place   (6/21—5:15PM)
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Center For Church and Prison
May 2011 
 
 
 
 
INVITATION TO A PUBLIC FORUM
* With Nationally Acclaimed Panelists *
 
Topic:
 
BLACK COMMUNITY
LOSING POWER:
COUNTING INMATES
IN THE WRONG PLACE
 
                                         
 KNOW THE FACTS
 
         Prison-Based Gerrymandering is the Counting of Inmates as Residents of their incarcerated communities  in the Census rather than their original communities. The Census report is used in redrawing district lines block by block once every decade.  Members of Congress, State Legislators and City Councilors are elected from districts.
 
    In Massachusetts,  Five Districts are able to meet the Federal Minimum Population Requirement because they have jails/prisons in their Districts.
 
July 1, 2010  Incarceration Report 
By Race in Massachusetts 
 
  White 4,263 (41.5%), Black 2,892 (28%), Hispanic 2,872 (28%),
  BLACKS  ARE 6-7% OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF MASSACHUSETTS
 
Implications for Minority Communities:
 
Punishing the inmate and his/her Community
Increase in Impoverishment and Crime-
 The Shifting of Political and Economic Power
 
Prison-Based Gerrymandering
 
Day:       Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
Time:      5:15pm
 
Venue:      Mattapan Library
                 Alice W. Meeting Room
                 1350 Blue Hill Avenue,
                 Mattapan, MA 02126
 
 
           NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PANELISTS
 
Mr. Peter Wagner, Esq. 
Director: Prison Policy Initiative  
 
Senator Stanley Rosenberg
Massachusetts Senate President Pro Tem and Co-Chair of The Massachusetts Redistricting Committee  
 
Representative Michael Moran
Co-Chair Massachusetts Redistricting Committee
 
Brenda Wright, Esq.
Director: Democracy Program
 
Rev. William Dickerson:
Pastor: Greater Love Tabernacle
 
Mr. Michael Curry, Esq.
President: NAACP Boston
 
Mr. Haywood Fennell
Director: Stanley Jones Clean Slate Project
 
 
 Moderator
 
Rev. George Walters-Sleyon:
Director: The Center for Church and Prison
 
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT -LET IT BE HEARD 
 
  
   
HOSTS:
The Center for Church and Prison
The New Democracy Coalition
Prison Policy Initiative
Mass Black Empowerment Coalition
Demos
Road to Redemption
The Love Movement
The Cultural Cafe Collective
etc.
 
 
The Center for Church and Prison is a resource and research center working towards strategic solution development and intervention in the high rate of incarceration and recidivism especially for minority men and women in the United States prison system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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15.     JOB  
 
 
NSTAR is hiring for Lineworker, UG Class #3
Location: Boston-Mass Avenue...Union position: Local 369
Work Schedule:   All shifts, including Holidays.
Starting rate:      $24.83hrly.
Go to nstar.com...Careers...Job opportunities.
PLEASE PASS ALONG
 
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THIS NETWORK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY…
THE OFFICE OF BOSTON CITY  COUNCILLOR CHARLES C. YANCEY
617.635.3131
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