In This Issue
Join the Social Equity Campaign
First Time Homebuyer Class Begins Aug 5
Laura Denison Joins SCC Staff as First Source Program Manager
Upcoming Events & Meetings
Summer Member Picnic, Jul 30
Platinum Recognition for Saint Polycarp Village
Jobs for Somerville Speaks Up for First Source
Union United Meets, Greets and Means Business
First Source Jobs Initiative -- 451 Marketing Partnership & Upcoming Events


Join the Social Equity Campaign 

Donate & Double Your Impact 



The  Social Equity Campaign is SCC's initiative to ensure Somerville remains accessible to its diverse population. There are many changes coming, and it is our goal  that people of all incomes can benefit from these new amenities.

 

A donation to SCC through the state's CITC program will not only be matched, but you'll get 50% back in your pockets.

 

What is CITC?

CITC is a tax credit designed to attract support for Community Development Corporations, like SCC, and to help increase the scale of their impact.

 

Contributors who give at least $1,000 are eligible for a refundable tax credit 50% the value of their donation.


Read this  Op Ed in the Somerville Journal  to learn about how your dollars will make a difference.


For more information, contact Meridith at mlevy@somervillecdc.org or 617-776-5931 x242



First Time Homebuyer Class

Next Class Begins August 5th 



Our next First-Time Homebuyer Class begins on August 5th!

 

Classes will be held Wednesday and Thursday evenings from August 5th - 13th

 

This 12-hour program will feature presentations by a real estate agent, a lender, a home inspector, a real estate attorney, and an insurance agent, in addition to SCC staff, providing everything you need to know before you start the process of buying your first home.

 

Upon completion, participants receive a certificate enabling them to access products geared towards first-time homebuyers, such as the ONE Mortgage.

  

Participants must:

  • Pre-register
  • Attend all 4 sessions

Upcoming Classes:

  • September 19th & 26th (Accelerated 2 Saturday Session)
  • October 14th - 22nd (Wednesdays and Thursdays)

Click here for the 2015 schedule

 


For more information or to register, contact Shannon Erb at 617-776-5931 x238 or serb@somervillecdc.org.



Laura Denison Joins SCC Staff as First Source Program Manager

SCC is excited to welcome Laura Denison as the new First Source Program Manager. Over the past year, Laura has worked closely with SCC and the City as the Youth Case Manager for Pocket Change during the first year of the First Source Program. 

 

She has spent the past six years in workforce development as a Youth Program Coordinator at The Career Place, located in Woburn.  During that time, she developed strong ties to Somerville High School, Mystic Learning Center and local employers. Laura also has several years of experience working in the non-profit sector. She served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member at Groundwork Lawrence where she worked with youth on environmental education and financial literacy. During college, she worked with homeless and runaway teens at a drop-in center/shelter and worked with developmentally disabled adults.  

 

Laura earned her B.A. from the University of Vermont where she majored in Psychology. She has resided in Somerville for the past five years and enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, cooking and playing with her cat. She is excited to join the First Source Program and looks forward to help increase self-sufficiency of residents and develop business relationships in the city.  



Upcoming Events & Meetings  

Our numerous groups and committees meet regularly and are open to newcomers! 

Click on the calendar below to learn more about meetings and events coming up:  

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Quick Links  

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About SCC 

Opportunities to Get Involved
 

Join Our Mailing List! 

 

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On June 30th we said goodbye to Jorge  Colón, who was integral in developing the Somerville First Source Jobs Initiative. We are sad to see Jorge go, but we know he'll do great things as Program Manager at the Allston-Brighton CDC. With that, we are happy to welcome Laura Denison who will carry on the torch as our First Source Program Manager!

In other news, Saint Polycarp Village has received Platinum LEED Certification, Jobs for Somerville helped promote City funding for the First Source Program, Union United members are acting on their strategy to ensure the community's voice is heard in the Union Square redevelopment process, and the First Source program continues to offer an array of employment services to residents.  Continue reading to learn more!

Lastly, join us at our
Summer Member Picnic on July 30th. We invite you, your family, and friends, to take time to celebrate summer, enjoy good food, and learn together!

to help us continue serving the Somerville community.  
From all of us at SCC, thank you for your support


Join Us at our Summer Member Picnic, July 30th

 



Platinum Recognition for Saint Polycarp Village 

Saint Polycarp Village Phase 3 has been officially awarded  LEED for Homes certification at the Platinum level, the highest possible certification level !

 

LEED for Homes is a green building certification program created to address materials and systems commonly found in the residential design and construction industry. The certification indicates that the building is constructed with a strong focus on energy and water efficiency, material durability, healthy indoor air quality, and reduced impact on natural resources. Certified buildings are better for occupant health and offer added benefits to the surrounding communities and environment. 

 

This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the design and construction team of this project, which include Davis Square Architects, NorianSiani Engineering, New Ecology, Dellbrook Construction, and Munkenbeck Consulting. The Enterprise Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, provided financial support for these Green endeavors as well.

 

Efforts to create positive environmental impacts at the Saint Polycarp Village are not yet done. SCC is working with Boston Community Capital to install solar photovoltaic arrays on the rooftop of the Phase 2 & 3 buildings through a Power Purchase Agreement. The energy produced by this system will cover all common area costs of these buildings and produce an excess credit which will be applied to another of SCC's properties. Installation of these systems is scheduled to begin this fall.



For more information, contact Scott at 617-776-5931 x227 or shayman@somervillecdc.org.


Jobs for Somerville Speaks Up for First Source 

Jobs for Somerville has been active in the City budget process this year. On June 22nd, committee members attended a public hearing on the proposed budget to speak in support of the Somerville First Source Jobs Initiative, which grew out of years of organizing by Jobs for Somerville. Alderman Mark Niedergang introduced a resolution to provide at least $50,000 to the First Source Program through the budget. This additional funding could help the program to grow and serve more Somerville residents and employers.

 

Community members testified in support of the additional funding and emphasized to the board the importance of the program.  

 

"I'm using every resource I have to try to find full-time work and one of the best ones is the First Source program. There are a lot of people I know in Somerville that are out of work and trying to find a job that will pay them a living wage, and First Source is a really good way for them to get a leg up," said Jobs for Somerville member and First Source participant Nancy Collins.  

 

The aldermen unanimously approved the resolution. We hope the administration will find a way to support the First Source program through the City budget so that the program has the capacity to connect Somerville employers with local talent and connect Somerville workers to good jobs.

 

First Source participant, Balbina Jerónimo, testifies 
in support of additional funding for the First Source program

For more information on Jobs for Somerville, contact Rene at 617-776-5931 x226 or rmardones@somervillecdc.org, and 'Like' us on Facebook!


Union United Meets, Greets and Means Business 

This month, Union United Coalition leaders met with Union Square Station Associates representatives to discuss our CBA and affordable housing priorities, while other members got together with the City's planning staff to talk over anti-displacement strategies.

 

On Wednesday, June 24th, 20 Union United members took part in the Somerville by Design Union Square Neighborhood Planning Meeting at the Old Post Office, and left feeling that there is more work to do to make sure the community's voice is implemented in the planning and decision-making processes. Instead, rents continue to rise, residents and businesses continue to be forced out, and a lack of transparency into the city and developer's plans and criteria for development becomes more evident.

 

Union United held a coalition meeting on July 9th, and elected a steering committee to spend the next 3 months working on coalition structure and thinking about strategic questions. Congratulations to the first Union United steering committee!

 

We can do this, but we need everyone to raise their voices together. Will you join us? Are you Union United? 

 

Union United members at the June 13 retreat. Photo Credit: Van Hardy

For more information on Union United,  contact Mashael at  617-776-5931 x228 or   mmajid@somervillecdc.org visit www.unionunited2014.org, and 'Like' us on Facebook!


First Source Jobs Upcoming Events

Are you a Somerville resident looking to pick up some practical career building skills? Then consider learning more about the  Somerville First Source Jobs Initiative , and the upcoming opportunities we have available.

Take a look below and see what's a good fit for you!

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
First Source Interviewing Skills Workshop

July 21st, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM  

Somerville Community Corporation, 

337 Somerville Ave, Somerville 

 

Do you have a hard time getting ready for a job interview? Is it difficult for you to answer the interview questions with confidence and assertiveness? This workshop offered by a professional in career development will help you to feel more prepared. Join us! 

 

Registration Required

Contact Barbara at 617-776-5931 x233 or  firstsourcejobs@somervillecdc.org

 

 

Chipotle Recruitment Session 

July 22nd, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Chipotle Davis Square, 276 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144

 

Chipotle will be hosting a recruitment session exclusively for first source participants. The online application must be filled out before attending. We are also encouraging everyone who plans on going, to attend the Interview Skills Workshop first. 

 

Registration Required

Contact Barbara at 617-776-5931 x233 or  firstsourcejobs@somervillecdc.org


CPR and First Aid Training -  Ongoing Registration through July
August 5th, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experience (SCALE), 167 Holland St, Somerville
 
This month we will be having ongoing registration for next month's CPR and First Aid Training. The training is scheduled for  Friday August 7, 2015 Whether you work with children, seniors or anyone in between,  you should be prepared for any situation. CPR Boston can give you the tools that could one day save a life.

Cost: $50.00

Registration Required
Contact Barbara at 617-776-5931 x233 or  firstsourcejobs@somervillecdc.org


For all workshops, childcare and interpretation services in Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole will be provided upon request.
 
For more information on First Source, contact Laura at 617-776-5931 x237 or firstsourcejobs@somervillecdc.org, and 'Like' us on Facebook!
As always, we appreciate feedback.  Be sure to join us on Facebook & Twitter for the most current info on what we're up to and how to get involved. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon! 

Sincerely,
Daniel LeBlanc
Somerville Community Corporation