In case you missed it:
A Special Announcement from MPDC
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MADISON PARK DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGE; SEEKS NEW CEO
ROXBURY, MA.
- The Board of Directors of Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) announced on April 10, 2019 that Jeanne Pinado will step down as Chief Executive Officer after 21 years of leadership effective December 31, 2019. The board formed a search committee and has enlisted the services of
Ann L Silverman Consulting
to help lead the work of identifying a new CEO
.
Ivelise Rivera, MPDC’s Board President, said of the leadership transition, “It has been a privilege to have Jeanne as our CEO for two decades. She is a highly capable leader who has transformed MPDC from a small operation to a highly successful, multi-faceted organization. We have laid the groundwork for a smooth transition and the Board looks forward to new leadership as we begin the next chapter in MPDC’s history.”
“It’s with mixed emotions that I decided it was time to step down. I’ll miss the daily rhythm of the work and my amazing staff and colleagues but look forward to taking a year off to spend time with family and friends and think about what’s next. I have loved my role here and still love it. My team has accomplished so much from
developing and preserving hundreds of quality homes for families
, to adding new Dudley Square businesses and jobs, to the rebirth of
Hibernian Hall
as an arts and cultural center to resident-driven programming in health & community wellness, civic engagement, and youth development. As a lover of the built environment, the opening of the new
Dewitt Center
last year is a wonderful accomplishment. Serving the Roxbury community and the City of Boston has been the highlight of my professional career and I leave MPDC at a high point in its 53-year history and with a confidence that it will continue to build upon its success and promote the well-being of the community,” said Jeanne Pinado.
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Aging: So cool everyone's doing it!
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On
Tuesday, April 23
, MPDC,
Nuestra CDC
,
Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
, and
Central Boston Elder Services
hosted their annual Senior Resource Fair at
Hibernian Hall
. The fun & interactive fair featured local resources for the crowd of
Roxbury senior residents
in attendance. The
Age Strong
Commissioner,
Emily Shea
, and
Mike Vance
, CEO of Central Boston Elder Services, gave a warm welcome to attendees and offered encouraging words about
aging in place in Boston
. Guests explored activities & resources provided by vendors including
Arbour Hospital
, the
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
, and the
Boston Home Center
. Everyone at the event was able to participate in
free memory screenings
hosted by the
Boston University Alzheimer’s Research Disease Center
,
play bingo
, and learn some new
self-care and fitness tips
from
F.I.T.T Pit
.
As Emily Shea said,
"Aging is so cool that everyone is doing it!"
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An amazing April at The Dewitt Center
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As The Dewitt Center nears its first birthday in July 2019, it is
busier than ever
with everything from mentorship (with
Francis O’Bryant Mentorship Program
) to martial arts (Temple of Martial Arts). We have lots of exciting
programs
,
workshops
,
activities
, and
events
planned at
The Dewitt Center
during April, May, and June as we gear up to
#DoItAtTheDewitt
this Summer.
Through June, we are looking forward to continuing programs such as
Collective Impact Open Gym
and welcoming new ones such as
The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense
taught by the Bureau of Community Education. You can see a schedule of Dewitt Center programs & events
here
or
check out our latest catalog
.
Interested in hosting a community event or program at The Dewitt Center?
Fill out our inquiry form
here
or contact
Erica Davis
/ 617.541.3900 for more information.
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The Dewitt Center received a donation of
200 snack boxes
that included healthy, shelf-stable snacks and nutrition education materials for Dewitt Center members. This donation was made in part of the “
One Million Acts of Good
” initiative created by Ellen DeGeneres & Cheerios. Throughout April, Dewitt Center
program participants were able to enjoy these special treats!
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Madison Park Village resident, Robin, hosted a
paint birthday party
for her niece, Danae. The creative celebration featured 1:1 art instruction from Kyia Watkins of
At Peace Arts
. Each party-goer left with their
one of a kind masterpiece.
Thank you, Danae, for celebrating your 13th birthday at the Dewitt Center!
Interested in hosting an event at The Dewitt Center?
Fill out our inquiry form
here
or contact
Erica Davis
/ 617.541.3900 for more information.
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On Saturday,
April 13th
close to 200 people attended the
Mayor’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity's
'Fair Housing Open House' for Boston residents. The event provided constituents with the
opportunity to learn about City and nonprofit services
that address
housing discrimination
&
affordable housing
,
and featured a panel discussion with compelling presentations from the City.
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Also in April, The Dewitt Center welcomed student visitors from
Brattleboro Union High School
in Vermont. During their field trip to Roxbury, they took a
self-guided tour through The Dewitt Center Art Gallery
and enjoyed a presentation by gallery curator, Lolita Parker, Jr.
Interested in taking a tour of the gallery?
Stop by The Dewitt Center Monday through Friday from 10 am to 8 pm or Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and take a self-guided tour with one of our handy ‘
Self Guided Tour Companions
.’
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As a part of the
VIP
(Village in Progress) initiative, The Dewitt Center & MPDC's Community Action Team hosted Movie Night on
April 19th
for the community. The purpose of MPDC Movie Nights is to
offer families a chance to enjoy a free movie with their neighbors
and continue to
strengthen community bonds
.
Movie Night continues to be a
safe space for all community members
, from Roxbury and beyond, to connect.
This month, 40+ guests joined us to watch "The Avengers." After the movie, five lucky winners received prizes from the evening's raffle!
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Stay connected by following the
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MPDC represents at MACDC's Lobby Day
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MPDC was pleased to join
MACDC
for their annual
Lobby Day
on
April 25th
in the Great Hall at the MA State House. The MPDC Community Action Team, Leslie Reid, VP of Programs, Jeanne Pinado, CEO, and Roxbury residents joined the delegation of community organizations to
chat with Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz
about MACDC’s
housing priorities
.
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Radical Black Girl, Danza Orgánica & Castle of Our Skins at Hibernian Hall
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MPDC welcomed Destiny Polk, founder of
Radical Black Girl
, for a week-long residency at
Hibernian Hall’s new artist-in-residence program
, “
SOL*ARTS
.” Destiny presented the first iteration of her traveling research & performance project called
“My City, My Body or If Concrete Could Talk or For Those Who May Be Traumatized."
Twenty-five young women from
Youth Options Unlimited
joined Destiny for a week of embodied research through
movement
,
poetry
, and
storytelling
.
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Also in April, MPDC welcomed a Boston based event hosted and curated by Marsha Parrilla /
Danza Orgánica
to Hibernian Hall. "
We Create Festival
"
promotes diversity
and
brings visibility to self-identified women artists
. This was the sixth edition of the acclaimed festival. During the two day festival,
artists shared their process of art-making
and presented their works to the community.
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Hibernian Hall recently received a grant from
Boston Cultural Council
for
Hibernian Hall’s partnership with
Castle of Our Skins
in support of a week-long
series of cultural and musical activities
paying homage to James Baldwin taking place this June.
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Stay connected by following Hibernian Hall!
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Endless appreciation for our funders!
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With MPDC’s
2018-19
After School Youth Employment Program
coming to a close, we’d like to thank funders and supporters who
supported the largest cohort of participants in the program’s history
:
As we look to summer, we are happy to count the
Berkshire Bank Foundation
as a recent supporter of
MPDC’s 2019 Summer Youth Employment Program
(SYEP),
which has a
record number of youth applicants
this year. Other SYEP funders to date are:
We are also excited to announce that a grant from the
Massachusetts Census Equity Fund
was secured, which will help our
Civic Engagement
initiative disseminate
Census 2020
information to Roxbury residents to
ensure widespread community participation
in next year’s census. It is so
important to be counted
to
leverage public resources for Roxbury!
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With demand for youth employment programs greater than ever, MPDC’s Youth Programs
rely on the support of our funders and donors
.
You
can make a difference by
giving today
to help MPDC
provide young people with meaningful employment and leadership development experience!
Similarly, as
Hibernian Hall
develops and produces more
high quality culturally relevant arts programs
for the community, it too
relies on donations from its friends and supporters
. And
The Dewitt Center,
in its first year of operation, has already become a
modern, busy haven for Roxbury families
and youth to engage in recreational, educational, and cultural activities and
welcomes your contributions.
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Of course, any gift amount is welcome and appreciated!
Visit
our website
to make your contribution today or contact
Kay Mathew
, MPDC Resource Development Manager /
617.849.6335.
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Around town with MPDC's
Community Action Team
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On April 1st,
Beyazmin Jimenez
and
Leslie Reid
, MPDC’s Vice President of Programs, joined the City of Boston for the
Census 2020 Kick-Off
hosted at the East Boston Public Library. Boston community advocacy groups,
Mayor Marty Walsh
, and
Councilor Lydia Edwards
were in attendance to express the importance of having every person counted in the 2020 Census and to ensure a fair process.
MPDC recognizes the importance of an inclusive and accurate Census
count for Roxbury, and we are
prepared to dedicate time and resources to ensuring all residents are educated
,
informed
, and
provided with the tools
necessary to participate in the upcoming Census count.
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On April 23rd, The
Mel King Institute
,
MA Community and Banking Council
, and
Enterprise Community Partners
hosted a Lunch + Learn event for community development professionals to explore the
'
Undesign the Redline
' exhibit at the
Boston Architectural College
. 'Undesign the Redline' is an interactive exhibit connecting the intentional and systematic racial
housing segregation
of the 1930s to political and social issues of today, through the
powerful narratives
of the people and communities affected by redlining and its legacy.
Beyazmin Jimenez
, MPDC's Resident and Civic Engagement Manager, served on a panel to share MPDC's efforts on
engaging resident leaders in Roxbury
to help empower and inform the political future of the area.
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Workforce Diversity Spotlight:
Damond Brown
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Damond & his fiancee came to MPDC for assistance in obtaining Damond's
HiSET Certification
. MPDC's Y
outh Development Team
worked with the young family to help Damond enroll in the program but recognized that
Damond had a love for construction trades
. They introduced him to
Katrina Conrad
, MPDC’s Workforce Diversity Project Manager, and they began working to
make his construction career dreams a reality
. Katrina reached out to David Hurst, owner of
Hurst Landscaping
, to see if there was a role available for Damond on the Hurst team. After a series of interviews, Damond was able to
secure employment
with Hurst Landscaping and
began working immediately
. MPDC helped Damond to receive his
OSHA-10
certification and registered him as a
Section 3 Resident
which qualifies him to work on any construction site under Hurst Landscaping.
Congratulations to Damond and his family!
Are you looking for employment or a new career?
Connect with
Katrina
/ 617.849.6226.
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MPDC's Health & Wellness Team plant springtime seeds at Smith House
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MPDC's
Health & Wellness
Team hosted a
Seedling Class
at the
Smith House
on April 29th. The Seedling Class helped 36 community members
prepare for the upcoming garden season
. The Seedling Class is a part of our
ongoing efforts to promote healthy eating
and serves as an opportunity for participants to learn more about the health benefits associated with growing & eating vegetables, herbs, and fruits.
T
his program would not be possible without the
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
's support of MPDC’s Community Gardens!
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Celebrating the After School Youth Employment Program
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MPDC's
After School Youth Employment Program
(AYEP) has served
23 youth leaders
ranging in ages 14 to 19 years old in Spring 2019. All participants were placed in
internships
where they received
hands-on experience
in various career fields. In January, AYEP began a partnership with the
Boston Public Health Commission's Peer Leadership Institute
to organize a series of
youth-led peer health presentations
. Presentation topics have included sexual health and the hazards of marijuana & tobacco use.
Winter & Spring 2019 AYEP highlights include:
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Now Accepting Applications for MPDC's 2019 Scholarship Program!
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Each year, through the
Ralph Smith
,
Danette Jones
, and
Haynes Family Scholarships
, MPDC helps
several deserving students
from Roxbury
offset the cost of their college education
.
Several college-bound applicants from Roxbury are selected annually by MPDC to receive scholarships ranging from
$250 to $5,000
toward each recipient’s
college tuition and expenses
. MPDC’s college scholarship program was established by a bequest from the estate of Ralph Smith, our co-founder and first Executive Director, and a gift made in honor of Danette Jones, our second Executive Director. These scholarships make
a meaningful difference in the lives of our young residents.
Interested in learning more about MPDC's 2019 Scholarship Program?
Check out our
brochure
or contact MPDC Youth Workforce Manager,
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WHEN:
Thursday, May 2
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)
Our Voices is a community open mic, open to the public. Free snacks and soft drinks will be served.
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First Teacher Open Mic Night
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An evening of talented musicians, storytellers, dancers, and poets from the community
WHEN:
Thursday, May 2
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
First Teacher’s Open Mic Fundraising Event (21+) is an event designed to bring First Teacher stakeholders from all corners of the city together to celebrate their first five years together building the First Teacher movement.
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One Drop of Love with Fanshen Cox
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A special one-woman show starring Fanshen Cox live at Hibernian Hall!
WHEN:
Friday, May 3
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
One Drop uses the ever-changing racial categories on the U.S. Census as the historical backdrop to this interactive show. Audiences will travel from the 1700s to the present, to cities around the U.S., and to West and East Africa, to pursue more truth – leading to more justice – and then, perhaps to LOVE.
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Mother's Day Show & Dance
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Treat a mom in your life to a fun night of music, dancing, and food!
WHEN:
Saturday, May 4
8:00 am - 2:00 am
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
With performances by King David Michael Rudder, Steve Masters, Omesh Singh, Baba Shanter, and more!
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A Conversation & Celebration with Playwright Jocelyn Bioh
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in association with Hibernian Hall
presents a Conversation & Celebration with Playwright Jocelyn Bioh
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 7
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
You are invited to a conversation and celebration with playwright Jocelyn Bioh, author of the acclaimed comedy School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. Karen Ward Holmes of WCVB will sit down with Ms. Bioh and director, Summer L. Williams to discuss the origins of the play, which is set in Ghana in 1986, the societal pressures of beauty, and the growing representation of black females in popular culture. The discussion will include a short scene from the play and a Q&A. There will be a reception with refreshments and soft drinks to follow. Join us for this
FREE
event!
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Dewitt Center Video Game Tournament
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Do you think you're the best video gamer?
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 8
5:00 pm - 7:45 pm
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)
Enjoy an evening of fun competition between Dewitt members to see who is the best video game player! Ages 13+ & all Dewitt Center members welcome.
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Dewitt Center Senior Beauty Day
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The Dewitt Center is treating seniors to a fun-filled beauty day at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
WHEN:
Friday, May 10
9:00 am
(75 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury)
Seniors can choose from a wash, blow dry & curl, wash & set, manicure, or pedicure! Space is limited RSVP required.
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Dewitt Center Trivia Night
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Test your knowledge at The Dewitt Center!
WHEN:
Friday, May 17
4:30 pm - 7:45 pm
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)
Test your trivia knowledge, learn fun facts,
and win cool prizes.
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Project STEP's 26th Annual Spring Recital
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Join your community & celebrate diversity with an afternoon concert from the award-winning students of
Project STEP
WHEN:
Sunday, May 19
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
This event supports Project STEP, a non-profit string training program for talented young classical musicians from underrepresented populations in Boston & surrounding areas.
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Annual MPV Mother's Day Celebration
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Celebrate Mother's Day with your family, neighbors & friends!
WHEN:
Thursday, May 23
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)
Annual MPV Mother’s Day Dinner Celebration for residents of Haynes House, Smith House, Madison Park III, Madison Park IV, Beryl Gardens, Ruggles Shawmut, Dudley Greenville, 9 Williams Street, and St. Botolph only.
Please RSVP by calling Marcus @ 617-238-2313 or Etai @ 617-427-9242.
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Movie Night at The Dewitt Center
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Enjoy a movie at The Dewitt Center
WHEN:
Friday, May 31
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)
Watch 'Honey Rise Up & Dance' while enjoying popcorn & refreshments!
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SAVE THE DATE: Garden Tea Party
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You’re invited to an afternoon Garden Tea Party!
WHEN:
Saturday, June 8
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
WHERE:
Hope Community Garden
(55 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury)
Prize for best hat, pocketbook scavenger hunt, ‘Create Your Own Smoothie’ contest, and more!
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SAVE THE DATE: MPDC Unity Day
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MPDC invites you for a day of fun celebrating our neighborhood!
WHEN:
Saturday, June 15
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Free food & refreshments, live music, wellness activities & exercises, outdoor games, face painting & more!
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SAVE THE DATE: Bilal Live at Hibernian Hall
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Join Hibernian Hall for their SOLSTONE Neo-Soul Concert featuring Bilal.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 15
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
Through evangelism from his peers and word of mouth from his early fans, Bilal gained an insatiable following and was supported by sympathetic independent labels, where he was finally able to thrive creatively.
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