MPDC celebrates an exciting announcement for 2085 Washington & 84 Warren |
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MPDC is thrilled to be recognized for two projects at 2085 Washington Street and 84 Warren Street, both of which include homeownership opportunities and will, in total, create new homes for over 160 families in Roxbury.
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Don't miss MPDC's 2023
Doughnuts and Grits with Your Delegates
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We want to hear from YOU!
Join us to chat with Roxbury local & state elected officials while enjoying breakfast with your neighbors.
JOIN US ON
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
10 am to 11:30 am
Doors open at 9:30 am
Breakfast provided by Soleil and Blackbird Doughnuts
at Hibernian Hall
184 Dudley Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
FEATURING APPEARANCES BY / REPRESENTATION FROM
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s Office
State Senator Liz Miranda
State Representative Chynah Tyler
State Representative Samantha Montaño
Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office
Boston City Council President / District Two Ed Flynn
District Seven Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson
District Six Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara
At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty
At-Large City Councilor Ruthzee Louijuene’s Office
At-Large City Councilor Julia Mejia
At Large City Councilor Erin Murphy
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MPDC'S 2023 Scholarship Program |
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MPDC's Scholarship Program is BACK for 2023 and will be awarding $50,000 in scholarships to fund educational pursuits for those graduating in Spring/Summer of 2023!
Application Deadline: June 16th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
For more information about MPDC’s Scholarship Program, please email Youth Workforce Manager Yhinny Matos or call 617.849.6236.
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Hibernian Hall makes Boston theater history! |
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Hibernian Hall and Actors' Shakespeare Project's co-production "Seven Guitars" by August Wilson closed on March 5th. The production made Boston theater history by being selected for a "Critic's Pick" medallion by the Boston Theater Critics Association. This is the first production in Boston history to receive this prestigious award. MPDC is thrilled to have received such recognition and grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the production.
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Hibernian Hall will host the third installment of its buzzed-about "Roxbury Roots" event on Saturday, April 22nd. This event has been brought back by popular demand and is inspired by the African Oral Tradition of storytelling. This year's theme is "family" and will feature stories from community leaders in Roxbury and beyond. In addition to storytelling, there will be delicious food to enjoy while listening to the tales. "Roxbury Roots" is an opportunity to learn about the unique experiences and perspectives of Roxbury residents while connecting with the community.
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"An Evening in Ghana" is a vibrant and immersive event that brings Ghana's rich and colorful culture to life at Hibernian Hall on Sunday, April 30th. Artist Cornell Coley's travels inspired the event to the country of Ghana and features a variety of Ghanaian artists and performers, including musicians, fashion designers, and food. "An Evening in Ghana" invites the audience to travel to Ghana without ever having to leave home to learn, engage with, and celebrate the beauty and diversity of Ghanaian culture. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or simply curious about the world, "An Evening in Ghana" offers a unique opportunity to experience a different culture and connect with the Ghanaian community in a fun and engaging way. Take advantage of this incredible event that promises to be an unforgettable journey into the heart of Ghana!
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MPDC residents had a fabulous February! |
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On Valentine's Day, Madison Park Village residents discussed ways to uplift the community and honored Peer Health Leaders. Pauline, Stephanie, Jeanet, and Amaryllis.
The Peer Health Leader Training Conference took place the following week at The Dewitt Center in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, Mass General Brigham, R.U.T.H, and New York Life Insurance. Each organization brought team members that imparted a wealth of knowledge. Residents were trained on health disparities plaguing Lower Roxbury communities and discussed ways to prevent, treat and create change for a healthier future. Trainings included education on Diabetes, Cancer, anemia, hypertension, suicide prevention, and fall prevention.
Shout out to MPDC's College for Social Innovation Intern from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Maia Medina, for her work with the Lower Roxbury Community Coalition!
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TWO opportunities to
make your voice heard in Roxbury!
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The City of Boston has been working with residents on a new street design for Warren Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. The City aims to improve Roxbury residents’ quality of life by making it safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable to get to where they want to go. The City is looking at three corridors in Roxbury, including Warren Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.
These corridors have some of the highest ridership and the most delays in the MBTA system. This work will improve bus service for these many riders. The City aims to make these corridors better for people walking by making it safer to cross the street and adding seating, trees, and more lighting. This work will also make bicycling stress-free along these corridors and manage car traffic and parking needs. The City of Boston wants to hear from you and learn about your priorities for these corridors. Take the survey and make your voice heard!
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Maia Medina, MPDC's Community Planning Fellow, is researching how a lack of greenspaces in Roxbury affects human health and well-being for a group project. She is asking for feedback from Roxbury workers and residents to discuss this topic further. By the end of the semester, several scenarios will be presented for increased green space in the Roxbury area.
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MPDC Staffing Announcements |
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On February 9th, Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) CEO Leslie Reid announced Intiya Ambrogi-Isaza's promotion from Director of Real Estate to Vice President of Real Estate and Haris Lefteri's promotion from Interim Director to Director of Hibernian Hall.
Reid comments, "As a member of MPDC’s leadership team, and with the support of the Real Estate team and other staff members, Intiya has done important work advancing MPDC’s housing mission and priorities, including taking on additional responsibilities for our homeownership initiatives. MPDC is excited to continue building a vibrant and healthy community with the support of dedicated staff."
Intiya Ambrogi-Isaza is deeply committed to affordable housing development and has worked with various non-profits in the Boston area and Western Massachusetts. Most recently, she was a Senior Development Manager at OppCo, where she produced 77 units of senior housing, a healthcare clinic, and six units of homeownership in addition to organizational work with the Real Estate teams of Nuestra Comunidad and The Neighborhood Developers. Before finding her focus in this field, she worked on public parks in New York City and Chicago and a hotel project in her family's native Colombia. All her work has been guided by a passion for keeping neighborhoods vibrant and accessible. She also serves on various civic organizations for the City of Boston and the board of Partakers (a prison education and reentry non-profit).
Reid notes, "Since Haris joined MPDC, she has held the Director of Hibernian Hall position as “Interim.” Haris has done great work in developing and deepening relationships in the Roxbury and the arts and culture community and has been instrumental in advancing the mission of bringing relevant programming and events to Hibernian Hall in service of this important part of our mission.”
Lefteri graduated from Boston College with a degree in Political Science and Theater Arts, where she specialized in Directing. She has served as a director since 2011 and has received various DASH Awards nominations. Some credits include Wilderness (The Players’ Ring); Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train (Hovey Players); Fake News (Stanford Calderwood Pavilion-BCA); Roboteacher (Boston Playwrights’ Theater); Thirsty (The Rockwell). Haris’ involvement in every aspect of production, from directing to costume and set design, has given her a well-rounded perspective as a producer and an artist. From 2021 to currently, Haris has collaborated with over 40 artists to create and produce original work at Hibernian Hall. Some projects include The Master Playwright Series, Roxbury Roots, Move For Charity, and MINDSHIFT. As a writer, her work has been produced into a short film titled “The Checkbook” (starring Larry David Eudene) and youth film projects for Boston Latin School. As a leader, Haris’ mission is to continue building a community of artists that stimulate cultural, spiritual, and financial wealth.
Lefteri reflects, "This promotion is a testament to the great MPDC community, leadership, and support because it takes an (MPDC) village. I8 look forward to making each year better and better, and, as one of my favorite songs by The O’Jays goes, let’s “give the people what they want.”
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MPDC is grateful for our donors! |
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On the evening of February 8th, MPDC hosted a reception for our donors and Friends of Hibernian Hall before the premiere of August Wilson's "Seven Guitars." It was an excellent opportunity for our donors to connect with MPDC staff and the Actors' Shakespeare Project leadership. After the reception, everyone headed upstairs to attend the first performance of Seven Guitars, which has received critical acclaim. Everyone had an enjoyable evening celebrating the mission of Madison Park Development Corporation and Hibernian Hall!
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MPDC is pleased to share that we recently received a renewal grant from Liberty Mutual Foundation for our Opportunity Employment Program (OEP). OEP provides critical education, workforce training, mentoring, and mental health support to young adults between 17 and 24. MPDC is grateful for Liberty Mutual Foundation's support of these efforts!
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Thank you to MPDC's February 2023 Newsletter Contributors |
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Allison Anderson
Griffin Thomas
Haris Lefteri
Kelly Lydon
Leslie Reid
Meghan Higgins
Tahara Samuel
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UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS |
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Resident Association Meetings for Madison Park Village are held monthly on Tuesdays.
March 14th
April 11th
May 9th
June 13th
July 11th
August 8th
September 12th
Please join us at The Dewitt Center (122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
If a meeting is rescheduled, it will be the following Tuesday.
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Boston Athletic Association's
Neighborhood Fitness Series
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WHEN: Sunday, March 12th
from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
WHERE: Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center
(1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120)
The B.A.A. invites you to join us for the B.A.A. Neighborhood Fitness Series presented by Boston Children’s Hospital! This event features FREE activity stations and run/walks on the track for athletes of all ages and abilities. Youth activity stations include learning clinics for field events such as long jump, javelin, shot put and more!
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Dimeo Job Fair @ The Dewitt Center |
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WHEN: Wednesday, March 15, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
Join Dimeo at The Dewitt Center to learn about construction job opportunities at Flat 9 - Whittier Phase 3.
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MPDC x IMSO
Food Pantry @ The Dewitt Center
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WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
WHEN: Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 am to 1 pm
(March 18th)
The Dewitt Center and the Islamic Multi-Service Organization (IMSO) host monthly food pantries. Canned goods, fruit, pasta, spaghetti, and more will be available for pickup! Supplies are limited. Masks and social distancing are required.
For more information, please contact IMSO at
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Showstoppers Skills and Drills
@ The Dewitt Center
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WHEN: Mondays until March 27th
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
The Boston Showstoppers is a girls’ academic and athletic enrichment program whose mission is to develop elite female student-athletes by offering a highly competitive basketball experience, encouraging and supporting academic excellence, and nurturing a culture of sisterhood, service, and well-being.
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Ruggles Corridor Artist Talk: Jenny Sabin |
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WHEN: Saturday, March 18th
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
WHERE: The Dewitt Center
(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120)
Join MPDC and The City of Boston for a Ruggles Corridor Artist Talk with Jenny Sabin. During this discussion, Jenny will collect YOUR feedback on her preliminary #designs for long-term public artwork commissioned by the City of Boston's Ruggles Street Corridor improvement project in Roxbury! She will integrate stories and visual input from residents through a workshop into way-finding signage, special materials, and seating areas.
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MPDC's Food Service Training Program |
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WHEN: Tuesday -Thursday
virtual training on Tuesdays & Wednesdays
March 28-April 24
WHERE: Online and at MPDC Offices
(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119)
Learn the skills needed to thrive in a patient-focused, fast-paced environment and kickstart your career in the Healthcare Food Service industry! Participants must be:
- Between the ages of 18-24
- Live in the Boston area
- Fully vaccinated and boostered against COVID-19
Successful completion of the training program will lead to referrals to food service opportunities at Boston Children's Hospital. Thursday classes will be held at MPDC 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA.
THIS IS A PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
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MPDC is now accepting applications for the 2023 Garden Program |
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APPLICATIONS DUE: Thursday, June 1st, 2023
MPDC is now accepting applications for gardening at the
Hope Community Garden!
- The Garden opens in April
- All ages welcome
- Kids' Garden Club (2-18)
- Hope Garden Plots for kids and older adults
This program offers garden education and training, social connectivity, special events, home gardening, and other opportunities
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Madison's Train 2 Trades Program Relaunch |
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APPLICATIONS DUE: Thursday, June 1st, 2023
The Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC² ) offers resources and training. It serves as an incubator and one-stop shop for local, community‐based, and diverse businesses and workers in the construction sector. WORC² was born from the need for resources to help MBE subcontractors grow their businesses, build capacity, and expand their market.
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