February 2019 @ MPDC
TONIGHT!
Boston Children's Chorus performs at Hibernian Hall
Boston Children’s Chorus   had so much fun performing   ' She Persisted '  at Symphony Hall in January, that they’re doing a repeat concert! Join us for the pay-what-you-can performance TONIGHT at   Hibernian Hall   at 6:30pm!

MPDC & Hibernian Hall are proud to be neighborhood partners with Boston Children’s Chorus. The BCC Neighborhood Choirs bring diverse singers from partner neighborhoods, and they also draw singers from the suburbs into these urban communities. Through these collaborations, BCC increases access to their arts education program by deepening their presence in these neighborhoods.
New year, new career!
MPDC's 4th Annual Community Job Fair
On Wednesday, February 6 , the   Dewitt Center   was bustling with 57 employers offering job opportunities in a variety of fields including construction , retail , non-profit , and hospitality . MPDC had all hands on deck including 30 volunteers , many who were MPDC youth program participants, to assist the 175 job seekers with completing applications and copying resumes. The day concluded with an exciting raffle and the announcement that MPDC’s next OSHA training will be on March 11 & 12, 2019 . Thank you to all of our vendors, job seekers, and volunteers for making the day a success. For more information about upcoming job fairs and OSHA trainings , please contact  Katrina Conrad   / 617.849.6226.
Lots of love on Valentine's Day at MPDC
MPDC celebrated Valentine's Day by showing appreciation for our hardworking staff . On February 14, Ubuntu Massage took over one of our meeting rooms and treated our staff to 15 minutes of relaxation . Thank you to MPDC Rox Health for the love!

Meanwhile, at The Dewitt Center, r esidents of Madison Park Village and alumni from MPDC’s After School Youth Employment Program received special handmade Valentine's Day treats courtesy of Tykia White of Ty’s Table .
A fabulous February at
The Dewitt Center!
In February, MissionSAFE visited The Dewitt Center with youth from their after-school program. Senior Program Associate Brandi Artez commented “My youth love community service and going to the Dewitt Center!”  MissionSAFE serves youth and families in Boston to gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive. They also run a bilingual after school program for middle and high school students of color.  Thanks for visiting The Dewitt!
Over February break, Boston Public Health Commission Peer Leadership Institute hosted a Teen Professional After Work Networking Mixer at The Dewitt Center! The evening was filled with networking , a panel featuring seven guests from different professional fields, and lots of fun . Together they shared their experiences and resources to help the peer leaders plan their futures!
Since The Dewitt Center opened its doors in July 2019, it has been occupied with everything from poetry (with  Boston Pulse Poetry ) to food pantries ( Islamic Multi-Service Organization ). We have lots of exciting programs , workshops , activities , and events planned at  The Dewitt Center  this Spring and we want you to join us to #DoItAtTheDewitt . We are looking forward to continuing programs such as  EV Kids  & the  Dream Program  and welcoming new ones such as  One Love Sports Academy  & Citi Fit Zumba. You can see a schedule  of programs or  check out our latest catalog on our website . Interested in hosting a community event or program at The Dewitt Center? Fill out our inquiry form  or contact  Erica Davis  / 617.541.3900 for more information.
Stay connected by following the
Dewitt Center Facebook & Instagram pages!
Dewitt Center Spotlight:
EVkids
Since she was little, Taisha (8 th  grade) has known what college she wants to attend – Northeastern – and what she wants to be when she grows up – a lawyer. And for the steps she has to take to get there, her EVkids tutor Sarah Whiteman (Northeastern ’21) is there to help. Taisha and Sarah meet every week for 1-on-1 tutoring and mentoring. Between Taisha’s drive and Sarah’s willingness to help Taisha accomplish her dreams , their relationship is a perfect balance between productivity and fun. First, they work on Taisha’s harder homework , which she saves for tutoring , and then they either work on extra math , which they both enjoy or play a board game like the one Taisha created about how a law is made.

Every week at The Dewitt Center, EVkids works to empower youth like Taisha with the skills and confidence to succeed in school and life . The EVkids community of support, from tutors to professional Education Advocates, closes the gaps between the students, their families, and teachers to provide the guidance and support needed to follow their dreams , from elementary school to college and beyond!
The sun sets on 'Nat Turner '
at Hibernian Hall
As Black History Month came to a close, so did  Actors' Shakespeare Project's 'Nat Turner in Jerusalem ' at Hibernian Hall.  Audiences called this production powerful , relevant , beautiful and thought-provoking , and critics agree.

We are proud to share this video of reviews from audience members and these highlights from critics :

"The dialogue between Turner ...and his lawyer, Thomas R. Gray ...is rippling with religious conviction and condemnation ...never reaches a combustive conclusion." -- WBUR

"Plays like Nat Turner in Jerusalem help viewers explore how events from the past illuminate our present moment , and hopefully help us find the humanity in those with opposite viewpoints. Take the time to see this powerful and thought-provoking show..." -- The Theater Mirror  

" Wheeler will move smoothly between the two characters , who obviously engage Turner at different levels." -- On Boston Stage s

"Green’s Turner is breathing different air as he looks up and out, past his death, and into a future where his deeds reverberate ." -- Joyce'sChoices

"The play is at its most compelling, and we get a firmer grasp of Turner's motivations, when Turner speaks not as a prophet but as a man who has experienced ..." -- Boston Globe

Actors’ Shakespeare Project, founded in 2004, is an award -winning professional theater company with a  Resident Acting Company  and extensive  education ,  youth , and  community  programs. ASP performs and works in found spaces , schools , theaters , and neighborhoods to present and explore the robust language , resonant stories , and deeply human characters in Shakespeare’s plays and works by other great playwrights.
Stay connected by following Hibernian Hall!
Workforce Diversity Spotlight:
David Williams
David Williams , also known to the Boston music community as KOFI, originally from California, moved to Boston in 2011 to st udy music production  at Berklee College of Music. While working on the  Dudley Library Project , he was referred to MPDC ' s Workforce Diversity Project Manager, Katrina Conrad. In 2018, he worked with MPDC to find a job in the construction field ,  get his OSHA-10 certification  and was  referred to Resource Options, Inc. (ROI), a construction temp staffing agency . With ROI, David  worked on multiple sites in and around cities/towns like  Brookline, Newton, and Arlington mixing concrete and performing a variety of general laborer duties.  Later in 2018, MPDC referred David to  Andre Barbour of   NEI General Contracting .   Thanks to MPDC's help, David is now happy to say that he has a permanent position with   Rowland Roofing & Cladding LLC .

Are you looking for employment or a new career?
Connect with Katrina / 617.849.6226.
Progress at the Madison Melnea Cass Apartments!
We are  expanding the amount of mixed income housing   we offer in Roxbury through the construction of the Madison Melnea Cass Apartments  (MMCA). 
MMCA wrapped up the rmarketing of affordable apartments on February 13 and  received over 1,000 applicants for the 39 units . We expect the  Boston Fair Housing Commission  to hold a lottery   early this Spring . Siding is currently being installed at 600 Melnea Cass Boulevard and installation of unit finishes are underway. Interior drywall installation is underway in the 40 Raynor Circle building. We’re on track to make these  future homes available for families in May!
MPDC receives 2019 grant from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
MPDC is proud to be selected as a  2019 award recipient of the  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Healthy Food Fund !   This  $25,000 award , renewable for up to 3 years,  supports  MPDC’s community gardens  by providing dedicated resident Garden Leaders with  new training & educational opportunities  & get engaged in  growing their own food . The funds will allow MPDC to recruit new groups of volunteers to help keep the gardens running smoothly every year.
 
Over 400 pounds of vegetables and herbs are grown annually   at MPDC’s Orchard Gardens and Madison Park Village community gardens, providing MPDC  residents  with  fresh ,   healthy ingredients  and  grocery bill savings . MPDC is grateful to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation for this opportunity to  keep Roxbury growing!
Now Accepting Applications for MPDC's 2019 Scholarship Program!
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,
Yhinny Matos / 617.849.6236.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEATURED EVENT:
Dewitt Center Art Gallery Reception
Explore the art & photography showcased at The Dewitt Center!

WHEN: Thursday, March 28
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)

Join us for an evening celebrating Roxbury art & history. This free event will feature conversations with the artists, live music, refreshments, and guided tours of The Dewitt Center Art Gallery.
Winifred Irish Hall (1924 - 2013)
Annie Wade & Gertrude Joseph on Tremont Street, co. 1935-45
Lower Roxbury Black History Project Records
Courtesy of Northeastern University Libraries Archives & Special Collections
Youth Arts for Social Change Summit
Join the  Boch Center’s Youth Arts  for Social Change Summit!

WHEN: Saturday, March 2
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)

The Boch Center's Teen Leaders will be showcasing creative teens strengthening our community. This free event will feature a collaborative art-making workshop, presentations from various Boston youth organizations, art for social change gallery/ contest, talent show and more!

Community Listening Session: MetroCommon 2050 Open House Expo
What do you want for the region’s future? Talk about your ideas at an open house expo for MetroCommon 2050 !

WHEN: Saturday, March 6
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)

Some issues are bigger than any one neighborhood, city, or town: Transportation, housing, climate, jobs, equity, and more. That's why your community is part of Greater Boston's next long-term regional plan, MetroCommon 2050 , which is now being developed.

Please join the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for a drop-in, interactive, expo-style listening session!
Nutrition Cooking Demonstrations
Join us for MPDC’s Nutrition Cooking Demonstrations in partnership with  Daily Table  &  Dana Farber .

WHEN: Tuesday, March 12 & Thursday, March 28
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

(757 Shawmut Avenue, Roxbury)

Learn how to prepare healthy meals on a budget, connect with your neighbors, and enjoy a delicious meal!

Our Voices: Community Open Mic
An evening of youth poetry at
The Dewitt Center!

WHEN: Thursday, March 14
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)

Join  Boston Day & Evening Academy ,  826 Boston , and   Boston Pulse Poetry   for ‘Our Voices’ a Community Open Mic featuring the 826 Slam Poetry Team.
My City, My Body
Radical Black Girl kicks off Hibernian Hall’s new artist in residency program with their traveling research and performance project.

WHEN: Saturday, March 23
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)

This community sharing & forum is a space where folks are invited to participate in an open dance cipher lead by Destiny Polk. A group of 25 young women will perform original works based off of a week-long research project and will close with an open discussion on issues identified by young people.
Dance for Social Justice
Join Danza Orgánica for their Dance for Social Justice Workshop for self-identified Women of Color.

WHEN: Saturday, March 30
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)



Dance for Social Justice is a process-based workshop that delves into the universal language of movement, to generate conversations and create art around social justice issues in our communities. Participants exercise solidarity through group-work, the exchange of ideas, and by engaging on intentional discussions. Through a guided dance composition process, participants explore basic elements of dance composition to create dance pieces with their groups. An informal showing, and a feedback/Q&A session, brings closure to the workshop.