November 2018 @MPDC
Sparks for the Arts shines bright!
November 8th was a SPARK-tacular evening celebrating Jeanne Pinado's 20th anniversary as CEO at MPDC and paying homage to Hibernian Hall’s stalwart support of arts & culture in Roxbury . Over 200 people joined us for a beautiful event which included remarks from Mayor Marty Walsh who praised Jeanne’s contributions to the neighborhood and the city, Representative Byron Rushing who spoke about the fascinating history of MPDC starting in the 1960’s, and Councilor Kim Janey who presented a City Council Resolution recognizing Jeanne and her numerous accomplishments. 
With two bands – the Fred Woodard Group and Four on the Floor – a great time was had by all!  Many thanks to everyone who attended this festive night (old friends and new), our generous sponsors , and to the fabulous bidders who raised their hands for MPDC's  first ever Opportunity Bid  hosted by Abrigal Forrester , MPDC's Director of Community Action , who began the night’s festivities with a lot of energy and fun as our "auctioneer."
A delightful November at the
Dewitt Center
The MPDC Dewitt Center has been very active with events, workshops, classes, and community holiday celebrations!

On November 15th , the Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment   hosted a career fair at the Dewitt Center for Encore Boston Harbor , a new casino & resort opening in 2019. The event featured a variety of vocational and adult basic education providers such as  Cambridge College , New England Center for Arts & Technology , and BEST Hospitality Training . Attendees were encouraged to engage and learn more about the unique workforce development opportunities that could potentially lead to employment at Encore Boston Harbor. Thank you to those who joined us including Mayor Marty Walsh , and City Council President Andrea Campbell !
The Islamic Multi-Service Organization collaborated with the Dewitt Center to give away 175 turkey baskets  to MPDC residents and community members o n November 17th . Thank you to Mayor Marty Walsh for attending and helping to give away turkeys and bags full of fixings for the holidays!

Later that day, Mayor Walsh joined the Francis O' Bryant Mentorship Program & Ladies Protecting Girls Lives on Serious Subjects as a guest speaker. He spoke about the importance of mentorship and the positive impact it can have on a young person's life .
Over 150 residents from MPV attended our Resident Service Coordinators' annual Madison Park Village Thanksgiving Dinner on November 20th . Residents and guests enjoyed live music , dancing , a delicious meal , a portrait photography session , turkey giveaways , and quality time with their family & neighbors. The evening came to a close with a raffle for a full scholarship to the Ellis Memorial After-School Program at the Dewitt Center.
Stay connected by following the new
Dewitt Center Facebook page!
Hibernian Hall has been hoppin'!
Hibernian Hall has been brimming with civic engagement events and original productions!

“I get it, we won’t get the White House, but to have the House and the Senate is to make the down payment.” Senator Elizabeth Warren said at her town hall event at Hibernian Hall on October 13th .
Senator Warren encouraged people to head to the voting booths on November 6th, as a way to help politicians tackle the issues they care about.
Hibernian Hall was also honored to host Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley 's second Equity Agenda Forum which focused on Criminal Justice Reform . The November 1st event featured a panel including MPDC's Director or Community Action, Abrigal Forrester , Romilda Pereira , Judge Leslie Harris , and Adam Foss , Founder & President of Prosecutor Impact .

On Election Night (November 6th) , MPDC partnered with Teen Empowerment and Boston Community Action Team to host #GangGang Votes' interactive election night watch party. The event included a mock voting booth and conversations about the importance of exercising the right to vote .
As part of a longstanding tradition , Hibernian Hall was proud to welcome back t he Orchard Gardens Resident Association for their annual Thanksgiving Gospel Dinner on November 17th , w here they thanked residents , volunteers , and supporters of the community for all they do throughout the year. Yvette Jordan , MPDC's Office Manager, was honored at this year's dinner for her contributions and dedication to the neighborhood. Congrats, Yvette!
In October , Hibernian Hall presented their second original production of 2018, With Glittering Eyes , written by Playwright in Residence Tricia Elam Walker and directed by Dawn M. Simmons . The production focused on the story of a solid family with a devastating secret. With Glittering Eyes portrayed the tense and compelling tale of an untold truth and its consequence for generations. Stay tuned for more original Hibernian Hall productions coming in 2019!
Stay connected by following Hibernian Hall!
Fun with the Friends of Hibernian Hall
Friends of Hibernian Hall   had a busy month of networking and socializing with two considerable receptions held just for the Friends! On October 14th , our annual House Party celebrated Hibernian Hall with playwright in residence Tricia Elam Walker and performance artist Destiny Polk . And, just days later on October 18th , the Friends celebrated opening night of With Glittering Eyes with a beautiful reception attended by over 70 arts patrons, arts advocates and long-time supporters of the work of Hibernian Hall .

Friends of Hibernian Hall receive a year of benefits including invitations to exclusive events like the aforementioned and ticket discounts . An annual membership helps sustain the performances and arts programming that brings Hibernian Hall to life! Become a member today and enjoy your ticket discount for the upcoming production run of  Unto this House ,  opening December 7th. Interested in learning more about the Friends of Hibernian Hall? Please contact Kay Matthews .
MPDC joins Blue Cross/Blue Shield's
Healthy Living Network
We are thrilled to announce that  Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts  awarded MPDC's Community Action’s Health Equity and Community Wellness Initiative  a $10,000 grant and welcomed MPDC to their  Healthy Living Network  this Fall. This generous grant will be used to counter food insecurity among households by supporting healthy food access , community gardens and nutrition initiatives , including activities led by our intrepid resident health leaders.  
Exciting progress made at MPDC's
future homes for families
One of MPDC's latest developments , Madison Melnea Cass Apartments (MMCA), is on track to complete construction June 2019 ! All five floors and the roof at 600 Melnea Cass Boulevard were fully constructed and the windows will be in place by December.

MMCA is required to follow the City of Boston’s initial lease-up lottery process. The rental application distribution and the info sessions are being planned for January 2019, but there are no dates set at this time. The City of Boston’s Metrolist will have info about the lottery process as well as other current housing opportunities throughout the City of Boston.
Madison-Whittier Coalition
improving Roxbury streets
Over the last six months, MPDC has partnered with the residents Madison Park Village   and Whittier Street to set a new vision for Ruggles Street and adjacent parks with the Boston Public Works  & Boston Parks & Recreation Departments .  Since the first gathering in June, the group has successfully identified priorities for both projects and wrote a letter to the City of Boston describing what they'd like to see developed with the redesigns. The group, now named the Madison-Whittier Coalition (MWC), saw almost all of their feedback incorporated into the most recent designs for both the street and the park. In October, the MWC partnered with the BPWD to facilitate a walking tour of Ruggles Street with an on-site discussion of the proposed design. The MWC closed out a successful year with their last session on November 19th. The group will reconvene on Monday, January 14 th , 2019. We look forward to another successful year of MPDC and resident partnership to make Roxbury a healthier place for all!
MPDC Community Action Team conference updates
MPDC’s Community Action Team has been very busy
attending important conferences across the country!

On October 20th , MPDC’s Community Action Team and Resident Leaders attended the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporation (MACDC) 2018 Convention at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Attendees had the opportunity to network and participate in educational workshops with more than 700 community development leaders from across the state. T his was the largest MACDC Convention to date, with hundreds of community residents, CDC board members, staff members, funders, partners, and allies in attendance.
In November , MPDC’s Health Equity & Wellness Program Coordinator, Marah Holland , and Felipe Ruiz from the Boston Public Health Commission presented MPDC’s Roxbury In Motion (RIM) initiative at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego, CA . APHA's Annual Meeting and Expo  is where public health professionals convene, learn, network and engage with peers. RIM is a coalition of community partners and residents working on three project areas: urban growing, active transit, and complete streets . The presentation highlighted the importance of health institutions investing in partnerships with community development corporations (CDCs) to address health disparities in low-income communities. 
MPDC youth reaching higher with HiSET!
What do Mr. Pittman and Ledelle have in common? They are reaching higher together at MPDC's new  HiSET  pilot program! Mr. Pittman is MPDC's HiSET evening instructor and has been an educator for over 12 years. He is helping our students with math & science . Ledelle is 20 years old, has four siblings, is a security guard, and a student in our HiSET program . On November 15 , MPDC proudly launched our pilot HiSET program. Our inaugural group of 15 youth began day & evening classes to prepare them for the HiSET exam. The HiSET exam is one of three tests U.S. states and territories use to measure high school equivalency skills . Are you ready to  #ReacHigher ? Contact Wil Smart for more information!
Roxbury Neighborhood Trauma Team
The Boston Public Health Commission leads a community-based initiative called the Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT). NTT responds to incidents of violence in specific areas of Boston and connects community members to trauma recovery services if needed. MPDC’s Public Safety Team, in partnership with the Whittier Street Health Center , is the community liaison for the Roxbury Neighborhood Trauma Team (RNTT).
If you or someone you know has witnessed or experienced violence and needs emotional support please do not hesitate to contact Abrigal or Lavell.
Director of Community Action
617-586-5491
Public Safety Coordinator
857-277-4663
UPCOMING EVENTS
THIS WEEKEND: Roxbury Stringfest
Boston City-Wide String Orchestra and City Strings United at Hibernian Hall

WHEN: Sunday, December 2, 2018, 3:30-5:30pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
Unto This House: The King of Kings is Born
Hibernian Hall and Witherspoon Institute present a dramatic expression of the first Christmas

WHEN: Friday, December 7 & 14 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 8 and 15 at
3:00 PM & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 9 and 16 at
3:00pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)

TICKETS:
General Admission: $35
Students/Seniors: $17.50
Cooking Matters Supermarket Tour 
MPDC Health Equity & Wellness Program's Cooking Matters Supermarket Tour  

WHEN: Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 5:00pm

(450 Melnea Cass Blvd. Roxbury)

Sign up and receive a free reusable bag. $10 gift card, and a cookbook!
Winter Wonderland
Madison Park Village's Annual Winter Wonderland

WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2018,
5:30-7:00pm

(122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury)

WINN Residential's annual all-ages celebration for Madison Park Village families to enjoy holiday festivities with toy giveaways, food, and music.
Kecosa Collective: Soul Synergy Live!
A theatrical performance of African Diaspora-Latin music, dance, poetry, and visual art!

WHEN: Thursday, December 29, 2018,
8:00-10:30pm

(184 Dudley Street, Roxbury)
MPDC Holiday Hours
Madison Park Development Corporation offices & Hibernian Hall will be observing holiday hours so that our staff can enjoy
time with family and friends!

Monday, December 24: 9am-2pm
Tuesday, December 25: CLOSED
Monday, January 31: 9am-2pm
Tuesday, January 1: CLOSED

Happy Holidays!