Sparks for Arts 55th Gala Celebration:
What You Missed & More!
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Madison Park Development Corporation was thrilled to welcome nearly 300 supporters to this year's special 55th Anniversary Sparks for Arts Virtual Gala, held on November 18th, 2021. Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy fantastic performances from The Fred Woodard Collective, Boston Youth Poet Laureate Allondra Bobadilla, StiggityStackz Worldwide, and The Fulani Haynes Jazz Collective.
MPDC also celebrated our 2021 Awardees, including:
Inaugural Embracing Promise Award
The Center for Teen Empowerment
Edna V. Bynoe Neighborhood Champion Award
Amarilis Bereguete Familia
2021 Community Catalyst Awardees
Etai Belinky
Senior Community Coordinator, Madison Park Village
Black Market
Kai & Chris Grant
Were you unable to attend the event? You can view the entire evening, including the 55th Anniversary documentary here. You can also support MPDC's affordable housing and community development efforts by giving today. As a reminder, your gift of $1,000 or more qualifies you for the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC), which results in a 50% state tax rebate on your donation.
Don't wait, make your gift now before tax credits for the year run out!
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Celebrating Legacy, Honoring Community, Embracing Promise:
MPDC's 55 Years of Roxbury Love
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MPDC is proud to premiere its 55th Anniversary mini-documentary highlighting and commemorating MPDC's rich history of community-building, activism, and leadership over the last 55 years. The video, directed & produced by MPDC's Director of Communications & Public Affairs Kelly Ransom, features special appearances from Mayor Kim Janey, former MPDC CEO Jeanne Pinado, and so many more special guests!
Special thanks to The Loop Lab & Abhi Indrekar for their outstanding skills and contributions in bringing this milestone into a beautiful piece of visual media.
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MPDC's Health and Wellness Team Delivers Thanksgiving Meals to Families |
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Thank you to MPDC Health Equity & Wellness Manager Leslie Stafford, MPDC's Health & Wellness team, and WINN for their tireless work organizing our 2021 Thanksgiving meal distribution!
With the abundance of support received, MPDC delivered deliciously prepped Thanksgiving meals to over 400 households. Thank you to all that volunteered to make this a successful and heartwarming event. Thank you to Pam Williams and family, WINN Management, MPDC Staff, and Marcie Jackson. Very special thank you to United Way and Catholic Charities for their generous contribution of over 500 bags.
On behalf of the Health and Wellness team at MPDC, we hope that everyone had a pleasant and family-filled holiday!
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OEP Job Readiness Program Trainees Successfully Complete Scavenger Hunt! |
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In November, Opportunity Employment Program (OEP) Manager Sandra Sierra and a cohort of this cycle's Starbucks Job Readiness Program Trainees gathered for a Scavenger Hunt event around Boston.
The event's goal was for students to visit three identified store locations along the Red Line. They worked together as a team to fulfill a task list centered around exploring new areas around Boston and building familiarity with the Starbucks stores. Our trainees did wonderfully and passed with flying colors!
The OEP Starbucks Job Readiness Program is offered in cycles of 6 weeks and was formed in partnership with Mass Mentoring, Starbucks, and MPDC to help mentor and streamline the hiring process for interested youth ages 16-24. Intergrated into the program is a Starbucks-sponsored hiring fair where trainees have the opportunity to interview and be offered a position on the spot!
Good luck to our trainees, interviewing next week!
To get more information on how to join the next round of our Starbucks Job Readiness Program, please contact Sandra Sierra at ssierra@madison-park.org.
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Dewitt Center Program Spotlight:
Mark & Justin from EV Kids
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This month we want to highlight Mark (7th grade) and Justin (3rd year at Tufts) who are in their third year of being matched in EVkids. They have created a powerful relationship based on mutual respect. Mark is very curious and appreciates when Justin teaches him things. Justin is a pre-med student and often teaches Mark about anatomy. EVkids empowers Boston youth and provides them with the skills and confidence to succeed in school and beyond through its tutoring and summer camp programs.
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MPDC's Monthly Mental Health Reminder |
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MPDC's Community Support Team shares a Mental Health Reminder for November. We urge our MPDC family and community to prioritize their mental health always! As you navigate day-to-day responsibilities, MPDC is here to remind you to practice self-preservation in every single way. Please be sure to follow along with MPDC's new mental health social media pages on Instagram and Facebook! They'll be sharing mental health tips, tricks, check-ins, and skills weekly. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for other mental health resources via their pages as well!
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The Dewitt Center Wraps Up a
Fun Fall Season!
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Dress For Success Boston brought their annual tag sale to The Dewitt Center on November 12th and 13th. Hundreds of women were able to refresh their wardrobes as they chose from an extensive array of clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. These new and gently used items include selections from name-brand fashion houses.
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The Lower Roxbury Coalition held their first annual Family Community Resource Fair on November 20th at the Dewitt Center. Families received brand new coats, school supplies, food, toiletries, and gift cards, and visited resource tables. Event sponsors included Whitter Street Health Center, Shaquera’s Story, The Home For Little Wanderers, Hope and Comfort, Boston CASA, and The Office of Suffolk County's District
Attorney Rachael Rollins.
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MPDC Youth Development Updates |
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MPDC welcomed 32 youth for the 2021 After School Youth Employment Program (AYEP), and, with the help of various MPDC staff, participants were able to complete and update 31 resumes. As of mid-November, 23 youth have been placed in over 15 partner internship sites. To complement their paid internships, MPDC offers certifications in CPR or ServeSafe in addition to fitness, wellness, and nutrition classes to all participants.
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MPDC would like to acknowledge and congratulate Madison Park Village (MPV) resident and Youth Workforce Alum, Jael Nicole Nunez, for becoming a United States Marine! Jael is originally from the Dominican Republic and graduated from Cristo Rey High School in 2019. She participated in the Youth Workforce AYEP and SYEP programs for three years. She has been a resident of MPV for six years. Way to go, Jael!
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Flat 9 at Whittier is now leasing |
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Flat 9 Roxbury at Whittier is leasing 1, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments starting this month! Apartment amenities include stainless steel appliances, disability-friendly building access, onsite management and maintenance, laundry facilities, and more. Applications are due December 7th. To request an application or to have one sent via email, please call 617.318.5131 or visit www.flat9rox.com.
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Thank you to our November 2021
Newsletter Contributors!
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Arianna Guiseppone
Arlene Baldwin
Carlos Taveras
Erica Davis
Justina Thompson
Kelly Ransom
Leslie Stafford
Meghan Higgins
Yhinny Matos
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MPDC's December Food Pantry |
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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 (for this month, December 4th and December 18th)
The Dewitt Center and the Islamic Multi-Service Organization (IMSO) host their monthly food pantry on December 4th. 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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Jazzmus 2022:
A Pre-New Year's Day Conscious Cabaret
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WHERE: Hibernian Hall (located at 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA, 02119)
WHEN: December 18th, 2021 (8 pm - 11 pm)
Hibernian Hall invites you to celebrate our award-winning festive performance filled with live music, dancing, and poetry by Verna Hampton and Big Redd's House Band that consists of David Ruggiano (Guitar), Kurtis Rivers (Saxophone), Yoron Israel (Drums), and many more! Written and compiled by Verna Hampton, Jazzmus 2022 is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Jazzmus was performed in New York City's LaMama theater company and was part of their 2018 Regional Theatre Tony Award-winning season.
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Roxbury Open Studios Collaborative's Holiday Pop-Up Shop |
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WHERE: Dewitt Center
122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA, 02119
WHEN: December 11th, 2021 (11 am - 6 pm)
Need holiday plans? The Dewitt Center has got your back! Join us at the Center for a one-day holiday pop-shop featuring local artists and artisans showcasing their handmade creations ranging from artwork, jewelry, clothing, and more! Masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.
For any additional inquiries, please contact:
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