Village Voices Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from around our community.

Dear Villagers , we invite you celebrate Children's Mental Health Awareness Day today and the greater National Mental Health Awareness Month by joining and following along with our 3rd Annual Mental Health Awareness Campaign, Healing Together: Maintaining Strong Communities During COVID-19. Thinking globally about COVID-19 and mobilizing locally, the Vital Village Mental Health Committee and partners are hosting virtual community events designed for building social connections and creative expression for navigating emotions, healing together, and supporting mental health. Virtual May Network Connection Meeting May 11th, 6:00-7:30pm and May 15th, 12:00-1:30pm Kick-off the Campaign with us at our Virtual Network Connection Meeting co-hosted by the Mental Health Committee. We will create space to connect, share, express, and heal together. Register to attend and receive Zoom information.

More Mental Health Efforts Children's Mental Health Story Times: Book readings and circle time activities focused on Social-Emotional Learning for families with young children! Check out last year's Story Time Toolkit and email us if you want to partner. Grief Support: Sessions for community members to gather in a supportive, non-judgemental space to recognize, feel, and express grief caused by losses of any and all kinds. Resource Sharing: Follow along on Vital Village Network Facebook and Twitter! Got an event or resource to share? Email us! #VillageInMind #HealingTogether #MentalHealthMonth

Infographic Series: Centering on Dignity These visual representations are designed to communicate strategies to promote safety , social connections and a widening circle of compassion while honoring everyone's dignity during COVID-19. Download the infographics and share widely!

Thank You to Our Virtual Cafe Partners There is abundance evidence that our Village has adapted, mobilized, and come together to continuing maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing. Thank you to the many Champions for Children that partnered with us during Virtual Cafes.

Representative Ayanna Pressley Boston Basics Countdown to Kindergarten Bernadine Desanges, Know Your Truth, Speak Your Truths Social Justice Mediation Program Engagement and Access to Special Education (EASE) Clinic at BMC Rosie Docanto, Boston Heals Holistically Child Witness to Violence Project Vital Village Census Campaign Team Waetie Sanaa Cooper Burnette, CLC

Got Feedback? Help Us Improve Our Community Resource Tools!

COVID-19 Resources Accessible by Visiting and World Virtual Field Trips Maps We created these maps in response to the desire for child enrichment activities at home and a regularly updated map of important basic family needs including food accessibility, shelters, health testing sites, and more. As community needs are shifting, we want to ensure these maps are the most helpful for families. Can you share feedback with us on these maps by answering 2 questions here?

CONtexts - Early Childhood Texts CONtexts (Community Resources On Health Nearby Fun) is a free text messaging service that sends current information, community resources, wellness tips, and family-fun activities right to your phone! To subscribe, just text KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8. With many parents/caregivers are at home with children now that childcare, education centers, and schools temporarily closed, we are seeking input, advisors, and content contributors to make CONtexts into the most supportive resource for you and your family.

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Boston Breastfeeding Coalition

Breastfeeding Warmline Early post-partum? Breastfeeding? Pregnant? The Breastfeeding Warmline is live and our Breastfeeding Counselors are available every day to help. Talk to one of our trained and experienced peer counselors today or share our flyer with a friend! Call: 857-301-8259 Email: Breastfeedingboston@gmail.com

Virtual Baby Cafes Now Available! Stay connected, informed, and supported by your community and trained Breastfeeding Counselors. Check out our website or Facebook to see the full schedule of groups and join!

Partner Spotlight Learn more about Vital Village Network partners and how to support or get involved with their efforts to maximize child and family well-being.

Frugal Bookstore, Inc. What is Frugal Bookstore ? Located in the heart of Nubian Square (formerly Dudley Square), Frugal is a community bookstore located in Roxbury with a passion for promoting literacy within our children, teens and adults. Frugal is a local family business owned by Leonard Egerton and Clarrissa Cropper, driven by the powerful mission to “Change Minds One Book At A Time.” How does Frugal Bookstore partner with the Network? Since 2018, Leonard and Clarrissa have partnered with the Village in numerous capacities across the Network! Most notably, Frugal has hosted Scholar Support Nights for the Vital Village Boston Breastfeeding Coalition free of charge. Beyond this, Frugal has been a Network Connection Meeting Cohost, donated books and gift cards to Network members, and hosted a Mental Health Story Time last year for the 2019 Vital Village Mental Health Awareness Campaign! Through our deep partnership with Leonard and Clarrissa, we hope that more children and families across the Network can learn about and utilize this amazing asset in our neighborhood.

How can you get involved with or support Frugal Bookstore? Follow Frugal Bookstore on Facebook for their latest updates Order your favorite books online! Don't see the book you are looking for on their site? Email frugal_books@yahoo.com or call 617-541-1722 with your request! Learn more about Frugal Bookstore in the news on WGBH and the Bay State Banner.

Community Events Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.

For Children Boston Public Library - Children's Live Story Times BPL Branches across Boston are hosting Facebook Live Story Times for children of all ages almost everyday of the week! Check out the full schedule here. Children's Library Facebook Live Highlights: May 7 @ 6:00pm: PJ Story Time! May 8 @ 11:00am: Bouncing Babies Story Time May 14 @ 10:30am: All Ages May 15 @ 3:30pm: Story and A Craft

For Parent/Caregiver Support Weekly Virtual Parent Support Group Wednesdays at 12:00pm Join the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester for free weekly sessions! Build your support network, connect with peer parents/caregivers, learn new skills, receive resources, and more. Show up as you are (pajamas) - stay as long as you can. Register here.

For Trauma and Loss Support Can We Talk?: Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing Every Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm Are you experiencing trauma or loss? Come share your voice, share your story.... let's heal together. You can share your feelings and thoughts or just listen which is so very important. For more information check out the event on Facebook   here .

For Mental Health in Communities of Color Mental Health While Black Pt. 2 Saturday, May 16th @ 8:00pm DeeDee's Cry believes that when we share our stories that we chip away at the stigma that surrounds mental health in communities of color. Stream on Facebook live!

For Early Childhood Mental Health Bubbles for Babies! Thursday, May 21st Why does Early Childhood Mental Health matter to you? The  Early Childhood Mental Health Program at BPHC , Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health (MassAIMH), Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CMHC), and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) want to hear your story! See flyer to submit a video to be collectively shared on May 21st.

Check out more community events on our Website  and Facebook.

Resource Connector Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.

For Early Childhood Development Boston Public Schools , Countdown to Kindergarten Youtube Channel: Tune in for circle times, activities, and more with your favorite Countdown teachers! Weekly Programs on the Boston Neighborhood Network: Tuesdays @ 10:00am with Countdown and BPS Early Childhood Early Childhood At-Home Learning Activities & Resources from BPS Early Learning

For Early Childhood Development Boston Basics Explore the Boston Basics Community Toolkit that features numerous videos, handouts, implementation guides and more in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Chinese on the 5 Basics to make sure every child gets a great start to life. Maximize Love, Manage Stress Talk, Sing, and Point Count, Group, and Compare Explore through Movement and Play Read and Discuss Stories

For COVID-19 Family Support We All Need Help Sometimes Support your own mental health and the mental health of your neighbors by checking out and sharing the Mass.Gov ,  Mass 2-1-1 ,  Family Resource Centers MA , and  Network of Care Massachusetts materials about resources that are available to anyone in need of help during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Call 2-1-1 for resources regarding parent/family support, clothing/household items, physical health, crisis lines/helplines, food/meals, mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing/utilities or domestic violence situations. Languages Available: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese.

Opportunities Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our community.

South End Family Support Navigator, Neighborhood Villages and Ellis Memorial Are you passionate about supporting families? Working in partnership with and onsite at Ellis in the South End, the Family Support Navigator will build relationships with families and partner organizations to promote the delivery of multi-sector supports and services in a manner that works for families. See job description and apply today! Family Partner and Clinician, Children's Services of Roxbury Children's Services fo Roxbury is hiring a grant funded Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Family Partner and Clinician ,  to work with young children and their families. Apply today to join a team that will promote family-centered, culturally competent, and supportive care for children with behavioral health needs and their families. Family Partner - Job Description, Application Clinician - Job Description, Application Communications and Development Manager, Raising a Reader MA Raising a Reader MA is hiring a Communications and Development Manager! Raising A Reader is an evidence-based early literacy organization dedicated to helping families of young children (newborn through age 6) develop, practice and maintain habits of reading together at home. See the job description and apply today! For Teens Ages 14-19: Square Tech Training Program Square Tech Training Program   is now accepting applications for our Summer Paid internship 2020! The Square Tech Program is a paid internship that recruits Boston youth between ages of 14 - 19 while providing training in technology focused workshops. Students can apply online by May 25 at   cstoboston.org/square-tech .

Scoop on the Stats Explore data related to child and family well-being.

Social connection   improves physical health, mental health, and emotional wellbeing.   Research   has shown the link between social relationships and many different aspects of health and wellness. People with strong social relationships are 50% more likely to live longer, have strengthened immune systems, and can recover from disease faster. Learn more   here !

Sharing Technology Explore technology related to child and family well-being.

The  Abundance App   is now available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources. Download the FREE app today!

CONtexts aims to promote positive outcomes between caregivers and children by sharing weekly resources through a FREE text service and interactive resource sharing map. These resources are ideal for anyone working with or caregivers of children ages 0-5.  To subscribe, text KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8 Once you're subscribed you will receive 3 weekly FREE text messages: Monday: Nearby community resources Wednesday: Wellness tips Friday: Family-fun events Let's Get Counted: 2020 U.S. Census There's still time to get counted! The 2020 Census will help decide how much money communities will get for areas that impact the everyday lives of children - schools, child care and early learning, health insurance and medical care, food & housing assistance, and more. (Source: Count All Kids ) We want to hear what the 2020 Census means to you and your community.  Share your story with us today!

Our Mission Vital Village is a network of residents and agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stay Connected ‌ ‌ Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network? Complete this  form !