The Charlestown Coalition News:

Issue 87

November 2023

Welcome to the Charlestown Coalition's Monthly Newsletter!

We are a community-based organization here to support the neighborhood of Charlestown by connecting our neighbors to services, building relationships, and providing fun and safe spaces for community members to connect.

In our newsletters, you'll find event flyers, recaps on what we do on the day-to-day, resources, information on our youth programming, and more. Thanks for following along!

Coalition Events

Turn It Around - Service and Gratitude

This month Turn It Around's and TIA Jr's theme was Gratitude and service. The group learned about the benefits of practicing gratitude and engaged in activities that allowed them to show gratitude for others, as well as themselves. Here are a few highlights:

At TIA Jr. the group made a Gratitude Tree by each writing what and/or who, they are grateful for, and why, on multiple leaves. Then, they each hung their leaves on the bare branches until we had a beautiful, colorful tree full of LOVE & APPRECIATION!!

Annual Gratitude & Appreciation Dinner

The month culminated with our annual Gratitude & Appreciation Dinner for both of our youth programs and our community partners who have helped support the youth over this past year. Partner attendees included Dr. Linda Forsythe, Joe Savage, Phil and Nikki Jenkins, Alex Wolf, and Martina and Ethan Nessen. Without their support, this past year wouldn't have been nearly as great!!

St. John's Episcopal Church-Harvest Fair

Turn It Around members attended the annual "Harvest Fair" at St. John's Episcopal Church. They had a table at the Fair, where they sold artwork that they made over the past year. It was a great day overall. It was so good meeting and connecting with so many of St. John's long-time parishioners!

Peace Park Update - November 16, 2023

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors approved the purchase of the Charlestown Peace Park to support new investments in the space, which includes a portion of the parcel between Lowney Way, Mt. Vernon Street, and Prospect Street in Charlestown. In March 2021, The City of Boston awarded the Charlestown Coalition, in conjunction with the Charlestown Preservation Society, a Community Preservation Award of $500,000 as an opportunity to fully design and build a renovated park to bring infrastructural improvements, new park furniture, and new plantings to the Peace Park. The parcel is currently owned by MassDOT, but due to constraints around types of construction that can occur on MassDOT property, the BPDA has acquired the land to facilitate this project for the neighborhood, with the ultimate goal of transferring the land to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department once construction is complete.

“As members of the Coalition, alongside the dedicated Friends of the Peace Park Non-Profit, we believe that completing this project could be the culmination of our efforts in Charlestown. It’s about integrating all facets of the community into a shared space that enables us to grow and evolve together,” said Melanie Soto of the Charlestown Coalition. “This space aims to reach individuals who may not have previously considered our small park, but who can contribute to the future we are trying to nurture. This isn’t just our park; it’s an endeavor rooted in showing the community that we welcome them to this space without invitation or judgment.”

Friendsgiving with Roads to Success

at Charlestown High School

Alternative to Suspension (AtS) Facilitators Mel, Mswati, and Rachel attended the Roads to Success Friendsgiving before the students well-deserved break. The RTS crew picked out the entire menu and décor in the space. We couldn't help but notice the attention to detail, down to the turkey stickers on the Hershey Kisses.

To continue the theme of gratitude, the AtS Facilitators explored what gratitude meant to each member the following day during group, providing the opportunity to write a note to someone they would like to express gratitude for, in addition to a reflection on what they are grateful for about themselves.

If you would like to submit a referral for a student currently enrolled in Charlestown High School or learn more about the program, please contact Mswati Hanks at mhanks1@mgh.harvard.edu.

Charlestown Recovery Court

Judge Lisa Grant presiding over Recovery Court in Charlestown.

Shannon Lundin, Charlestown Trauma Response Team Member, worked on the team that put the Charlestown recovery court in place.

The Charlestown Recovery Court's tremendous work was highlighted earlier this month through WCVB 5 Investigative Reporter Mike Beaudet. Charlestown's Recovery Court is one of nearly 60 specialty courts across the state. Out of the nearly 800 people who are participating in Massachusetts, the graduation rate is 45%. Only about one-quarter of the people who participate in a specialty court program are arrested again within one year. WCVB 5 Investigates offered an inside look into the recovery court's 18-month program and process.

WCVB 5 Investigates Video

WCVB 5 Investigates Article

Race Dialogues: November

This month's Race Dialogue was so rich with wisdom and insightfulness. The question invoked empathy, why we're inclined to empathize with those who look like us or those to whom we relate, and how we can use empathy in our future interactions to ensure that we're always coming from a compassionate place. Like always, we had some new faces join the circle. Will you be the next person that we welcome to the circle? I truly hope so!! Happy Holidays!!

MGH Well-Being Summit

Rachel, Phenice, and Mel attended the MGH Well-Being Summit which brought together colleagues from a variety of sectors to discuss the importance of prioritizing well-being within the helping profession. We were able to meet new colleagues and discuss strategies for what is working for us in our workplaces and potential areas for growth. It was refreshing to connect with people from across campuses and within our own Mass General community.

The event was presented by the Mass General Well-Being Collaborative, a multidisciplinary group dedicated to addressing and supporting the well-being of hospital staff. We look forward to attending more events like this in the future and putting what we learned into practice.

Community Partner Spotlight:

This month we want to highlight Corinne Kielbasa, who wears many hats in Charlestown as a dedicated mother, community provider, and member of the Charlestown Community. Corinne also serves as a board member for the Charlestown Mother's Association and the Family Engagement Specialist at the John F. Kennedy, Family Services Center.

At the Kennedy Center, Corinne plans family engagement programming for families with children ages 8 and under. She helps with the yearly Toy drive and enjoys her time meeting and working with Charlestown families. Corinne runs the Raising a Reader Program, which promotes literacy for young children, and the Tech-goes-home program, which supports technology access in the community.

Corinne collaborates with the Coalition on community events, including our annual Mental Health Awareness Day event, held in May. She attends our FSC Task Force and Steering Committee meetings while providing monthly Kennedy Center updates on existing programming. When clients need counseling services, Corinne refers and recommends the FSC program to families. The Coalition continues to refer families to Corinne and the Kennedy Center for support with child care, formula, diapers, parenting support, clothing, and all their amazing programs.

We want to thank Corinne for her ongoing support, and willingness to collaborate with our team, as well as her support for members of the Charlestown community.

Kim Kyle, Director of Senior Services, Corinne Kielbasa, Family Engagement Specialist, Megan Rouse, Outreach Specialist, Lily Sgro, Parent PartnerDirector of Senior Services and Crystal Galvin, Director of Community Services

We want to extend a huge thank you and our sincere appreciation to the team at the Kennedy Center, who are organizing the Holiday Toy Drive that will support Charlestown children, youth, and families this holiday season. They are a small but mighty team that works hard but also takes time to laugh and enjoy each other's company. Thank you, Kim, Corrine, Megan, Lily, and Crystal for all you do to care and support the community!

If you are interested in learning more about the Kennedy Center or would like to donate to the holiday toy drive, please refer to the attached flyer or contact Crystal Galvin at cgalvin@kennedycenter.org

Holiday Supports:

FSC Resource E-blast

The FSC e-blast will go out on the 15^th and 30^th of each month. If you would like to add your program's flyers to the next e-blast, please send a PDF version of the flyer by the 12^th and the 27^th of each month to MSOTO0@mgh.harvard.edu