In This Issue
New Member Open House May 28th
Register for July First-Time Homebuyer Class
Apply Now to Be a Part of Pocket Change
Save Our Homes Walk A Success
Ongoing Meetings
St. Polycarp Ribbon Cutting
Union United Gains Traction and Press
New First Source Program Launched for Youth Employment
SCC & MassDOT to Sign MOU on Local Jobs for the Green Line Extension
SCC Adopts 2014-2017 Strategic Plan
New Financial Education Class Begins in July

New Member Open House

Meet the SCC Community on May 28th! 

Are you a new member of SCC, a Somerville resident (or worker) who is interested in learning more about SCC, or a current member looking to reconnect with us? Then please join us for an open house at our office in Union Square on Wednesday, May 28th from 6 to 8pm!

 

Enjoy light snacks and beverages and a chance to tour our office, get to know some of our staff, and find out how you can get involved in our work this year.

 

RSVP here!

181 washington hearing 6-20-13
Registration Open:
July First-Time 
Homebuyer Class 
Sign up NOW for SCC's First-Time Homebuyer Class in July 2014! The four-session, 12-hour class will feature presentations by a real estate agent, a lender, a home inspector, a real estate attorney, and an insurance agent, in addition to SCC staff, and it will teach you everything you need to know before you start the process of buying your first home. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a certificate that enables them to access products geared specifically towards first-time homebuyers, such as the ONE loan product. 
 
The class will be conducted in English from 6 to 9 pm on June 3rd, 5th, 10th & 12th.
 
A complete 2014 class calendar can be viewed on our website. For more information or to register, please contact Shannon at 617-776-5931 x238.
Be a Part of Pocket Change!
Get Help with Odd Jobs and Support Local Youth Employment
Need help with small projects around your home or other general odd jobs? Be part of an exciting new initiative SCC, the City of Somerville, and The Career Place have just launched! Get in touch with our Pocket Change staff and let us know what your need is; we will then connect you to Somerville youth who can help you! 
 
We are currently creating a database of people interested in providing youth with pocket change opportunities; if you have a job you need help with, contact Max MacCarthy at 617-625-6600 x 2515 or mmaccarthy@somervillama.gov
Thank you for Helping to Save Our Homes!
There's Still Time to Support the Walk

The 11th annual Save Our Homes Walk raised over $26,000 - with more coming in every day- to help people in Somerville stay in their homes! Over 75 people came out to walk on this beautiful afternoon in May and there were more than 50 fundraisers and more than 30 sponsors who contributed to our cause.

 

For an average of $1,084 per household, we were able to prevent 36 families from becoming homeless in Somerville last year. This is the most cost-effective and compassionate response to homelessness! These funds are used to make targeted grants to help people with security deposits, back rent, utility bills, and moving costs related to stabilizing their housing. 

 

Donations are still welcome to help us hit our $30,000 goal.


Thank you walkers, fundraisers, and donors!!

Ongoing Meetings
Our many groups and committees meet regularly and are usually open to newcomers! Please click on the calendar image below to see the what's happening this month!
 
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(@SomervilleCommunityCorporation)

Finally, Spring seems to have found New England. As we begin to spend more time outside enjoying the beautiful weather, flowers, and festivals that have cropped up, we can take a fresh look at our neighborhoods and how things have changed in the last year. It's amazing to think about how our conversations have shifted from planning stages for Union Square, the Green line Extension, and Washington Street, and into the actual development. We are excited for the opportunities these projects present to nurture our vibrant neighborhoods and preserve their unique qualities. Stay tuned as SCC spearheads the next stages of development for these projects and more in the coming months!

 

~From all of us at SCC, thank you for your support!~ 

Save the Date!

Saint Polycarp Ribbon Cutting June 9th

Please join the SCC community at the Saint Polycarp Village Apartments Ribbon Cutting on June 9th, 2014!

Come celebrate with SCC, Saint Polycarp Village residents, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, and DHCD Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein the completion of Saint Polycarp Phase 3 Apartments!  This will be a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the third and final phase of the vibrant Saint Polycarp Village.

WHEN: Monday, June 9th, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. 

WHERE: Saint Polycarp Phase III Courtyard, 7 Memorial Road, Somerville MA 02143

 

    

Union United Gains Traction and Press:

Community Coalition Kicks off to Win Community Benefits in Union Square

 

SCC committees and members are playing an active role in the Union United Coalition, a group of stakeholders working to ensure that the Union Square redevelopment results in tangible benefits - not displacement - for the Union Square community. The stakeholders include small business owners, residents, activists, immigrant groups, religious congregations, labor unions, and other community-based organizations.

 

All coalition members (currently 13 organizations and more than 40 individuals) have signed a pledge affirming equitable outcomes like affordable housing, community space and resources, local jobs and workers' rights, open and green space, public safety, support for small and local businesses, and transparent and participatory planning processes. 

 

 

 

Union United has already met with two of the shortlisted master developers and six aldermen to share community priorities and begin a dialogue about the CBA process. In the coming weeks, the coalition hopes to meet with more aldermen, the other shortlisted developers, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority, the Civic Advisory Committee, the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, and the mayor.
 
The coalition will also continue reaching out to more stakeholders, including resident groups. Ultimately, the coalition's goal is to include language in the City's Land Disposition Agreement with the Master Developer that stipulates a community benefits agreement. Stay tuned for more information! 
 
If you're interested in learning more, please contact Mashael Majid at 617-776-5931 x228.

Creating Career Opportunities for Youth: 

New Partnership will Match Youth with Local Employers

 
On March 20, SCC, in partnership with the City of Somerville and The Career Place, launched Pocket Change as part of our First Source program, which connects local workers with local jobs. Pocket Change will offer youth between 18 and 24 years of age the chance to gain experience, access training, and obtain permanent employment with local employers once experience and soft-skills training requirements are met. The City of Somerville is seeking participation from residents, businesses, and community partners. Applications are being accepted NOW, and the next information session will be held at SCC on June 4 at 6pm. 

 

For more information about the program, or to schedule an intake session, please call Jorge at 617-776-5931 x226. 

Agreement on Green Line Jobs:
SCC & MassDOT to SIgn MOU on Local Hires for Green Line Extension

  

MassDOT Jobs Rally 1We are happy to announce that SCC, Jobs for Somerville, and the MBTA are ready to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will create the Mass WIN/GLX Workforce Development Initiative. This program will provide a pathway to the construction jobs on the Green Line Extension to residents from Somerville, Cambridge, and Medford. The MOU also provides for the creation of an Access and Opportunity Committee that will guide the implementation and development of the Mass WIN/GLX program and make sure the program's local hiring goals are achieved. 


This agreement comes after years of hard work by the Jobs for Somerville committee. Members of the committee never gave up in their efforts to create this opportunity for Somerville residents; spending several hours testifying at board meetings, writing letters to the MBTA, and meeting with other local groups to share strategies. In addition to a strong organizing strategy we had the support of the Somerville legislative delegation, and were able to meet with MassDOT and the MBTA officials to share our vision and ideas. Thanks to the visionary approach of Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey and MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly A. Scott, we were able to agree on the creation of this program, which will hopefully be a model for the rest of the country in connecting local residents to careers in transportation and helping to prevent displacement.

The MBTA and MassDOT are planning to formalize the agreement on June 18th at the MassDOT Board of Directors meeting at the Transportation Building in Boston. Jobs for Somerville and SCC are also organizing a local ceremony to celebrate this milestone!

To learn more or to join Jobs for Somerville, contact Rene at 617-776-5931 x226. 

New Goals for the Future of Our Neighborhoods:
SCC Adopts Strategic Plan for Achieving an Equitable Somerville

 

On May 20th, SCC's Board of Directors adopted the 3 Year Strategic Plan for 2014-2017.  This plan refreshes the previous 3 year strategic plan by taking a close look at the critical challenges and issues we face in order to sharpen our approach to achieving our intended impact.

 

SCC has determined that preserving and enhancing the remaining economic, racial, and ethnic diversity of our population is the overarching priority that drives our work today.  This decision was made after witnessing the substantial displacement of low-income and working families from the western half of Somerville since the 1980s.

With the City's projection of 30,000 new jobs and 6,000 new housing units coming to Somerville by 2030, as well as 6 new Green Line stops, and large scale redevelopment plans for Assembly Square, Union Square, and other districts on the horizon, Somerville is on the brink of major transformation.  With this change comes great opportunity for the community:  access to transportation, jobs, housing, and other amenities within walking distance.  However, the risk of displacement of SCC's core constituency-low and moderate income and immigrant residents of Somerville, is higher than ever.  Through this strategic planning process, SCC zeroed in on key questions we must address, and established the following goals:

 

Goal 1: Increase the amount and stabilize the stock of affordable rental and homeownership housing in Somerville.

Goal 2: Create and support initiatives that enhance the economic well-being of low and moderate income Somerville residents.

Goal 3:  Execute vision to expand SCC's impact on transitioning areas of the city to result in more equitable outcomes.

Goal 4: Expand SCC's membership base and invest in the development of leaders in SCC and in the community.

Goal 5: Broaden and strengthen SCC's operations, internal policies and financial position in order to support and facilitate SCC's achievement of its intended impact.

Jumpstart Your Finances in 2014!
SCC's Financial Education Course Begins July 1st!

 

We are excited to announce our second financial education class at SCC for the 2014 year! Over the course of four weeks, participants will gain important information and skills to help them navigate their financial lives more successfully. 

 

The class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 9:00 p.m., and a support group will be offered after graduation so participants can continue to hone the knowledge and skills acquired in the class. Graduates will receive a $200 stipend to get them started on a successful financial path! The class will be open to people who live and/or work in Somerville. 

 

Details:

Classes meet: Tuesdays and thursdays (July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24)

Language: English. 

Dinner and childcare offered. 

Pre-registration is required. 

Requirements: Participants must a) live, work, or study in Somerville; b) attend all eight class sessions, as well as two counseling sessions with SCC staff; and c) qualify under the following income guidelines: 

 

Household of 1

Household of 2

Household of 3

Household of 4

Household of 5

Household of 6

Household of 7

Household of 8

$47,150

$53,900

$60, 650

$67,350

$72,750

$78,150

$83,550

$88,950

 

 

 

 

 

         Thais and Tito leading the Financial Literacy Class at SCC

 

As always, we appreciate feedback.  Be sure to join us on Facebook & Twitter for the most current info on what we're up to and how to get involved. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon! 

Sincerely,
Daniel LeBlanc
Somerville Community Corporation