The Charlestown Coalition News: 

Issue 73

September 2022

Welcoming Dareen Ali

We’d like to welcome Dareen Ali to the Coalition team for the academic year '22-23! Dareen is an SSW student at Boston University, and she recently received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dareen has always been interested in helping others and making a difference in her community.

Recovery Month Highlights

September is Recovery Month. Thank you to our community partners who helped us organize Overdose Awareness Day, the Sober Dance, and the 14th Annual Charlestown Candlelight Vigil. We are so grateful for Shannon Lundin, Sean Boyle, Smokey Cain, Chapters Recovery Center, All Roads Charlestown, and many more!

Streetworker Conference

Sarah, Mswati and Zaire attended the New England Streetworker Conference at Gillette Stadium. It was such a great day getting to learn and network to best serve our communities.

Out in the Community

Art in the Park: Our TIA artists made money selling their own original artwork! 

Our TIA members and Coalition Staff at the MGH Healthcare Center's Open House event.

New Health held a Recovery Day celebration, with food, fun games, a free raffle, and other community resources.

Highlight: MOAR Recovery Celebration

The Coalition was proud to sponsor Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery (MOAR) for another year in honor of Recovery Month. The celebration began at the Boston Commons and ended at Faneuil Hall. 

Introducing: TIA JR!

INTRODUCING: TURN IT AROUND JUNIOR! This has been a dream of ours for so long and we are so happy to announce the launch of TIA JR! We will be expanding our programming for 5th to 8th graders. Contact Mswati for more information and to refer a Charlestown kid! We will begin meeting in October.

Race Dialogues

Join us on Tuesday, October 18th at 5:30pm for our monthly Race & Equity Discussion. This series explores important topics about the impact of race, policing in urban settings, and equity. It is open to all members of the Charlestown community and the general public. Please note meetings are once again indoors until further notice - location TBD.

This forum is being co-sponsored by the Charlestown Coalition, Turn It Around Youth Program, Councilor Gigi Coletta and her team.

Community Partner Highlight: The People's Academy

We are so grateful for our community partners and could not do this work without them. This month we want to highlight The People's Academy, a 2 year pre-apprenticeship program focused on providing inner city residents with the ability to adopt a trade for life in the copper industry. The instructors at TPA use only recycled metals because the team cares about our environment and our future. They have helped us envision an art project for the Charlestown Peace Park, copper leaves designed by residents to be attached to branches and installed at the park. We are holding another leaf session at the Peace Park on October 5th and hope to see you there!

Voices of Recovery

This month, we are highlighting Donald Blanchard's story and path to recovery. Thank you for your strength and courage, Donnie!

CALL FOR VOICES OF RECOVERY!

Do you know someone in recovery that has ties to the Charlestown community and would be willing to share their story? Every month, the Coalition highlights someone in their newsletter for Voices Of Recovery. We are always looking for more stories to share!

Email Ciara by clicking HERE for the interview questions & to send your photo!

Trauma Response Team

October 4th at 5:30 PM

Meetings are held at the Charlestown Boys and Girls Club. Contact

Phenice Zawatsky to learn more.

Charlestown Family Support Task Force 

October 4th at 12:00 PM

Meetings are held virtually until further notice. Contact Phenice Zawatsky to learn more.

To learn more about our programs, our staff, community partners, resources, upcoming events, TURN IT AROUND, program impact, and more, click below: