"There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well."

—Walter Reuther

Purple reign has established herself as a pivotal partner within the Vital Village Networks, which connect community organizations, families, and local resources to enhance Boston's neighborhoods' overall health and well-being. Through various initiatives, Purple Reign has contributed to creating a supportive environment for families, particularly in under-resourced areas, to promote mental health awareness, family assistance, and community engagement, while fostering a strong sense of belonging among residents. Additionally, Purple Reign is a Community Data Ambassador and plays a crucial role in leveraging data to inform community health, housing, safety, and socio-economic factors and using this information to advocate for resources and policies that reflect the community's true needs.

At the recent National Night Out 2024, Purple Reign was honored with the prestigious Crime Fighter of the Year. The National Night Out celebrations are events aimed at enhancing community-police partnerships and promote crime prevention. This recognition, awarded by the Mayor of Police Commissioner of Boston, underscores Purple Reign's commitment to fostering safe environments and proactive community policing.

Purple Reign's multifaceted approach as a Vital Village Community Partner, a Community Data Ambassador, and now the recipient of the National Night Out Crime Fighter of the Year award exemplifies their unwavering dedication to community empowerment and safety. Her holistic focus on mental health, data-driven action, and neighborhoods, paving the way for sustainable community development and resilience.

We congratulate Purple Reign for a job well done.

We are excited to announce that Chanel L. Porchia Albert - founder and CEO of Ancient Song Doula - will be joining us as a keynote speaker at the 2024 Summit!

Time to register for the 11th National Community Leadership is running out! Visit our summit website to secure your spot, and to learn more about our inspiring line-up of speakers and sessions.

2023 Community Food Systems Food Sovereignty Zine

Throughout this past year, ten local food systems leaders from across the country connected through the 2023 Community Food Systems Fellowship explored this question and engaged in a co-design process to develop a zine sharing ancestral stories of food resiliency and liberation. We're excited to share this new resource, Stories of Food Resiliency and Liberation, that offers wisdom, resources, and reflections on their experiences advocating for food sovereignty. Learn more and access the Zine on our Vital Village website.

My'Self' in the World Children's Storytimes

New Parent Group for Parents of Babies Under One Year

Are you a parent/caregiver of a child under the age of one?  Join BPL children's librarians for a monthly program to help parents connect with each other, ask questions, and learn together! Join the mailing list to receive the Zoom link for monthly meetings. Registration is required.

First Tuesday of Every Month at 2:00 pm ET on Zoom

LEGO Builders Club

The Gove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library is hosting a series of bi-weekly free build LEGO sessions for children ages 6-11. No registration required. For more information, call 617.427.3337

Accessibility Notice: To request a disability

accommodation and/or language services, please contact grovehall@bpl.org or

617.427.3337. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation. 

Steward Health Care announced the planned closure of Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Carney Hospital is a critical resource for many of Boston's residents. If you are a patient or family member impacted by the planned closure of Carney Hospital, visit mass.gov/StewardResources. You can also call the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050 (Toll-Free: 1-800-847-0710).

MassGov teams can help you find primary care providers, social services, free clinics, and more.

The BPS Helpline if available to assist you with any questions or concerns:

Call 617.635.8873 | Email helpline@bostonpublicschools

The Department of Transportation is available to assist you with transportation related questions.

Call 617.635.9520 | Email schoolbus@bostonpublicschools.org

The Welcome Services is available to assist you with the following:

• Register your student for school
• Change of address
• Request a transfer
• Request an evaluation for special education

Call 617.635.9010 | Email welcomeservices@bostonpublicschools.org

The Teaching Kitchen and the Refugee Women's Health Center have joined together to create a cooking program for Haitian families residing in temporary shelters. Called Taste of Home, this program provides an opportunity for families to prepare Haitian foods and learn to make them in equipment such as instant pots and microwaves while they are living in facilities without full kitchens. 

If you'd like to contribute, you can purchase directly from the Amazon wish list. Items will be distributed to participating families at the end of the class. 

Contact: Gabrielle Simons, Nourishing Our Community | gabrielle.simons@bmc.org

Volunteer Services is asking for your support for a Book Drive. BMC Volunteers bring an entertainment cart filled with books of all kinds to the hospital floors — baby books, romance novels, non-fiction, picture books, thrillers — everything! Books are given to individuals and families at BMC. 

There is a special need for baby/children's books and books in various languages, but all books are welcome. Puzzle and game books are also accepted. Please drop off your donation at the Volunteer Services office, 85 E. Concord Street, ground floor, from August 5-16.

Contact Volunteer Services: Call 617.414.5122 | Email volunteer.services@bmc.org

The Basics Boston is dedicated to helping every child reach their full potential by embedding science-based early caregiving practices into everyday interactions. The Basics Boston works closely with families, caregivers, and service providers (communities) to provide simple, yet powerful strategies that nurture brain development in the critical early years of a child's life. Their approach is built on five evidence-based principles that support optimal early childhood development, making it easy for families to incorporate learning into daily routines.

Explore their work and access resources to support the young children in your life by visiting thebasicsboston.org

For more updates or to sign up for a free twice-weekly text messaging service that provides parents and caregivers with tips to boost child development and wellbeing, visit this site, or follow their social media @TheBasicsBoston

The study will gather essential data to understand how the City’s service delivery impacts the social and economic conditions of Black males in Boston. Therefore, the City of Boston is releasing a request for proposals (RFP) from a qualified research team, consultant, or team of consultants and researchers to provide technical and administrative support for the development of an equity study with a focus on Black men and boys in the City of Boston.

The RFP and more information on how to apply can be found at boston.gov/bma

The Patient Services Rep is responsible for handling inbound and outbound communications for up to 6 BMC ambulatory practices. The Patient Services Rep will handle patient inquiries, scheduling/rescheduling appointments, following-up with patients resolving patient questions/concerns regarding medication reconciliation and refills, and insurance verification and authorization management.

View Boston Medical Center’s full list of Patient Services job openings here.

Jumpstart your career! The STRIVE Career Pathways Program offers Boston residents professional development, specialized training, and job placement in healthcare and education. It includes a 3-week pre-employment training, paid internships, and jobs with starting pay between $17-$24 per hour. Secure your spot at an information session today.

For questions, contact Taron Tibbs at ttibbs@jri.org. More information on the Strive Boston website.

Geared towards 8th grade and high school-aged community members, this one-day training program aims to introduce the cohort to the Massachusetts policy process, why it is important, and how youth can use their voice to advocate for issued that are important to them.

Application deadline is September 27 at 11:59 PM. For more information: contact 617.344.3695 or Lcardoso@fairmountcollab.org

The Revitalization of Food Restaurants and Establishments to Stabalize Holistically (Re-FRESH) Progran support brick and mortar businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Attend their September workshops:

• September 12th  Taze and accounting from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• September 17th  Growth Plans from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM
• September 25th  Business Management from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM

To learn more and to register for each event to go boston.gov/refresh

MassHire is offering a free, 8-week training program, September 16 to November 17 in Bedford, MA

• Hands-on mechanical, robotics equipment use
• Self-paced learning with group discussions
• Certified Manufacturing Associate Credential
• OSHA 10-Hour training
• Job interview opportunity upon completion

For more information, call Caitlyn at 978.805.4731

The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow all Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree to attend RCC for free. No tuition. No fees. Both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for certain students. Boston residents may also qualify for the Tuition-Free Community College program. 

If you do not qualify for a tuition-free program, don't worry! RCC is proud to offer a variety of financial assistance programs, including scholarships provided through the Roxbury Community College Foundation (RCCF). 

Learn more and apply here.

Did you know that the average graduation rate in Greater Boston improved steadily from 89% in 2015 to 91% in 2023? Check out the Vital Village Sign Graduation Rate Map High School Education Patterns | VialVillage.org, which offers an in-depth look at the high school graduation rates for all students across schools in Greater Boston. It monitors the percentage of students who graduate on time within 4 years, providing detailed, school-specific data. This analysis encompasses a total of 133 schools, giving a comprehensive overview of graduation performance in the region.

Fig 1. Graduate Rate Map

• The average graduation rate improved steadily from 88.89% in 2015 to 91.32% in 2023.
• The median graduation rate (middle value) also increased from 92.7% in 2025 to 95.4% in 2023.
• The top 25% of school saw minimal change, with graduation rates around 97% over the years.
• The lowest graduation rate dropped significantly from 20% in 2015 to 8% in 2018 and 2023, indicating struggles at some schools.
• Overall, most schools showed steady improvement, but a small group of low-performing schools remained stagnant.

Between 2015, 2018, and 2023 there was a clear upward trend in graduation rates across schools in Greater Boston. Over the years, the number of schools with graduation rates below 60% has significantly decreased, indicating overall improvement in student success rates.

Vital Village Networks is a network of residents and agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community well-being.

www.vitalvillage.org