"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure our how to climb it, go through it, or walk around it."

—Michael Jordan

Adriana Cordero Raines received the Unsung Hero Innovation Award in December 2023 for her innovative leadership in service to children and families. She is an Afro-Latina woman and founder and CEO of a consultancy practice of 10 years.

We recently has the pleasure of speaking to Adriana about her inspiring work, which you can read about in our latest Unsung Hero Blog Series.

"Community to me is a feeling... I walk into a Vital Village event and I belong there. So that feeling that is your tribe. [They are] your people and you can relate to them."

Read the full article to learn about Adriana's leadership in inclusion and community belonging.

Join us for our next GROWBABY Research Roundtable featuring Dr. Rheanna Platt on August 22nd at 12pm ET / 9am PT! Please register in advance to this meeting.

Vital Village Network and the Health Neighborhoods Study (HNS) are co-hosting the September Network Connection Meeting, Healing Circles: Building an Infrastructure of Care Together. Collectively we wonder, how can we create spaces for community caregivers to care and be cared for? We invite you to join us to explore this question in a healing circle through building relationships, sharing and listening to each other's stories, sharing resources, and supporting each other in healing journeys. Healing Circles is a part of the HNS residents and community-led participatory action research.

In addition to joining us for a healing circle at the Network Connection Meeting, there are opportunities to be a Co-Designer of this event and Healing Practitioner Apprentice. Learn more about these opportunities and complete interest form here!

My'Self' in the World Children's Storytimes

Join Vital Village Networks and the Boston Public Library for our weekly My'Self' in the World Children's Storytimes, Thursdays from 3:30 - 4pm ET on Zoom. Plus, access pre-recorded Storytimes on the Vital Village Calendar.

NOW Leadership Series Article: "My Dream," by Colleen Roan, McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition

Long-time NOW member and Peer Learning Cluster Co-Lead, Colleen Roan, shared her reflections on navigating advocacy pathways through relational and healing-centered strategies. A member of the Navajo Nation, Colleen serves as the Coordinator of the McKinley County Early Childhood Coalition where she supports partnering with stakeholders and creating a more cohesive, equitable and effective early childhood system and coordinating a continuum of family driven, community based, high quality prenatal to five programs and services that are available and accessible to all families in the county. Read stories of local leaders and more in our NOW Leadership Article Series.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley joins BMC's VIAP Team to Discuss Violence Intervention Efforts and Funding Support

On Thursday, July 18, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressly joined a roundtable with the BMC Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) Team; Thea James, MD, founder of VIAP; and Alastair Bell, MD, President & CEO of BMC Health System. They discussed how VIAP supports families and addresses the root causes of violence through mentorship, skills and job training, education, and economic opportunity. The VIAP team has worked with more than 6,000 people impacted by violence to date. Learn more about VIAP.

The Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI) partners with communities, artists, and social justice practitioners to imagine, demonstrate, and collectively rebuild places to be more just and vibrant. View the link below to learn more, and join DS4SI at their Public Kitchen and Dance Court!

Join Fathers Uplift at a free community barbecue party celebrating the vital role of fathers in their families and communities. This years Grill-Off will feature delicious food, fun games, face painting, arts & crafts, various venders, and more! For questions, contact (617) 708-0870 or email info@fathersuplift.org.

Celebrating DS4SI's 40th Anniversary! Free admission for live entertainment, cultural food, vendors, and fun activities!

For more information, contact Luz Colón: (617) 442-9670 or email lcolon@dsni.org

Rain date: Saturday, August 24th, 12:00 - 4:00 pm

This Summer Guide contains dozens of neighborhood-based and citywide programs BCYF offers for Bostonians of all ages and is intended to give you a general idea of what is offered during the summer months. Due to the early print deadline, changes may have occurred. Check the BCYF website and follow on Facebook, instagram, or X (Twitter) for updates: @BCYFCenters

The YMCA offers free youth memberships to teens ages 13-19 who are still enrolled in high school. Free summer memberships allow the YMCA to keep students of all backgrounds active, healthy and engaged when their time is less structured outside of school. In past summers, the YMCA has provided over 16,000 memberships in Greater Boston!

Learn more about this initiative and access the membership application.

This survey is a part of an initiative to empower Men of Color to get engaged in community development and activism, and to foster a sense of brotherhood and community. Submit your responses! For questions, or to become a member of the group of black men, "Standing Strong, Serving the Community" contact Marcus at (617) 825-4224 EX 122, or email marcus@csndc.com.

Several local unions will speak about their current and future career development opportunities, and you can learn how to join them. Register online. For questions, email ROSS@bostonhousing.org

(BIRF) has three offerings (Sabbatical, Organizational Sustainability Infrastructure, and Small Project Grants) for Black & Indigenous-led non-profit organizations, non-profit professionals, movement leaders, advocates, activists, and community change agents. 

Applications for all three grant opportunities are open until Saturday, August 17th, and can be found on the Black Mass Coalition website (www.blackmc.org). Following this expiry date, the review & interview process beginning in late August '24 through the end of October '24. Grantees will be notified, and grants distributed in November '24.



These opportunities provide grants in the amount of $5000-$25,000.

Contact: Jason Boyd (on behalf of the Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund Advisory Committee*)

Join a dedicated team of community organizers and work to increase access to affordable homeownership for everyone in MA. Learn more about the position here.

For questions, or to apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Hillary Pizer, hpizer@mahahome.org.

Health Care for All is currently looking for three Health Care Ambassadors to empower older adults from under resourced communities in Massachusetts by addressing the intersectionality of race, ethnicity and language barriers while connecting them to resources that influence their health and well-being.

Learn more about the position and how to apply on HCFA's website.

Qualified individuals should apply at the Laborers' Local Union nearest to their residence between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm on the following dates:

• September 10, 2024
• December 10, 2024

Learn more at the link below.

It is no secret that housing is essential to our overall well being, but is less affordable than ever. 

In 2020 the CDC issued a moratorium on evictions amid the COVID 19 pandemic. This went into effect because most families move in with others following evictions, which would have accelerated the spread of the virus. This is one of many health related concerns following eviction. People of color were more likely to face evictions and 2 to 3 times more likely to be infected with covid 19 than white non-hispanic people. 

There is also a major mental health toll on those facing evictions. The risk of depression and anxiety are much higher in those falling behind on rent. One studied showed that, “policies limiting evictions reduced covid-19 infections by 3.8% and deaths by 11%”

One step you can take to reduce the housing crisis is to take our brief survey and make your voice heard: https://questionpro.com/t/AGXzEZ1d2m.

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Housing policies implemented in early March, such as eviction bans, reduced COVID-19 related deaths by 11%.

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/02/19/americas-eviction-moratorium-has-probably-saved-thousands-of-lives

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

www.vitalvillage.org