Volume 12, Issue 1: January, 2024

"Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come."

-Melody Beattie

Dear Valued Community Member,

Thank you for your community and participation in our local Boston Network Connector Newsletter. In this edition, you will find featured stories from our Vital Village Networks community, upcoming in-network events and opportunities, resources shared by our VVN community partners, and our monthly research highlight, Scoop on the Stats. 

• January Network Connection Meeting: Monday, January 27, 2025 - Register Here
• Get involved with the Network this month: attend My 'Self' in the World Storytimes, engage in collective visioning with the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition, and tune in to In the Arena with NOW Podcast Season 3 Episode 4, featuring Mia Birdsong.
• Local Boston Opportunities with the Boston Public Library, the City of Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
• January Scoop on Stats: Supporting Unhoused Youth: Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities for Change

Vital Village's 2024 Unsung Heros

On December 16th, 2024, Vital Village Networks hosted its annual Unsung Hero Awards Ceremony, celebrating 5 incredible community members who are nominated and selected for going above and beyond to exemplify extraordinary service to children and communities.

The awardees were honored as follows:

• Unsung Hero: Sean Thimas
• Servant Leadership: Vickey Siggers
• National Partnership and Collaborative Leadership: Erica Beverett
• Excellence in Mentorship: Soraya DosSantos
• Innovation: Stephanie Crawford

Over the following months, we will feature each of these individuals, uplifting their incredible stories and missions.

January Network Connection Meeting: 2025 Village Visioning

Monday, January 27th | 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET | Hybrid Event

BMC FGH Building 820 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Join us for the first Network Connection Meeting of the new year and share your voice as we shape our collective vision and goals for 2025. A complimentary dinner will be served in-person at 5:30 pm at the FGH Building, and the hybrid meeting will begin at 6:00 pm on Zoom.

• Register and learn more using this link.

My 'Self' in the World: Children's Mental Health Storytimes

Every Thursday from 3:30 - 4:00 pm ET on Zoom

In partnership with The Boston Public Library, Vital Village Networks hosts a weekly themed virtual story time on Zoom aimed at improving and increasing social-emotional learning in children. Geared towards ages 3-8 but open to all, we look forward to seeing you! *Note, a caregiver is required to attend with their child.

• Register here, or learn more on the Vital Village website calendar.

Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting: 2025 Visioning Session

Wednesday, January 23rd | 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET | Virtual Event



The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition convenes every six weeks to continue its work of improving access to breastfeeding support for every caregiver in Boston and promoting social connections and optimal enrichment in early life.

• Learn more on the Coalition website, and register for the meeting here.

January Scholar Support Night: R.O.S.E. Breastfeeding Peer Scholar Training Information Session

Wednesday, January 29th | 6:00 - 7:30 pm ET | Virtual Event



Join us to learn about the upcoming R.O.S.E. Community Transformer Training, an evidence based Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Training, hosted by Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere and The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition. Hear from Scholar Alumni as they share their experiences and answer questions.

• Register here to attend the virtual meeting on Zoom.

In the Arena with NOW: Listen to Episode 4

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!



In the fourth episode of Season 3, Radical Community Connection: Mia Birdsong on Interconnected Freedom and Leadership for the Future, we tune in from VVN's 2024 National Community Leadership Summit in Boston. As we collectively navigate a time of transition, we return to the wisdom shared from this powerful conversation with author and futurist, Mia Birdson, and Ronda Alexander, VVN's Director of Partnerships.

• Listen to the latest episode and subscribe to the In the Arena with NOW podcast here.

VITA Tax Preparation Assistance with Boston Public Library

Monday, January 20th | 5:00 - 7:30 pm ET

Codman Square Branch | 690 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124



Get free tax preparation assistance from a VITA program volunteer.

• Learn more here. No registration necessary.

The Poets Envoi: Porsha Olayiwola's Farewell Reading

Thursday, January 23rd | 7:00 - 8:30 pm ET

MFA Boston Harry and Mildred Remis Auditorium (Auditorium 161) | 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115



Join an evening of celebrating Porsha Olayiwola and her work as the City of Boston's Poet Laureate with her final reading in the role. For six year Olayiwola has served as a beacon of the local literary community, uplifting the city's great traditions and embodying the future of poetry in Boston.

• Tickets required (free). Learn more and reserve your ticket here.

Small Business Forum

Thursday, January 30th | 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET | Virtual

Codman Square Branch | 690 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124



The City of Boston's monthly small business forum featured discussions on resources available to small businesses.

• Find more information and register here.

Supporting Unhoused Youth: Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities for Change

Scope of the Issue

Youth homelessness is a pervasive issue in the United States, affecting approximately 4.2 million youth aged 13-25 annually, as reported by Chapin Hall. This crisis stems from a combination of economic instability, family conflict, and systemic inequities. Notably, youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately affected:

• Youth of Color are 40% more likely to experience homelessness than the general youth population.
• LGBTQ+ youth are 20% more likely to experience homelessness than the general youth population.

Homeless youth often encounter barriers such as limited access to education, healthcare, and stable housing, which restrict their ability to achieve long-term stability and success.

Proposed Solution

1. Providing funding to communities to design tailored housing and support strategies to meet local needs, such as HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
2. A Housing First Approach provides immediate, low-barrier housing paired with education, employment, and healthcare services.
3. Programs must emphasize racial equity and inclusivity to address equitable distribution of resources and discrimination.
4. Strengthened coordination between federal, state, and local agencies can help ensure youth receive holistic care.
5. Prevention strategies, including family mediation and early intervention, are vital for preventing youth from becoming unhoused and reducing root causes.

References

1. Youth Homelessness: The Sum of Our Parts. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/Spring22/highlight1.html#:~:text=According%20to%20research%20by%20Chapin%20Hall%20at%20the,aged%2013%20to%2025%20experience%20homelessness%20each%20year.

Stay connected and explore more of our engagement pathways and opportunities across Vital Village Networks programming. You can view upcoming events and opportunities through the gallery snapshot below, by following us on social media, or keeping up with our website calendar and Linktree.