Volume 12, Issue 5: June, 2025

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth."



-Muhummad Ali

Dear Renee,

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 a monthly research highlight, Scoop on the Stats.

• Registration is open for the 12th Annual National Community Leadership Summit
• Register for the June Network Connection Meeting: Innovations and Inspirations Night, Monday June 9th at 5:30 pm ET | Hybrid Event
• Explore events and opportunities with Vital Village Networks and inspiring partners this month. Register for the NOW Webinar, Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition Community Convening, June Peer Learning Cluster Workshop, GROWBABY (GRoup Wellness Visits for BABies and FamilY) Research Roundtable Seminar, Children's Mental Health Story Times, and apply for the 2025-26 Urban College Certificate in Community Leadership.
• In Our Community: Local Boston opportunities & festivities
• June Scoop on the Stats: Building Resilience During Pregnancy

Unwavering Resistance: An invitation to Beloved Community

Registration is now open for the 12th annual National Community Leadership Summit in Boston, MA! Join us on October 23 - 24, 2025 for this year’s event, themed Unwavering Resistance: An Invitation to Beloved Community. During this two-day event, we will collectively heal ourselves and our communities, learn and grow our strategies for justice, and find and live in the moments of joy.

Submissions for abstract and workshop proposals are open. Please note that workshop proposals are due June 6th!



June Network Connection Meeting - Innovations and Inspirations Night

Monday, June 9th | 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET | Hybrid Event | In-person location: FGH Building 820 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 (Or virtually on Zoom)

Join us as we celebrate the 2025 Graduates of the Urban College Certificate in Community Leadership program! The evening will showcase inspiring stories and presentations on community advocacy and innovative leadership, focusing on sustainable impact and social change.

• Register Here - https://cutt.ly/JuneNCM_2025

NOW Webinar Series: Collective Action Towards Movement Sustainability: Reflections from LGBTQIA+ Justice Movements

Thursday June 12th | 1:00 pm ET on Zoom



Register for the second session of the 2025 NOW Webinar Series, Rooted in Connection, Rising in Power, scheduled for June 12 at 1:00 pm ET. Drawing on the longstanding history of justice movements past and present, we will learn from local leaders as they reflect on the legacies of advocacy, creativity, and joyful resistance from LGBTQ+ and gender expansive communities. Hear their reflections on what movement sustainability looks like in our current moment and collective strategies, resources and actions needed moving forward.

• Register Here - https://cutt.ly/JUN2025_NOWWebinar 

Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition 2025 Community Convening

Saturday June 14th | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET

1544 Columbus Ave, Roxbury, MA 02119



This is an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and uplift fatherhood in our community. Secure your free spot now! Complimentary food will be provided.

• Register Here - https://cutt.ly/GBEC2025Convening

Peer Learning Cluster Workshop: Save the Date!

Tuesday, June 17th | 2:00 - 3:30 pm ET on Zoom



The Peer Learning Cluster is hosting its second workshop in their Advocacy and Community Leadership Series for 2025! Save the Date for June 17, 2025 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm ET. Join us for this series as we continue to learn with and from one another, and explore how to build and strengthen our collective advocacy power for ensuring a just future where all children and families can thrive.

• Register Here - https://cutt.ly/JUN2025_PLC

2025 Community Food Systems Fellows Instagram Live GROWBABY (GRoup Wellness Visits for BABies and FamilY) Research Roundtable Seminar with the BElovedBIRTH Black Centering Team: Centering Perinatal Equity in Alameda County

Friday, June 20th | 3:00 pm ET on Zoom



"This presentation will cover the history of Centering at Alameda Health System and Alameda County Health, including a brief overview of our current Centering Pregnancy and Parenting programs, as well as the integration of the Lullaby Project with Carnegie Hall and Noe Music. We will discuss the development and impact of Beloved Birth Black Centering, a Black-led adaptation of the Centering model focused on birth justice and liberation for Black families. Additionally, we will highlight Alameda County's Spanish Centering transformation project, which aims to create a community-centered model for Spanish-speaking families. The presentation will conclude with an overview of our Centering Parenting initiatives, from our current activities to our vision for integrated dyad care from pregnancy through age three." BElovedBirth Black Centering Team

• Register Here - https://cutt.ly/June2025_ResearchRoundtable

Vital Village Networks | Urban College Certificate in Community Leadership Application is open!

Applications close August 1st, 2025



In partnership with Urban College of Boston, Vital Village is accepting applications for scholarships to the Certificate in Community Leadership and Advocacy, a year-long, 9-credit, college-level certificate program that builds upon the capabilities of community leaders who are working to maximize child, family, and community wellbeing in Boston.

• Learn more and apply here.

My"Self" in the World Children's Story Times with the Boston Public Library

Virtual Story Times, Thursdays at 3:30 pm ET on Zoom | In-person dates, times and locations vary:



Vital Village Networks and the Boston Public Library partner to offer Children's Mental Health Story Times both on Zoom and at your local libraries across Boston. Join us for live readings, reflections, songs, activities, and more! Story times are intended for children ages 3-8 years old, however older and younger siblings are welcome to join the fun! We require a caregiver to attend with their child.

June Story Time dates are:

• June 5th | pre-recorded session.
• June 9th, 4:30 pm ET | In person at the BPL Roslindale Branch Branch with Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri (she/her)
• June 12th, 3:30 pm ET | Virtual on Zoom with Librarian Chris Strunk
• June 26th, 11:00 am ET | In person at the BPL Mattapan Branch with Librarian Josh Aldwinckle-Povey
• June 26th, 3:30 pm ET | Virtual on Zoom with Librarian Chris Strunk

Learn more and see full addresses on the VVN website calendar. Register here for remote sessions on Eventbrite - https://cutt.ly/JuneCMHS2025

Families First FEST

Saturday June 7th, 2025 | 1:00 pm ET

Reggie Lewis Center, 1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

Get ready for an unforgettable day of fun, connection, and community at Families First FEST—a FREE & OPEN TO ALL event! 🎈Enjoy an exciting lineup of live music 🎶, arts & crafts 🎨, and family-friendly activities that will bring joy to all ages. Explore community resources, let the kids get creative, and watch their faces light up with face painting 🎭! Plus, don’t miss the chance to win amazing raffle prizes 🎟️ and enjoy delicious refreshments. This is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of families, fun, and togetherness! 💙 Come one, come all, and experience the magic of Families First FEST!

• Free and open to all! Register for the event here.

4th Annual Juneteenth Parade and Celebration - A Legacy to Share

Thursday, June 19th | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm ET. Doors at 9:45 am.

770 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139 - Massachusetts Ave and Pleasant St.

Free for all!

• Learn more and register here.

Join the Lower Roxbury Coalition and Wellness Initiative's Annual Youth Mental Health Forum

Friday, June 20th | 5:00 - 8:00 pm ET

Thelma D Burns Building | 575 Warren St. Boston, MA 02121

A space that's created to discuss youth mental health through workshops and resources provided to the youth in the community. *Will include food and giveaways

• Learn here.

Basics Boston Parent Advisory Council

Apply here: http://bi.thebasics.org/TheBasicsBostonPAC 

Deadline to Apply: June 20, 2025

If you know a parent or caregiver who is passionate about supporting young children and strengthening their community, please encourage them to apply! We’d like to include voices from across Boston's neighborhoods and language communities. All members will receive training and a stipend for their time. Participation will involve attending approximately 4 meetings per year (in-person or virtual), reviewing materials, and providing written or verbal feedback. Members will also be invited to share ideas for community outreach and engagement. Email: Keyla Kelley, Program Director, The Basics Boston if have any questions - keyla.kelley@thebasics.org

General Resources:

The Boston Public Health Commission's Center For Behaviors Health & Wellness

• The group supports community organizations to build capacity, elevate and highlight resources, and increase their workforce.

Purespark

• Massachusetts' first Black wellness directory. They host community-based events to support wellness with events and panels that bring together wellness practitioners/ providers to network.

Innopsych

• This organizations hosts networking events and can help connect you to therapists of color.

Pregnancy is a transformative journey filled with anticipation and growth. Along the way, many women experience perinatal stress - emotional and physical demands during pregnancy and shortly after birth. The encouraging news? Recent studies show that mindfulness, supportive prenatal care, and exercise are effective in building resilience and promoting maternal well-being.

Key Highlights

• Mindfulness Works: A 2023 study found that 78% of pregnant women who completed an 8-week mindfulness program reported lower stress levels and higher emotional well-being compared to those without mindfulness training.
• Group Prenatal Care Boosts Wellbeing: Women participating in group prenatal care models (like CenteringPregnancy) showed a 33% or higher satisfaction rate and 26% improvement in emotional support compared to traditional one-on-one care.
• Exercise Elevates Mood: A 2023 systematic review showed that pregnant women who engaged in moderate exercise (like walking or prenatal yoga) reported a 48% reduction in perceived stress and a 60% improvement in sleep quality.
• Telehealth Expands Access: Since 2022, the use of telemedicine for prenatal mental health support has increased by 61%, making counseling and wellness resources more accessible to expectant mothers.

Conclusion

Perinatal stress is manageable. Through mindfulness, supportive care, and healthy activities, women can cultivate calm, resilience, and joy during pregnancy; leading to healthier mothers and babies.

References:

1. Pan, W.-L., Lin, L.-C., Kuo, L.-Y., Chiu, M.-J., & Ling, P.-Y. (2023). Effects of a prenatal mindfulness program on longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety, depression, and mother-infant bonding of women with a tendency to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10388457/
2. Sadiku, F., Bucinca, H., Talrich, F., Molliqaj, V., Selmani, E., McCourt, C., … Hoxha, I. (2023). Maternal satisfaction with group care: a systematic review. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10839533/
3. Liu, D., Liu, K., Xie, L., He, M., & Liu, X. (2025). The effect of physical activity on sleep disorders in pregnant people: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11818327/
4. Telehealth for maternal mental health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-maternal-health-services/telehealth-maternal-mental

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.