"We're engaged in a struggle between two forces: racial progress and racist process."
-- Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Founding Director, Antiracist Research and Policy Center
To Our Beloved Village Community,
We need to ensure that every child has an equitable future. This will require committed actions towards racial progress. In this moment we see ourselves. We acknowledge and honor the generations of sacrifice, struggle, and advocacy. We lift up our diverse and rich traditions and our excellence. We welcome new allies. We continue.
Together we can step forward in this moment as a coalition, a community, a collective working towards justice and liberation.
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Resource Connector
Learn more about resources relevant to children and families in our community from our community.
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For Police Violence and Anti-Racism in America
Below are helpful links to organizations that can help both you and your family during these times:
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Ways you can take action:
Resources for talking to your children:
Learn more:
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Network members' voices bring good news and share highlights from
around our community.
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Thanks to the dedication of the Mental Health Awareness Committee we will continue to support opportunities to care for our mental health and wellbeing. Below are Mental Health Efforts that will continue:
- Children's Mental Health Story Times on Tuesdays @ 6:30-7pm: A collaborative event with Boston Public Library. Book readings and activities focused on Social-Emotional Learning for families with young children!
- Resource Sharing: Follow along on Vital Village Network Facebook and Twitter! Got an event or resource to share? Email us! #VillageInMind #HealingTogether
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Infographic Series: Centering on Dignity
Now more than ever we need to #StandForDignity. These visual representations are designed to communicate strategies to
promote safety
,
social connections
and a
widening circle of compassion
while honoring everyone's dignity during COVID-19.
Download the infographics
now available in ENGLISH and SPANISH and share widely!
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Got Feedback? Help Us Improve Our Community Resource Tools!
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We created these maps in response to the desire for child enrichment activities at home and a regularly updated map of important basic family needs including food accessibility, shelters, health testing sites, and more.
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CONtexts - Early Childhood Texts
CONtexts
(Community Resources On Health Nearby Fun) is a free text messaging service that sends current information, community resources, wellness tips, and family-fun activities right to your phone! To subscribe, just text
KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8.
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Early post-partum? Breastfeeding? Pregnant? The Breastfeeding Warmline is live and our Breastfeeding Counselors are available every day to help. Talk to one of our trained and experienced peer counselors today or share our
flyer
with a friend!
Call:
857-301-8259
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Virtual Baby Cafes Now Available!
Stay connected, informed, and supported by your community and trained Breastfeeding Counselors. Check out our
website
or
Facebook
to see the full schedule of groups and join!
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Allison Bovell-Ammon and Dr. Megan Sandel of Children’s HealthWatch (CHW) address question of how we can use data to tell community stories and create actionable change. Also on the role of narratives in advancing equitable policies that improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families.
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Community Events
Join Vital Village Network partners and other community organizations at these upcoming events. Click event to RSVP or learn more.
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June 5th:
"I Still Can't Breathe" Supporting Kids of Color Amid Racialized Violence"
8:30pm @ Virtual Webinar
Join
EMBRACE RACE
for a discussion of what conversations about policing, violence, safety, justice, and race should we be having with our children of color?
6:00-6:30pm @ Facebook Live
10:00-11:30am @ Virtual Meeting
8:00-9:00pm @ Virtual Panel
DeeDee's Cry provides information and resources about mental wellness in communities of color.
Men Have Feelings Too
will be an all-male panel discussion about being a son, father, brother, uncle, mentor, community member, and the mental effects that these roles play.
RSVP today!
6:30pm @ Conference Call
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Opportunities
Check out job, volunteer, and grant opportunities available in our
community.
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JOBS:
Nuestra
aims to increase the social and economic power of individuals and families in its community through education, economic development and resident programming that foster a safe, vibrant and culturally diverse community with affordable housing.
See job description and apply today!
Nuestra
aims to increase the social and economic power of individuals and families in its community through education, economic development and resident programming that foster a safe, vibrant and culturally diverse community with affordable housing.
See job description and apply today!
Kitchen Staff, EatWell Meal Kits
EatWell Meal Kits
makes tasty, affordable meal kits for happy families and healthy communities. Are you passionate about improving healthy food access in your community? Join EatWell's Production Team, and be part of the kitchen staff assembling meal kits!
Contact Dan
for more info and to apply!
Trainings:
Please join
YW Boston
for a virtual webinar this
Wednesday, June 3rd at 4:00 (ET)
“Women on the Rise: Reimagining Equity in Boston Post-COVID-19.”
This pandemic has made clear that our inequitable policies and responses are worsening existing disparities. We have the opportunity, and a responsibility, to envision a better and more equitable Boston. This is important for communities of color, especially women of color, who have primarily experienced this crisis at the frontlines with a variety of challenges.
Learn more and register today!
Did you know that less than 10% of Community Health Workers in Massachusetts have applied for certification?
Join
Mass Association Health Workers
June 18 from 11:00am - 12:00pm EST for an interactive conversation discussing the specific barriers CHWs face to getting certified, and be a part of the solutions.
Register here!
Please join the
Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester
for free weekly Virtual Parent/Caregiver Group Sessions every Tuesday at 12:00pm! Build your support network, connect with peer parents/caregivers, learn new skills, and receive resources. Show up as you are, stay as long as you can.
Register here.
Scholarship:
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Scoop on the Stats
Explore data related to child and family well-being.
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Mental health affects the overall health and well-being of children and families across the country.
When fathers have the supports they need to thrive, they are powerful allies for maternal and child health.This infographic from NICHQ shows the importance of father involvement and supporting their mental health.
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Sharing Technology
Explore technology related to child and family well-being.
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NEW
Abundance App
3.0
is now available on iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktops. Abundance empowers Boston residents to easily access affordable, high-quality food resources.
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CONtexts
aims to promote positive outcomes between caregivers and children by sharing weekly resources through a FREE text service and interactive resource sharing map. These resources are ideal for anyone working with or caregivers of children ages 0-5.
To subscribe, text KIDS to 8-8-5-8-8
Once you're subscribed you will receive 3 weekly
FREE
text messages:
- Monday: Nearby community resources
- Wednesday: Wellness tips
- Friday: Family-fun events
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There's still time to get counted! The 2020 Census will help decide how much money communities will get for areas that impact the everyday lives of children - schools, child care and early learning, health insurance and medical care, food & housing assistance, and more. (Source:
Count All Kids
)
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For COVID-19 Family Support
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Call 2-1-1
for resources regarding parent/family support, clothing/household items, physical health, crisis lines/helplines, food/meals, mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing/utilities or domestic violence situations.
Languages Available:
English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese,
Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese.
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Our Mission
Vital Village is a network of residents and
agencies committed to maximizing child, family, and community wellbeing.
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Stay Connected
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Have an event, job opportunity, or resource to share with the network?
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