SCI Quarterly eNews - Autumn 2008
Submitted by Karen on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 9:21am.
Thanks for your interest and support. I hope the long weekend provides you a chance to spend some time with family, friends, and perhaps a few neighbors!
On
September 15th, our new AmeriCorps members began their 1700 hours of
service with SCI. Many come from local SCI communities, while others
hail from as far away as Washington state. The 15 members play crucial
roles in our effort to strengthen the fabric of local
communites-training young leaders, recruiting volunteers, and
connecting people to vital resources. These members will serve ten
months while receiving a modest living allowance and an educational
award at the conclusion of their service. We are still currently
trying to fill our remaining AmeriCorps positions. For a full
description of the positions, and how to apply, please click here.
Eight
new Massachusetts locations are now in the start-up phase of becoming
an SCI Network site. This means that they will have an SCI community
portal website and may replicate other successful SCI programs, such
as the Civic Welcome Wagon or the Youth Council. These new SCI Network
locations are Brookline, Charlestown, Fall River, Milford, Newton,
Northwest Suburban Community Health Network (CHNA 15), Southbridge-area
Community Health Network (CHNA 5) & Waltham. If you live or work
in one of these communities and would like more information or to get
involved with these SCI network sites, please contact me at dcrowley@socialcapitalinc.org.
On
September 20th and 21st, Woburn celebrated Neighborhood Day with an
array of neighborly activities. This project tied into National
Neighborhood Day, and Woburn residents participated in projects that
improved their neighborhood while fostering connections among
neighbors. Five of these activities were awarded mini-grants of $100
through SCI. These projects included a beautification project of a
visibility site, a mural painting project at the Goodyear Elementary
School, several neighborhood block parties and a used cell phones
collection drive for Cell Phones for Soldiers.
On
Thursday November 13 at 7:00PM, SCI & St. John's Baptist Church are
collaborating on a showing of the Sundance-nominated documentary Traces
of the Trade at Woburn Memorial High School Auditorium. Traces of the
Trade Producer/Director Katrina Browne offers a new and provocative
perspective on the slave trade by telling the story of her family's
role as the largest slave trading family in United States history.
This special public showing is open to members of the public and
following the screening of the film two members of the "Traces family",
Dain and Constance Perry, will facilitate a discussion on the film and
how the legacy of slavery affects our communities and the nation
today. Click here for more information.
Greetings From SCI
During these challenging times, the underlying premise of SCI,
that we need each other, has never been more salient. The calls of
people looking for help and resources are getting more frequent. Just
yesterday my day started with a call from a colleague looking for
resources for a teen needing support to stay in school. When times are
tough, we get through by leaning on our friends and neighbors. When
those supports aren't there, it's even harder to get by. During the
coming months, we'll certainly be tapping the social networks we've
developed over the past 6 years to help strengthen the local
connections that will help us all navigate the road ahead.
The times also underline the importance of teaching the value of looking out for our neighbors. The SCI Dorchester Youth Council is once again readying to collect canned food through the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Foods they initiated several years ago to replenish food pantry shelves in advance of the holiday food drives. The Woburn Youth Council has routinely done a coat drive as the weather turns cold.
The times also underline the importance of teaching the value of looking out for our neighbors. The SCI Dorchester Youth Council is once again readying to collect canned food through the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Foods they initiated several years ago to replenish food pantry shelves in advance of the holiday food drives. The Woburn Youth Council has routinely done a coat drive as the weather turns cold.
I invite you to join SCI in tapping your social capital to help
your neighbors. Read the rest of our eNews to find out some of the
things we're going this fall to strengthen our community fabric. Join
us for one of our events. See if SCI is coming to your community soon
if we're not already there. And as always, we appreciate any support large or small you can provide to help us carry out our vital mission.
Thanks for your interest and support. I hope the long weekend provides you a chance to spend some time with family, friends, and perhaps a few neighbors!
David
New SCI AmeriCorps Team Trained
On
September 15th, our new AmeriCorps members began their 1700 hours of
service with SCI. Many come from local SCI communities, while others
hail from as far away as Washington state. The 15 members play crucial
roles in our effort to strengthen the fabric of local
communites-training young leaders, recruiting volunteers, and
connecting people to vital resources. These members will serve ten
months while receiving a modest living allowance and an educational
award at the conclusion of their service. We are still currently
trying to fill our remaining AmeriCorps positions. For a full
description of the positions, and how to apply, please click here.
Interested applicants can forward their resume and cover letter to Crystal Johnson, SCI Program Director at americorps@socialcapitalinc.org or by call our office for more information at 781-935-2244.
Social Capitalist Spotlight: Making a Difference in Lynn
Amanda
Richardson quickly grasped SCI's community building mission when she
joined us as an AmeriCorps member last fall. She saw SCI as a great
opportunity to serve Boston area communities she has known all her
life. But 10 months of AmeriCorps service was not enough for Amanda or
SCI. After wrapping up her AmeriCorps service, Amanda moved into the
SCI Lynn coordinator position, where she is now responsible for leading
our newest flagship site. Top priorities on her place include starting
a new a citywide youth council in Lynn. She has also been busy with
the recent Latin American Festival and having the Lynn Civic Welcome
Wagon Book translated into six different languages, responding to a
recent survey that concluded that nearly 10% of Lynn residents had no
working knowledge of the 911 Emergency System and other basic
services. For more information please contact Amanda Richardson at arichardson@socialcapitalinc.org or call 781-599-1269.
New SCI Network Site Locations
Eight
new Massachusetts locations are now in the start-up phase of becoming
an SCI Network site. This means that they will have an SCI community
portal website and may replicate other successful SCI programs, such
as the Civic Welcome Wagon or the Youth Council. These new SCI Network
locations are Brookline, Charlestown, Fall River, Milford, Newton,
Northwest Suburban Community Health Network (CHNA 15), Southbridge-area
Community Health Network (CHNA 5) & Waltham. If you live or work
in one of these communities and would like more information or to get
involved with these SCI network sites, please contact me at dcrowley@socialcapitalinc.org.
Neighborhood Day
On
September 20th and 21st, Woburn celebrated Neighborhood Day with an
array of neighborly activities. This project tied into National
Neighborhood Day, and Woburn residents participated in projects that
improved their neighborhood while fostering connections among
neighbors. Five of these activities were awarded mini-grants of $100
through SCI. These projects included a beautification project of a
visibility site, a mural painting project at the Goodyear Elementary
School, several neighborhood block parties and a used cell phones
collection drive for Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Traces of the Trade Showing Nov. 13
On
Thursday November 13 at 7:00PM, SCI & St. John's Baptist Church are
collaborating on a showing of the Sundance-nominated documentary Traces
of the Trade at Woburn Memorial High School Auditorium. Traces of the
Trade Producer/Director Katrina Browne offers a new and provocative
perspective on the slave trade by telling the story of her family's
role as the largest slave trading family in United States history.
This special public showing is open to members of the public and
following the screening of the film two members of the "Traces family",
Dain and Constance Perry, will facilitate a discussion on the film and
how the legacy of slavery affects our communities and the nation
today. Click here for more information.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Post new comment