Community Based / Non-Profit

Codman Square Health Center Food Pantry

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Phone: 

(617) 825-9660

Website: 

http://www.codman.org/

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays

Mission: 

We do not want our neighbors to be hungry. Both Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester House Multi-Service Center have an on-site food pantry for members of the community. In addition to gathering food to take home, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about nutrition and other public health issues.

Location

Codman Square Health Center Food Pantry
637 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Key Programs Offered: 

Community Meeting Space Available: 

no

Hike4Life

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Email: 

hike4urlife@gmail.com

Website: 

www.HIKE4LIFE.org

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mission: 

Hike4Life™ is a community based organization dedicated to health, wellness and exercise.  Our motto: “Get Up. Get Out. Go Hiking!” is a call to all communities to leave a sedentary lifestyle behind and to get up, get moving and get outdoors.  We hike, bike, kayak, camp, ski & more.  We are partners with Operation B Fit; we advocate for Boston Parks with the Franklin Park Coalition and are part of the Boston Moves for Health initiative.

Key Partners: 

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Key Programs Offered: 

Dorchester Community Food Co-op

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mission: 

The Dorchester Community Co-op is an organization currently in formation by residents of Dorchester, MA and surrounding communities, who are in the process of creating a food cooperative - a community-owned business that will bring healthy food into the community and make it accessible to all.

The Dorchester Community Co-op is committed to:

  • Inclusivity: The co-op will celebrate the diversity of our neighborhoods and reach out to the different ethnic groups, age range, and mixed income groups that make up our community.
  • Healthy Food:  Access to healthy, affordable, and nutritious food is essential to creating a healthy community.
  • Building Community: The coop will serve as a dynamic space to bring people together.
  • Sustainability: Social, economic and environmental sustainability are the cornerstones of the co-op business model.
  • New Economic Model: An economy controlled by its local residents provides stability.
  • Youth: Engaging our youth is important for building our future.
  • Jobs for our Community: Money spent in our community creates more local jobs and supports the Dorchester community.

Location

(to be determined) in Dorchester
United States
Key Partners: 
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Please help by:

  • Joining the mailing list.
  • Pledging to become a member-owner.
  • Volunteering to help organize the co-op.
  • Follow DotCommCoop on twitter @DotCommCoop and on Facebook.
  • Telling neighbors and friends about the co-op.

Please contact Dorchester Community Food Coop via e-mail dotcommcoop@gmail.com - help, support and ideas welcomed!

Key Programs Offered: 

Dorchester Winter Farmers' Market 2012 - 6 Norfolk Street, Codman Square, every Sunday 12-3, January through March

Created: 
07/14/2011

The Community Food Coop is in the preliminary phases of planning which means that now is a great time to get involved and have your voice heard!

Current primary goals are spreading the word about the co-op and involving as many people as possible now, in the beginning stages.

Activities planned for the coming months: location research, a neighborhood resident survey, and completion of feasibility and marketing studies. The community's help and input is essential to move this process forward! The co-op will need a minimum of 500 paid members-owners to break ground.

Friends of the Blue Hills

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

PO Box 416
Milton, MA 02186

Phone: 

781-828-1805

Mission: 

The Friends of the Blue Hills was formed in the mid-1970s by a group of people that recognized the vulnerability of the Reservation. For over 30 years, FBH has engaged the public in activities that protect the park by preventing encroachments, increasing park resources and improving park management. FBH’s mission has remained intact over the last 30 years: to protect and preserve the Blue Hills Reservation in its natural state. To accomplish this mission FBH acts to:

 

  1. Advocate for actions that will enhance the Reservation and serve as watchdog of activities that might adversely affect it.
  2. Guide enthusiasts in exploring the nearby remoteness of the Blue Hills Reservation through educational, historical, and nature hikes.
  3. Encourage involvement in the protection and preservation of the Reservation by all users.
  4. Work with the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to maintain the quality of the Reservation and provide public input for its management.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

http://www.friendsofthebluehills.org/membership/

$25 - Individual
$45 - Family
$20 - Senior

 

  • Become part of a larger coalition of environmental organizations working on similar issues in and around the Blue Hills Reservation.
  • Play a part in working to protect and preserve the quality of life, sense of place, natural beauty, and ecological value that is contained within the Blue Hills Reservation.
Created: 
07/14/2011

Boston Park Advocates (BPA)

Phone: 

617-442-4141

Mission: 

The mission of the network is to connect and unify Boston’s diverse park and community stakeholders. We aim to build our capacity, share resources and information, raise public awareness, and strengthen the collective impact of our network members to influence public park policy and increase support for the range of urban parks and open spaces.

Key Partners: 

Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition

Franklin Park Coalition

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Created: 
06/29/2011

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

212 Northern Avenue, Suite 304 West, Boston, MA 02210

Phone: 

(617) 451-2860

Fax: 

(617) 451-0496

Mission: 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s mission is to restore and protect the harbor and the bay, and to reconnect Bostonians from every neighborhood, regional residents and visitors alike, so that we can all enjoy the benefits of the enormous public and private investment in our revitalized harbor and waterfront.

Location

Boston Fish Pier
212 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
United States
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To apply, please e-mail your cover letter and resume to info@savetheharbor.org . Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Key Programs Offered: 

 

  • All Access Boston Harbor - Area groups learn about the marine environment and maritime history during these day trips to Georges Island and Spectacle Island.

  • Boston Harbor Explorers - A daily hands-on environmental education program in partnership with Boston’s youth sailing centers.

  • Marine Mammal Safaris - Our annual cruises launch the summer season, providing the unique opportunity to spot harbor seals and porpoises.

  • Our funding partners - Youth programs are made possible by these generous sponsors.

Created: 
06/27/2011

Boston Healthy Start Initiative

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

35 Northampton Street, Miranda/Creamer Building, 6th Floor, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02118

Phone: 

(617) 534-5395

Fax: 

(617) 534-5358

Email: 
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month (there are no meetings in July and August) at New Academy Estates Community Center, 2908 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Please call (617) 534 7828 to add your name to the dinner list, or if you need transportation. Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m.

Mission: 

Boston Healthy Start Initiative's mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. BHSI strives to fulfill the mission through a wide range of health initiatives that target preventable disease and injury.

Location

Boston Healthy Start Initiative
35 Northampton Street Miranda/Creamer Building 6th Floor, Suite 604
Boston, MA 02118
United States
Key Partners: 

Program of Boston Public Health Commission. Associated with Father Friendly Program.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Community residents of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, South End, and Jamaica Plain, can attend the meetings. Religious organizations, business owners, and community based agencies are also encouraged to attend.

Key Programs Offered: 

Boston Healthy Start Initiative has been funded since 1991 to ensure that Black pregnant women receive quality health care by funding case management, health education, interconceptional care, and maternal depression services. If you self identify as a Black pregnant woman you will receive services through a case manager who has experience in maternal and child health issues. Call (617) 534-7828, to ask for a health center near your home.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

New Academy Estates Community Center, 2908 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Created: 
06/27/2011

Boston Children's Chorus

Phone: 

617-778-2242

Fax: 

617-778 2248

Mission: 

The Boston Children's Chorus harnesses the power and joy of music to unite our city's diverse communities and inspire social change. Our singers transcend social barriers in a celebration of shared humanity and love of music. Through intensive choral training and high-profile public performance experience (locally, throughout the U.S. and around the world), they learn discipline, develop leadership skills, and proudly represent the city of Boston as ambassadors of harmony.

Location

112 Shawmut Avenue, Suite 5B
Boston, MA 02118
United States
Key Partners: 

New England Conservatory (NEC), WCVB-TV Channel 5 (ABC), Boston Public Schools (BPS) Arts Office. A selection of choirs exist through partnership with the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center & Villa Victoria Center for the Arts (in collaboration with Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción). See here for many more collaborators.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To join the chorus, you must fill out an application and audition:

  • Auditionees must be between the ages of 7 and 18 (must turn 7 years old by December 31)
  • No prior musicial training is necessary
  • A prepared piece is not required
  • Audition process is quick and simple (ten minutes!)
  • Placement will be determined on skills and maturity

To book the Boston Children’s Chorus for your organization’s next event or private function, please complete the following Book Us Form or contact:

Anthony Victoria
Manager of Programs
P 617-778-2242 x225
F 617-778 2248
E avictoria@bostonchildrenschorus.org

Key Programs Offered: 

Our repertoire is unique among children’s choirs, as it includes an extraordinary range that spans across many different countries and music genres. Each performance is unique and the Artistic Director carefully crafts each program to suit the theme of the event. We offer performances consisting of Classical music, Folk music, Spirituals and World music.

Choral Activities/Music Education

BCC is developing a reputation for professional level performances and innovation in music education. The 40-plus annual performances are rooted in Boston but have national impact – particularly through our nationally televised Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert that has become a New England tradition.The music education program, most often recognized for a unique approach to diverse students of both urban and suburban backgrounds, levels the field of learning for singers with varying degrees of experience and leads all to achieve high levels of musicianship.

Artists and Scholars

BCC builds relationships with leading professional artists and scholars in the field of music and music education. These leaders interact and partner with BCC singers and the Boston community providing meaningful musical experiences. The 2010-2011 roster includes the following:

  • Composer in Residence: Bill Banfield, Berklee College of Music
  • Conductor in Residence: Maria Guinand, Schola Cantorum de Venezuela
  • Educator in Residence: Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, The American Boy Choir

Tours and Excursions

Tours provide our singers with first-rate performing opportunities within the U.S. and abroad. Through this travel and the specially-designed pre-tour education programs, singers’ lives are changed as they learn about foreign cultures, their histories, and from friendships across global boundaries. Recent travels include tours to Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.



Youth Development (Modulation)

BCC empowers youth to take ownership of their participation, assisting their development as independent and responsible learners, thinkers, musicians and citizens. The youth development program provides opportunities to develop skills that allow singers to develop their own voices through omni-directional mentoring, leadership development and through the building of networking, public speaking and communication skills. In addition, the singers become deeply engaged in the community through targeted community service projects.

Choirs include:

Premier Choir
Advanced singers ages 12-18. Our premier performing group offers a stimulating, comprehensive and demanding choral repertoire requiring advanced level of musical skill. The Premier Choir participates in local, national and international tours.

Young Men’s Ensemble

A special program to meet the unique needs of boys ages 10-18 with changing and changed voices.

Concert Choir

Singers ages 10-16 with advanced musical skills receive intensive training in music theory, music history and foreign languages; performances include regional tours.

Choral Union

A choir created in 2010 to provide intense vocal and theory training for older singers ages 12-18 who have a great interest and enthusiasm for singing, but not the formal musical training.

Central Intermediate Choir

Intermediate singers ages 10-14. This level requires individual attentiveness, vocal skills and theory comprehension while offering expanded repertoire and performance experiences.

Dorchester House Training Choir

A neighborhood-based choir for beginning-level singers ages 7-12, established in collaboration with Dorchester House, in Fields Corner.

Dorchester House Intermediate Choir

Intermediate level neighborhood-based choir established in collaboration with Dorchester House, in Fields Corner.

West End House Training Choir

A neighborhood-based choir for beginning-level singers ages 7-12, established in collaboration with the West End House in Allston-Brighton.

Central Training Choir

Beginning singers ages 7-12. This program develops music basics such as theory, interval training, rhythm and sight-singing techniques. Attention span and concentration are points of focus.

Villa Victoria Training Choir

A neighborhood-based choir for beginning-level singers ages 7-12, established in collaboration with Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), in Boston’s South End community.

In addition, Rapid Achievement Practice (RAP) is a required weekly half hour music education program specially designed for all levels of singers to help advance sight-reading and musicianship skills.

Project Place

Phone: 

617.542.3740

Email: 
Mission: 

Project Place is a supportive community that promotes hope and opportunity for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the skills, education and resources to obtain stable employment and housing.

Location

1145 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
United States
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Hire a Project Place graduate! Email hjassal@projectplace.org

Subscribe to the Project Place newsletter! Email newsletter@projectplace.org

Apply for employment or an internship: http://www.projectplace.org/jobs.html.

Volunteer: http://www.projectplace.org/volunteer.html.
 

Key Programs Offered: 

 

GateHouse

The top two floors of Project Place's six-story building are dedicated to GateHouse, 14 studio apartments for homeless individuals who are making transitions in their lives. Residences are permanent, affordable housing in a sober, supportive community. During their stay tenants have the option to utilize Project Place services and programs including our wraparound support services to address barriers in finding and obtaining employment and housing. Tenants have either graduated from a program or are currently enrolled in one, are committed to sobriety and pay one-third of their income for rent.

Betty's Place

Housed in the YWCA's Berkeley Street residence, Betty's Place is a transitional housing program that can accommodate up to 15 women at one time. Residents are provided with Project Place programming and supports while making the transition from the emergency shelter system to independent living. Betty's provides each resident with a room of her own in a safe, clean environment and two meals a day. Residents also receive our wraparound support services to address barriers in finding and obtaining employment and housing. The average length of stay is six months.

HomePlate

HomePlate is a food preparation and services training program. Participants in this program help to operate our pushcart in downtown Boston, fulfill catering requests for corporate and private clients and prepare breakfast and lunch for Project Place clients and staff daily. All food is prepared in our in-house commercial kitchen. Clients in this program are primed to transfer directly into the food service industry and also graduate with comprehensive customer service and money handling skills. They also receive our wraparound support services to address barriers in finding and obtaining employment and housing. 

Wraparound Support Services

All Project Place clients receive the wraparound support services to address the various barriers they may encounter in finding and obtaining employment and housing. A comprehensive, yet personalized approach is utilized with each client to ensure that services meet the individual's needs. These include: Case Management, Career Services, Computer Training, Educational Services, Alumni Services. Read more hereFor more information, contact: Kim Nuttall at 617.542.3740 or knuttall@projectplace.org.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)

This new employment, placement and training program provides tailored services specific to veterans. In addition to traditional case management and support services, clients are assessed for veteran’s benefit eligibility, provided referrals for specific needs and given assistance in obtaining discharge papers (DD214).

Client Assistance Programs

- Danielle Fund: Named to honor the life and memory of Danielle Ontra, this fund was created to support clients and alumni who are making strides to live independently and are committed to their recovery. Clients may apply for funds to alleviate financial burdens up to $500, paid directly to the source (landlord, school, etc.). Included in the application process is identification of the need, developing a budget to manage future expenses and explanation of how compliance of goals aligns with agency mission.

- MicroLoan Fund: A new program of Project Place, our MicroLoan Fund offers small financial loans to assist graduates in overcoming temporary obstacles to successful housing, education and/or employment. In addition, it helps them to develop a positive credit history. A committee comprised of graduates, staff, board and bank representatives, review applications and work with applicants to finalize their request and develop a repayment plan.

- Paul White Empowerment Fund: Established by his family in memory of Paul White, a long time friend and supporter of Project Place. The fund will assist persons served by Project Place to advance their education and/or employment goals. Grants will be given to clients for:

Tuition for GED, certificate or post secondary education
Books or supplies for educational purposes
Clothing for employment interviews
Other education or employment purposes which meet the goal of the fund 

 

Social Enterprises

Project Place prides itself on the entrepreneurial approach we take to solving social challenges. To help facilitate change in our clients' lives we run three businesses that provide paid employment to those overcoming homelessness. Our businesses also create a revenue stream for the agency that contributes to 20% of our operating budget while providing our clients with the skills and work experience needed to gain employment.

  • Project Pepsi: a vending machine service business.
  • Clean Corners... Bright Hopes: a facilities and outdoor maintenance service.
  • HomePlate: a food services program, operating a pushcart in downtown Boston and offering catering to corporate and private clients. 
Created: 
05/18/2011

 

Project Place
1145 Washington Street 
Boston, MA 02118
617.542.3740 (p) 
617.542.3860 (f) 
info@projectplace.org

Contact Betty's Place:

Betty's Place 
40 Berkeley Street 
Boston, MA 02116 (p)
617.482.1126 (p)
617.482.7524 (f) 
info@projectplace.org 

Temple of Martial Arts

Phone: 

(508) 991-1519

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

 

   
    DAY   TIME   LEVEL / GROUP    
   

  Monday

  5:00 - 5:50 PM   Beginner / Advanced    
   

  Tuesday

  5:00 - 5:50 PM   Beginner / Advanced    
   

  Wednesday

  5:00 - 5:50 PM   Beginner / Advanced    
   

  Thursday

  5:00 - 5:50 PM   Advanced kids only    
   

  Saturday

  9:00 AM

10:00 - 11:30 AM
         Beginner

       Advanced
Mission: 

Temple of Martial Arts (TOMA) is a non-profit organization geared toward the inner-city youth. Martial arts classes are a great way for children to release extra energy in a safe and constructive environment. The highly trained staff at the Temple of Martial Arts channels the students’ energy in a positive way while teaching personal life skills such as self-discipline, respect, and courtesy.

Location

Healthworks at Codman
450 Washington Street (Healthworks at Codman)
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Created: 
05/10/2011
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