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"Biggest Loser" Star to Host Health Works Diabetes Workshop

AdamE — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:24:34 -0600

The Codman Square Health Works' Fitness Center is shining the spotlight on Diabetes Awareness Month in a big way. The Fitness Center has booked the runner-up from NBC's season one of "The Biggest Loser",Andrea Baptiste.

On Tuesday, November
25th from 6:30-7:30 PM, Baptiste will lead an interactive workshop on Diabetes prevention. The prevention workshop will inform participants about types of diabetes, the role fats, sugars, and carbohydrates play in diabetes, and how to
enjoy the gym while effectively exercising. The workshop will also provide participants with healthy and tasty recipes to take home.

Although Baptiste lost in the finals of season one, she is considered by many to be the show's most successful participant of the multiple
seasons. Baptiste lost 65 pounds, and it marked a turning point in her life. Instead of obsessing about the actual numbers, she focused on living a healthier lifestyle — eating well and exercising on a regular basis.

“Women must feel better about themselves and live a healthier lifestyle,” Baptiste said. “Women often put others’ needs ahead of
themselves. But actually they should take the lead on having a healthier lifestyle — and then instill that in their families.” Baptiste is currently one of the most outspoken voices for females on Diabetes prevention.

The Health Works Foundation is located at the Codman Square Tech Center on 450 Washington Street in Dorchester.

For more information, please visit the Health Works
Foundation website.

Mass Service Alliance Hosts AmeriCorps Opening Day

AdamE — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:23:09 -0600

The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) played host last Thursday to the Annual AmeriCorps Opening Day. The yearly occasion was held at Roxbury's Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

The event featured over 2,000 AmeriCorps members across the state, including individuals serving with Social Capital Inc. in cities such as Dorchester, Lynn, and Woburn. The AmeriCorps members were privy to a special treat in the form of guest speaker, Governor Deval Patrick (pictured above with this year's AmeriCorps team).

Patrick made mention of his days in the PeaceCorps serving in Sudan and encouraged members to be excited for "the long and exciting journey" that lies ahead. After the conclusion of the Governor's speech, the MSA provided its AmeriCorps members with tours of the Massachusetts State House and the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse.

The MSA, established in 1991, is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on community service and volunteerism. Its mission is to catalyze the innovation and growth of service and volunteerism by creating partnerships that maximize resources, expertise, capacity, and impact.

The MSA is responsible for the AmeriCorps members serving through Social Capital Inc in Dorchester. AmeriCorps members serve a total of 1700 hours within their community. To learn more about how you can become an AmeriCorps member, please click here. To learn more about the Massachusetts Service Alliance, please click here. read more »

MassVOTE's Top Ten Tips for Voters

AdamE — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:24:37 -0500

1. Vote early Turnout will be huge, so expect a line during peak hours. Vote between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid the rush. But don't worry - you have a right to vote if you're on line before 8 p.m., and polls will stay open until every voter in line votes.

2. Check your registration If you've moved in the last year, haven't voted for a while, or for any other reason feel your registration may be in question, call the Secretary of State at 1(800) 462-8683.

3. Know where you vote Some polling locations have changed in the last year. Call the Secretary of State's office, or check out WhereToVote - and be sure to use the address at which you are registered!

4. Do your homework The candidates are exciting this year, but so are the ballot questions. Know where you stand on eliminating the state income tax (Question #1), decriminalizing marijuana possession (#2), outlawing dog-racing (#3), and local ballot questions. And of course, research the candidates as well. Elections Division is a good place to start.

5. Absentee Ballot You may vote absentee if you will be out of town on Election Day or if you can't get to the polls due to physical disability or religious belief. Click here for an absentee ballot application.

6. CORI Voter You may vote if you have a CORI , or if you're on parole or probation, so long as you're a registered voter. Only people currently incarcerated for a felony are not eligible.

7. Bring ID Most voters are not asked for identification, but some are, especially those who are voting for the first time or who haven't voted in a few years. Your MA Driver's License will work, but so will a recent utility bill or rent receipt on landlord's letterhead.

8. Bring a friend You may bring anyone you choose with you into the voting booth (except your boss or union supervisor). Bring your children, or make it a romantic evening of dinner and democracy.

9. Marking the Ballot Mark both sides of the ballot, and if you make a mistake, ask for a new one. You have the right to ask for up to two replacement ballots if you make a mistake and spoil yours.

10. Get help at the polls Do you have difficulty speaking English? A disability? A question? You have to right to get help from the pollworkers.
read more »

Welcome to MyDorchester.org

Social Capital Inc. — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:02:28 -0600

Join a connected community of users committed to building community one click at at a time.

Find activities and resources for all ages

Share what you know about Dorchester

Connect with your neighbors

Mobilize others to get involved in issues, groups & events

REGISTER LOG IN

REQUEST NEW PASSWORD

We hope you will take a look around,

register, and participate!

MyDorchester.org is a social networking website dedicated to building social capital and increasing civic engagement in the Dorchester community. This community building tool was initiated by SCI Dorchester's Dorchester Guide Project, with the support of community partners, as a launching pad to develop a site to connect people to people; people to resources & opportunities, people to groups & organizations; and people to ways to get involved in their neighborhood.

Since its launch in December, the website has since been replicated by Social Capital Inc., SCI Woburn, SCI Lynn and MassYouth.org. read more »

AmeriCorps - Quarterly Update

AdamE — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:39:03 -0600

It has been a bit since I have created a blog entry, so I figure I'll talk a bit about my AmeriCorps experience.

To date, my service time has reached nearly three months in Dorchester. Without doing the mathematics of my service, I'd say I'm averaging a little over 40 plus hours a week. Now if only I could add the travel time (roughly 3 hours per day), I'd reach 55 hours per week!

My experiences in Dorchester have been enjoyable. If someone asked me right now, what would I take away from my time here, my immediate reply would have to be the individuals within the community, with a bias view giving much love to those I "serve" alongside each day.

With all due respect to the good people I have met throughout the city, I cannot say enough about the people at 450 Washington (i.e DotWell/Codman Square Tech Center). The staff on hand is as good-hearted and energetic as any I have seen working in the non-profit industry.

Each individual shares a truly warm heart and a grand sense of humor. As in all walks of life, each individual at the Center also has a unique and enjoyable story as to how their lives have brought them to the 450 Center.

Beyond the personal side, the projects our SCI-Dorchester AmeriCorps members are involved in, everyone is extremely busy. I shall tell more on the next blog.

Doreen Treacy

AdamE — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:29:53 -0600

Doreen Treacy joined the DotWell CivicHealth Institute in 2001, 9 years after launching a successful consulting venture and 8 years after purchasing her first home in the Dorchester community. The collusion between her community activism and professional life have informed each other ever since. As a consultant to the City of Boston, she authored a course book and delivered trainings for the popular Homebuying 101 program a program that became a benchmark for homebuyer education standards statewide. In addition to the Homebuying course, Ms. Treacy also developed and facilitated numerous financial seminars to empower individuals to become stable, long term, and engaged members of their communities. She has been a featured presenter at a HUD National Best Practices Conference, a National Tax Coalition conference, a National Community Technology conference and at a statewide Federal Reserve Bank Conference. Additionally, her work with first-time urban homebuyers was featured in Money magazine.

Since joining the CivicHealth Institute, she has entered into a partnership with Social Capital, Inc to increase civic engagement and social capital in the community, With a team of community activists, she has played an active role in the revitalization of the MBTA Red lines stations in Dorchester and particularly in the creation of the Shawmut Corridor Gardens, a transit oriented beauty spot and teaching garden. She has spearheaded a Fiscal Health initiative partnering with the City of Boston, FDIC, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, IRS, and local nonprofits to launch a city-wide, neighborhood-based Earned Income Tax Campaign. Her newest initiative, Wealth Access for All, weaves opportunities for higher education, family financial education, and access to the EITC into a comprehensive asset development strategy. She is a founding member of the Boston EITC Coalition, on the Board of Directors of MCBC (Massachusetts Banking and Community Council) where she is also a co-chair of its Banking subcommittee, and a Board of Directors member of MIDAS She holds an BS from the University of Massachusetts- Amherst and an M.Div from Boston University. read more »

Help Save the Peace Institute

AdamE — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:54:28 -0600

Start: 12/02/2008 - 7:00pm

End: 12/02/2008 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

The Fields Corner-based organization that assists families of victims of violence, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute ,may
have to close its doors in the weeks to come due to recent state
funding cuts. Community leaders Tom Gannon and Alan Issokson are
coordinating a fundraising effort to help save this vital program. They
have set a goal to raise $10,000 to help Peace Institute President, CEO
and Co-Founder Tina Chery save the organization. Now is the time to
give back to an organization that has given so much to our community.

Join the Fields Corner community on Tuesday, December 2, 7-9 p.m., at the Blarney Stone,1505
Dorchester Ave., for a fundraising party. If you are unable to
attend this event, please send donations to: Louis D. Brown Peace
Institute, 1452 Dorchester Avenue, 2nd floor, Dorchester, MA 02122.

By giving $1, $20, $50 or $100 you will help to save the Louis D. Brown
Peace Institute. Please spread the word to your family, friends and
colleagues, and be part of the solution this Thanksgiving holiday in
keeping the doors of the Institute open!

To donate money now, click here.

If you wish to send money or contact the Peace Instituition, email them at: info@louisdbrownpeaceinstitute.org

Or read the following information:

1452 Dorchester Avenue

2nd Floor

Dorchester, MA 02122
Phone: (617) 825-1917
Fax: (617) 265-2278

Fields Corner Board of Directors Meeting

AdamE — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:51:05 -0600

Start: 12/03/2008 - 6:00pm

End: 12/03/2008 - 8:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

Board of Directors Meeting: Wednesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m., Dorchester House, Mallen Board Room, 1353 Dorchester Ave.

Get Involved. Make a Difference.

A Taste of the Holidays in Fields Corner

AdamE — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:41:28 -0600

Start: 11/29/2008 - 4:00pm

End: 11/29/2008 - 6:30pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

On Saturday, November 29,
between 4 and 5:30 p.m., come to Fields Corner to enjoy a taste of the
holiday season at participating businesses that will be offering free
treats. Show your Boston Community Change Card or sign up for one that day for a free gift and free raffle ticket for a chance to win a flat screen TV!
To increase your odds of winning, additional raffle tickets may be
purchased for $2 each or 3 for $5 at each participating business.
Throughout the year, return to these businesses to earn rebates on your
purchases and support your favorite nonprofit or school by using the
card.

Participating businesses include:

Blarney Stone, 1505 Dorchester Ave.
Century 21 Cahill Associates, 1544 Dorchester Ave.
D'Bennys, 1433 Dorchester Ave.
Jinny's Boutique, 1480 Dorchester Ave.
Pho Hoa Restaurant, 1356 Dorchester Ave.
Signature Bridal, 1448 Dorchester Ave.

After you've munched your way down the Avenue, stick around for our annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration
starting at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Park St. and Dot. Ave. featuring
a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hot chocolate and treats will be
provided by the Blarney Stone, the Field's Corner Civic Association and
the Melville Park Association. Bring your family, friends and
neighbors!

Thanks to tree lighting event sponsors Mayor Thomas M.
Menino, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, Suffolk County Sheriff
Andrea Cabral, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, H. Levenbaum
Insurance, Boston Bowl, Field's Corner Civic Association, Melville Park
Association, Blarney Stone and McDonald's and Tedeschi's in Fields
Corner. For more information regarding holiday events in Fields Corner,
contact FCMS at 617-474-1432.

Dorchester People for Peace Holiday Party

AdamE — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:38:26 -0600

Start: 12/08/2008 - 6:00pm

End: 12/08/2008 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

6-9pm (dinner 6-7pm), Vietnamese American Community Center, 42 Charles St.,
Fields Corner.

Celebrate a year of working for peace abroad and justice at home with DPP
and our community allies; food, music and holiday cheer; Neighborhood “Peace
Awards” to ACORN, CITY LIFE/VIDA URBANA and UMASS-Boston
ANTIWAR COALITION. Download
a flyer here.

Wheelchair accessible. Please call us a week in advance if you
need translation, childcare, a ride, or have other needs: 617-282-3783.