Mayor Walsh Announces Boston Selected For Cities of Service Award
Supporting Neighborhood Revitalization through “Love Your Block” Program
Last Wednesday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Boston has been selected as one of seven cities from across the nation to receive the $30,000 “Love Your Block” Award and dedicated City Hall AmeriCorps VISTAs to support neighborhood revitalization projects.
Through Love Your Block., the City of Boston will provide mini-grants to local neighborhood groups, block associations, and community-based organizations to carry out revitalization projects in target areas.
“I extend my gratitude to Cities of Service for selecting Boston for this opportunity,” said Mayor Walsh. “This grant opportunity will allow for us to make a strong and positive impact on local communities and help fuel sustainable solutions that will make a difference in the neighborhoods we all love.”
The award will provide support for up to three years for the planning and implementation of Love Your Block initiatives in low-income neighborhoods. Initially, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester will be the main focus of this initiative, with the possibility for expansion. A six-month process will take place to engage key community stakeholders. The City Hall AmeriCorps VISTAs will (1) identify the health and safety needs of the community, (2) determine best practices and strategies for addressing these needs, and (3) impact metrics to measure the success of the initiative.
“The City of Boston’s plan to concentrate its time and funding in neighborhoods most in need, and to include residents in decision making, is exactly what Cities of Service is about – engaging citizens in elevating and addressing priorities to achieve concrete results together with local government. We are excited to have Mayor Walsh’s office as a partner in Love Your Block and future impact volunteering initiatives, and look forward to working with them,” said Myung J. Lee, executive director of Cities of Service.
To ensure broader participation, the City Hall AmeriCorps VISTAs will engage neighborhood groups, churches, community boards, city council, libraries, local officials, and others. Additionally, City Hall AmeriCorps VISTAs will further coordinate the planning process and stakeholder engagement, develop the infrastructure for the initiative, expand partnerships with local neighborhood associations and community-based organizations, ensuring the sustainability of the initiative.
The implementation portion of the grant will provide the resources necessary to carry out Love Your Block, including mini-grants to support volunteer activities and testing of the strategies developed during the planning process. As part of this process, the AmeriCorps VISTA members will help Mayor Walsh build capacity, engage community members, and develop plans to sustain and scale best practices.
Visit citiesofservice.org to get involved, and follow @citiesofservice on Twitter.
Steafán Hanvey performance at Boston College this February
An invitation has been extended to the community to attend a special musical and spoken-word concert that we will be hosting on the evening of Monday, February 23, in the Auditorium of the Theology and Ministry Library on the Brighton Campus of Boston College.
Steafán Hanvey – son of acclaimed photographer and broadcaster Bobbie Hanvey, whose extensive photographic archive Boston College holds in their Burns Library – will be performing “Look Behind You!,” an emotional song and story recital featuring Steafán’s original music and narrative about growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, presented against a backdrop of his father’s photographs and radio clips documenting the turmoil of the period.
The event is open to the public and free of charge. Doors will open at 6:30pm with the performance beginning at 7:00pm and audience Q&A and conversation to follow.
Irish night at The Beachcomber to benefit Lucy's Love Bus
February 21
A host of Boston's top Irish entertainers will perform at The Beachcomber in Quincy to celebrate the life of Jimmy McGettrick on February 21.
McGettrick was well know in the Irish Community and was known for helping to keep Irish music alive for many years at his club on Quincy Shore Drive.
The entertainment on the night will be provided by some of Boston's top Irish acts including Colm O'Brien, Ireland the Band, Boston's Erin Óg, Inchicore, Danny Gill & The Old Brigade.
Devri are one of the bands lined up to perform at this special evening and in statement on their Facebook said "During his battle with cancer, Jimmy always thought of children dealing with this horrible disease, so we know that he would be delighted that profits from this event will go to the wonderful charity that is Lucy's Love Bus"
This Irish night of music will take place on Saturday Feb. 21st, from 5pm to close. For more information, visit www.lucyslovebus.org
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