Community Resources & Events
Request for Proposal: Planning Grants for the Expansion or Improvement of Out-of-School Time Facilities - The Children's Investment Fund and BOSTnet announce the availability of funding for planning grants to support improvements to space and facilities for non-profit out-of school time (OST) programs in Massachusetts. Planning grants are intended to help develop your preliminary idea for a facility improvement project into a solid plan. Applicants may seek planning grants for program expansion or program improvement projects, up to $15,000. To be eligible for a planning grant, your organization must be located in Massachusetts and be a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization with at least 3 years experience providing OST care. The RFP will be posted on the Fund's website at www.cccif.org and BOSTnet's website at www.bostnet.org on October 1. Proposals will be due on October 30, 2008. For more information, please contact Theresa Jordan at Children's Investment Fund: tjordan@cedac.org or 617-727-5944 x107. (Posted 8/25/08).
Build Quality into Your Fall Programming! Do you want to improve your program activities and provide your children with engaging, hands-on learning projects to improve their awareness and understanding of science and the environment? The Intercultural Center for Research in Education (INCRE) is pleased to provide FREE materials and training to programs serving children in grades 2-4 located in the City of Boston for their innovative Sunflower Afterschool Science Discovery Program. Beginning on September 30th, training for the 2008/2009 school year will cover 3 units: Human Body, Trash and Air. To get your application, please contact John Zuman at INCRE: jzuman@incre.org or 781-643-2142; or Michael Bennett at BOSTnet: bennett@bostnet.org or 617-720-1290. For more information about this exciting program click here. (Posted 8/25/08).2008-2009 Mass Youth Against Tobacco Mini-Grants: Last year, about 530 youth were directly involved in the mini-grant efforts alone, and made huge strides in changing local tobacco policy and the retail environment and shifting social norms. We hope to keep up this great youth-led tobacco prevention work and expand it even more this year! The deadline for the three different grant applications is September 15th. Click here for a website with more information and versions of the applications in both Word and PDF formats. (Posted 7/29/08).
3rd Annual Mass Youth Soccer - Residential and Day Camp: August 4-8th, 2008. Held at our brand new, state-of-the-art 16 field complex, Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park in Lancaster, MA. Age and level appropriate camp for players ages 6-7, 8-10 and 11-18. Train with the best state, national, and ODP coaches. Half day, full day and overnight camps available. Team discounts available...if you register together. Sign up before July 1st for huge Early Bird Discount. For more information and to register, visit: Mass Youth Soccer Residential Camp Page. Or contact Tara Petricca at: 1-800-852-8111 x225, tpetricca@mayouthsoccer.org. (Posted 5/30/08).ReadBoston’s After School Reading Initiative - Created in 2000, ReadBoston’s After School Initiative has worked with over 60 after school programs throughout the city of Boston promoting a love of reading, literature, and literacy. ReadBoston trains after school program staff to sustain literacy practices initially modeled by literacy coaches. To accomplish this, literacy coaches meet weekly, on-site, with program staff. Coaching sessions include: How to lead an effective group read aloud; What kinds of questions engage children; How to vary your tone and voice effectively; Promoting Independent reading; Book-related activities to promote creativity; Incorporating music into reading time; Reading books with rhythm. Both school-based and community-based programs are invited to apply. Individual providers may choose to apply to enroll for more than one site, but must submit separate applications for each site. Applications due by Friday, May 23, 2008. Mailing instructions and other details for submission are located in the RFP. A copy of the application can be found on ReadBoston’s website http://readboston.org. For more information, contact Anna Adler, Manager of Literacy Programs, ReadBoston, 617-918-5247, Anna.Adler.jcs@cityofboston.gov. (Posted 4/24/08).
Junior Achievement (JA) would like to teach your students about business, economics and life skills! JA wants to partner with summer programs and after-school programs to help young people understand the economics of life. JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. Let us help you take the load off this summer through: Supporting MCAS and Social Studies Learning Standards; Provided at NO COST to schools, for after school and summer programs; A fun and hands-on way to teach economics and life-skills concepts to students in grades K through 12. To participate, contact your local JA Education Manager for a Program Request Form; Schedule a JA training for your staff/tutors (30 min.); Receive program materials from your local JA Education Manager; Agree to facilitate 5 - 8 lessons (depending on grade level). Go to www.jaem.org or contact Julie Cabral, Senior Boston Education Manager (617) 368-3566 or jcabral@ja-easternmass.org. (Posted 3/28/08).
Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness (BCFF): Youth Advisory Board - The BCFF is committed to engaging youth throughout Boston – particularly in the targeted communities of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston, and Jamaica Plain – in order to meet its two-year planning grant goal of creating a Boston-wide strategy to increase access to healthy, locally grown foods and to create spaces for physical activity and play for all.The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) – a selected group of youth leaders – will work with professional youth workers from the various organizations involved in the BCFF Youth and Families Committee to develop a group project and engage in other activities that work towards the goals of the BCFF. The YAB provides youth the opportunity to take ownership of projects that are relevant to their interests and contribute to the success of BCFF. Youth ages 14-21 years who live in Boston and/or attend Boston schools are eligible to participate. For more information or to obtain applications contact: Maggie Cohn, Executive Director, BCFF, 617-451-0049 x519 or mcohn@tmfnet.org or visit www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=75&CID=383&NID=61&LanguageID=0. (Posted 3/11/08).
Citi Performing Arts CenterSM - City Spotlights Neighborhood Ensemble: City Spotlights is a year-long initiative that engages Boston communities in an exploration and celebration through the performing arts. For registration information, please call Anthony Victoria at 617.532.1221 or email avictoria@citicenter.org.
Have an Interest in Acting? Want to Explore Your Boston Neighborhood through Performing Arts? For ages 9 and up. Join Citi Performing Arts CenterSM City Spotlights Neighborhood Ensemble. This year's neighborhoods will rehearse in Allston/Brighton, Hyde Park, Roxbury and South Boston. Participants will rehearse Wednesday and Thursday evenings to create an original theatre piece to be performed at City Spotlights Day on May 16 at The Shubert Theatre. Registration is free and open to all levels.
Join a City Spotlights Master Class! For ages 14-19. Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Education Department offers Master Classes to learn skills to help you become more professional in the arts and beyond. Topics will include building a professional and artistic resume, auditioning, and interviewing. Master Classes will be held Mondays this spring. Registration is free and open to all levels.
Come to City Spotlights Fun Fridays! For ages 11-13. Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Education Department offers Fun Fridays hosted by spring City Spotlights Interns. Come and enjoy a FREE evening of theatre games, improvisation, and performing arts fun! Dinner will be served and space is limited. Registration is free and open to all levels.
School Break day camps - During the February and April school breaks, City Year hosts vacation programs for students in grades 1-5 called City Year for Kids (CYFK). City Year's goal is to provide fun and enriching activities for 650 children and offer parents a safe, affordable and quality childcare option. Program includes a weekly theme, crafts, games, and a service project. CYFK runs Tuesday thru Friday 8am-3:30pm at four locations throughout Boston (Dorchester, East Boston, Roslindale, South Boston). Fee is $30 per child for the week and $5 per additional family member. Register today by calling 617-927-2410 or emailing CYFKBoston@cityyear.org. (Posted 1/30/08).
Music Explorers: week-long program for February Vacation Week - An exciting new program for ages 5-9 to explore the world of music with master musicians, through instruments, dance, singing, and fun! Team-taught by seven teachers with different specialties! February 18-22, 2008; Monday-Friday 9am-3pm; Fee: $350 (10% discount for a sibling); Early drop-off (8:30am) fee: $25 for the week; Aftercare (3-5pm) fee: $80. If you have any questions or would like to register, please call the New School of Music office at: (617) 492-8105 or email us at info@cambridgemusic.org. For more information, you may also visit our website at www.newschoolofmusic.org. (Posted 1/11/08).Ladies Learning to Lead (FOR Ladies ONLY): A Self-Esteem Program - Girls ages 12 -17 years old. Life Skills, healthy relationship-building, celebrate own uniqueness, etiquette, peer leadership, beauty & fashion, hairstyling, modeling, dance, arts entertainment & more....Classes will be held for 12 weeks at the Roxbury Family YMCA. Every Tuesday & Thursday from 6-8 pm. Spaces are limited. For more information contact Susan Flint 617-416-0284 or Kevin Scott 617-9396347. (Posted 1/11/08).
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OFFERS FREE CAR REMOVAL - Fall is here and Special Olympics Massachusetts is offering to help Bay State residents clean up their yards and help keep the environment “green” with it’s automobile donation program, Recycle for Gold. Residents can donate their unwanted car or truck, in any condition, to Special Olympics Massachusetts and it will be towed for free. There are two convenient ways to donate a vehicle - by calling 1-800-590-1600, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week or by visiting the Recycle For Gold website at www.recycleforgold.org. (Posted 10/26/07).
YMCA Dorchester Branch - has recently expanded their weekend hours to 9:00pm for teen programming. Teens DO NOT need to have a membership to participate in activities and utilize the facility. On Saturday evenings we charge $2 and Sundays are FREE. No one will be turned away for inability to pay. For more information on programs, summer camps or extended hours, please contact Charmaine Arthur-Neverson, 617-436-7750 x214 or Chrahsad@aol.com.
Call Me MISTER - Do you know any Black Males who are in Senior year of high school who want to go to college out of state for FREE? HBCU's are looking for future black male teachers and will send students to a university/college for 4 years FREE. This is for MALES ONLY. The "Call Me MISTER" program is a collaborations between Clemson University, private, historically black colleges (Benedict College, Claflin University and Morris College) and two-year technical colleges to recruit, train, certify and secure employment for minority males as elementary teachers in the public schools of South Carolina. Complete the Call Me Mister application online and find out more information about this opportunity at http://www.callmemister.clemson.edu/application.htm. 203 Holtzendorff, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, 800-640-2657.
Animal Adventures - An Educational Experience! Family Zoo & Science Center in Bolton, MA: One of the oldest and largest family operated company of its kind in New England, Animal Adventures offers one of a kind, hands-on educational lesson with more than 200 rare and exotic species of animals! Animal Adventures is fully licensed and insured for all our programs and events. Our program can fit with all ages with any size group and align with any classroom study. An interactive learning experience aligened to Massachusetts curriculum guidelines. We offer: animal presentations by professional educators for all grade levels; 4, 8 and 12 week enrichment and after school programs at your school; museum quality exhibits at your school (maintained by our staff); field trips to our center. Please visit www.animaladventures.net or call 978-779-8988 for information, booking and prices.
Free HIV Testing - Know Your Status: Get Tested! Testing starts at 2:30-4:00pm at IBA-Cacique Youth Learning Center, 100 West Dedham Street, Boston, MA. Youth tested receive a free movie pass. Every Tuesday you may receive free condoms. For more information, call 617-927-1707 and ask for Mayan x312 or Tiarilis x315, or www.iba-etc.org. In addition, there's an opportunity for youth to get involved in training, public speaking and outreach regarding health issues.
Fit Source: Physical Acitivity and Nutrition Resources for Child Care Settings: A Web Directory for Providers - Housed within the website of the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC), Fit Source offers links to activities, lesson plans, healthy recipes, information for parents, and many other downloadable tools that can be used to incorporate physical activity and nutrition into child care and after school programs. Resources are organized by age: infant/toddler, preschool and school-age. Check it out at http://fitsource.nccic.acf.hhs.gov/fitsource/.
