Allston-Brighton Calendar, News, and Resources

[Anna Leslie]

What's happened and what's ahead for the neighborhood

In This Newsletter 1. Allston-Brighton Community Calendar   2. Public Health News That You May Have Missed Allston-Brighton, Climate Change, COVID-19, Education, Equity and Equal Justice, Food Access, Healthcare, Housing, Immigrant Health, Mental Health, Public Health, Transportation     3. Volunteer and Job Opportunities  CLICK HERE FOR LOCAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT What's happening in Allston-Brighton  May 2 - 14 Public Health News and Updates   ALLSTON-BRIGHTON Developers Pitch New Allston Yards Project Proposal at BPDA Meetings The baristas’ view: Inside Starbucks’ alleged antiunion campaign ‘This report is unflinching’: Harvard University confronts its ties to slavery ‘Harvard plays a role, especially in these neighborhoods:’ Allston-Brighton activists take aim at housing crisis More than 200 new housing units coming to East Boston and Allston Activists Protest Harvard’s Land Investments, Allston Expansion at Science Center Plaza Postcards From Allston, Photographer Seeks To Capture Evolving Neighborhood Beyond the Crisis Du Jour YMCA FitKids Youth & Family Wellness Class  Begins Wed. May 11th - FREE, Ages 4-6 2022 LOVE YOUR BLOCK MINI-GRANTS The recently launched Office of Civic Organizing (formerly the Office of Public Service and Community Outreach) is excited to announce the return of the Love Your Block Mini-Grant program. Residents and community groups can apply for a Love Your Block mini-grant of up to $3,500 for neighborhood beautification projects like cleanups, murals, community garden revitalization, and more. The office encourages any resident with an idea for bettering their neighborhood and bringing their community together to apply. The deadline to apply is June 10, 2022. Apply at bit.ly/LYB-Grants. Are you a first-time homebuyer who wants to purchase your home in Allston Brighton? You may qualify for up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance! This fund is available to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers to buy their first home in the neighborhood. ABCDC and The Boston Home Center are partnering to offer the Allston-Brighton Homeownership Program. This is new program made possible with funding from the development of Allston Yards. For more information about the fund, contact us at hom...@allstonbrightoncdc.org or 617-787-3874 x35. ------ CLIMATE CHANGE  A fossil-free National Grid? Critics call it a pipe dream. Report: HEAT RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS FOR BOSTON Wu announces plan to prepare Boston for extreme heat Action Pact Boston kicks off series of six public art installations for climate change awareness Biden restores climate to landmark environmental law, reversing Trump How Massachusetts feels about climate change in 12 graphics As Earth’s temperature rises, Massachusetts residents’ sense of urgency on climate change declines ------ COVID-19 More than half of Massachusetts residents have been infected with COVID-19, and an even higher percentage nationwide Wealthy nations falter on global vaccine commitments How to weigh your risks as mask mandates lift Many Virus Cases Go Uncounted. Are There Better Ways to Track the Pandemic? No Link Found between COVID-19 Vaccines and Male Infertility ------ EDUCATION Continued student struggles are weighing on teachers in the third year of the pandemic ------ EQUITY AND EQUAL ACCESS Boston Children’s Museum celebrates trans children’s dreams in new exhibit Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with these 7 Boston-area spring events Boston councilor pushes for official city holiday for Eid al-Fitr Anti-Semitic incidents in Mass. reached historic high in 2021, report says Don't skip environmental justice in rush to build infrastructure, advocates warn Almost a year on, new Boston police watchdog has processed only a few complaints of officer misconduct. Some advocates are disappointed. The ‘invisible’ targets of hatred and hardship: Lower-income Asian Americans the focus of new COVID-19 study ------ FOOD ACCESS The community fridge movement could change the way we think about helping each other ------ HEALTHCARE Loss of pandemic aid stresses hospitals that treat the uninsured The End of the Federal Continuous Coverage Requirement in MassHealth: Key Strategies for Reducing Coverage Loss Medicare Advantage plans often deny needed care, federal report finds Mass. requires doctors to undergo implicit bias training in an effort to address health care inequities. Hospitals seek to solve their own staffing shortages ------ HOUSING The Extraordinary Wealth Created by the Pandemic Housing Market ‘Just one paycheck away.’ Report finds 163,000 low-income Mass. families need affordable housing. Wu launches study of developer fees for housing What Wu’s pick to lead planning signals about the future of development in Boston ------ IMMIGRANT HEALTH Mass. residents narrowly oppose allowing driver’s licenses for people without legal immigration status, poll finds They grew up legally in the US, but can’t stay after they turn 21 'A risk a lot of people take': Why undocumented immigrants drive without a license. ‘We all have the right to be happy’: In the shadow of war, local Ukrainians find comfort in Easter traditions ------ MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health of College Students Is Getting Worse Many police officers suffer trauma. But not everyone gets the mental health support they need. ‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens   ------ SUBSTANCE USE In a milestone, FDA proposes ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars Advocates call for end to men being sent to correctional facilities for substance abuse treatment ------ PUBLIC HEALTH How you can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals More kids report carrying handguns, with largest rise among white, wealthy, and rural teens, new study finds Pandemic’s lesson for many older folks: Stay in your home as long as you can ------ TRANSPORTATION   MBTA Head: New Bus Map Gives 25 Percent More Service MBTA to unveil new bus network design Fault in door control system cited in Red Line accident that left man dead, NTSB report says Half of Mass. residents back public transit mask mandate, 41 percent against, new Suffolk/Globe poll finds Mass. Senate Passes Climate Bill With Mandates (But No Funding) for Electric Trains, Buses International Climate Report Demands ‘Systemic’ Changes to Transportation and Urban Planning Massachusetts Ranked # 1 in 2022 Bicycle Friendly State Report Card MBTA officials blame federal agency for preventing them from speaking about fatal Red Line accident Keeping score on MBTA control board’s priorities MBTA goes out to bid for battery-electric buses Mass. officials: Masks will no longer be required on the MBTA or at airports Charlie Baker wants lots of new housing around MBTA stations. Not so fast, towns say. Eye-popping cost of MBTA’s new Quincy bus garage outpaces similar projects in US and Canada Volunteer and Job Opportunities ABHC shares job listings that have a posted salary or salary range. Women, womxn and BIPOC communities are consistently paid less than white men -- in every sector. Requiring salary range on job descriptions helps ensure our commitment of Racial Equity and Social Justice. SuccessLink Youth Summer Jobs - City of Boston THE BOSTON TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT (BTD) IS HIRING FOR PART-TIME BIKE PROGRAM POSITIONS Youth Summer Parks Jobs - City of Boston Policy and Project Coordinator – Oral Health and Social Determinants of Health Mel King Institute Program Coordinator Fellow 2022-23 SPARK Boston Council Application Mayor Wu's volunteer civic engagement council for the 20 to 35 age bracket Director of Operations, Massachusetts Jobs With Justice Assistant Director, Chinatown Community Land Trust Transit Justice Organizer, GreenRoots Communications Director, City Life / Vida Urbana Director, Homes for All Mass Capacity Building Director, Chinese Progressive Association   Office Manager and Events Coordinator, Chinese Progressive Association Organizing Director, Community Labor United  Finance & Operations Coordinator, PowerSwitch Action Creative Lead, PowerSwitch Action Communications Manager, PowerSwitch Action   2Life Communities various openings ------- Food Delivery Volunteers Needed! Volunteer with Allston-Brighton Food Pantry Needs include food supply unloading, food basket making, supper prep and distribution, dessert making. Contact Volunteer.a...@gmail.com Volunteer with youth ages 7-14 Volunteer for the Brighton Future Forward (BFF) Youth Programs at either Faneuil Gardens or Commonwealth Development in the afternoons from Monday Thursday. Fill out a volunteer interest form today and a program coordinator will get back to you regarding your role and schedule. Learn More Volunteer opportunity: Cycling Without Age 2Life Communities is seeking volunteers for a program to get older folks around by bike (technically a tri-wheeled rickshaw.) Volunteer with CommonWheels Bike Co-Op We love running our bike rides and our open shops and we need extra hands to fix bikes, marshal rides, help flyer, and much much more. Would you like to have the inside line on our rides, maybe help us plan a route? We want you! Email in...@commonwheels.org Charles River Community Health Mobile Market Looking for Volunteers Help sort, bag and distribute the shares. Volunteers would be needed between 1:30pm and 3:30pm, and they could help for the shift, or a portion thereof. If you are interested in helping out, please call 617-783-0500

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Anna Leslie, MPH 

(she/her pronouns. Here's why I share that)
Director, Allston Brighton Health Collaborative

617-515-5321

Allston Brighton Community Calendar

ABHC is a network of over 40 organizations and stakeholders working together to promote and improve the health and wellbeing of Allston-Brighton.