Archive for News
Margaret Fuller House Recognized as City of Cambridge Wins National Health Award
Posted by: | CommentsCambridge, MA (February 22, 2013)- The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House (MFNH) was thrilled to be recognized for its health programming and education efforts yesterday as the city of Cambridge received the Inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Roadmaps to Health Prize.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest national philanthropy devoted to health and health care, awarded this prestigious prize to only six communities across the country. Cambridge was chosen for its innovative, collaborative approach in the areas of healthy eating and physical activity; strengthening families; progressive urban planning; and integrating local public health within various City departments, community agencies and the Cambridge Health Alliance.
Standing at the far right, Barbara Kibler, Executive Director of MFNH, poses with city officials after Cambridge receives the Robert Wood Johnson’s inaugural Roadmaps to Health Prize on Feb. 20.
“We were extremely proud to stand beside city officials yesterday and present to a national audience the work that we’ve done together to build a healthy and strong Area IV community,” said Barbara Kibler, Executive Director.
Over the past several years, the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House has worked closely with the Cambridge Public Health Department and with the guidance of the Men of Color Task Force to develop the Men’s Health League—a program addressing health disparities and access to Health care for over 500 men of color. We have also collaboratively designed and implemented diabetes support groups with the Cambridge Community Center and with the guidance of the Public Health Department.
“The Margaret Fuller House has been a core community partner for the Cambridge Public Health Department, as well as a next-door neighbor,” said Claude Alix Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer of Cambridge. “The partnership exemplifies how a community-based organization and local government can work together for health.”
At yesterday’s ceremony at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, N.J., foundation officials praised such partnerships as critical to improving the overall health of the nation’s communities.
“These prize winners represent leadership at its finest—trailblazers creating a culture of health,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “The RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize shines a light on their accomplishments; we hope it will inspire others to take bold steps to improve health in their communities.”
MFNH has focused on building a stable and healthy Area IV community since its founding in 1902, when it first provided nutritious meals to young women who worked in local Cambridge factories. Today, with the help of various city agencies and community non-profits, we work to strengthen the health of the community in several ways:
- Our Street worker, funded through the Cambridge Human Services Department, provides outreach and support to at-risk young adults and our Area IV Coordinator liaisons with the City and the community.
- Our new Keep it Kool Project encourages teens to say “no” to drinking and drugs.
- Our food pantry provides thousands of families with fresh vegetables and fruits every week, thanks to our partnership with organizations like Food for Free
- Our outreach to isolated seniors, supported by the Cambridge Community Foundation and Tufts Community Health Initiative, provides these elders with spaces to share their life-long experiences, and to encourage better physical, mental and social well-being.
We at the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House thank all of our partners—both inside city government, and within the non-profit community—who have helped us to address the serious health needs of our community. We know these partnerships will lay the foundation for even more good work to come.
The Special Playground Report is Here!
Posted by: | CommentsDear Friends,
On a sunny Saturday last autumn, more than 200 volunteers came together to build a playground for the children of the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House- and the entire Area IV community in Cambridge. Ten-year-old Marckenzy Destin called it a miracle. We tend to agree. Since it opened, the playground has served as a hub for neighbors of all ages.
In honor of its impact on our neighborhood, we’ve put together a Special Playground Report, which you can find online here. Produced in part by alumni of the Margaret Fuller House, this newsletter includes interviews, photographs, plus plenty of words of thanks.
We hope you enjoy!
If you’d like a printed copy, please stop by the house, at 71 Cherry Street, or email Barbara Kibler.
The New Playground Is Here!
Posted by: | Comments
About 200 volunteers gathered in our backyard last Saturday to build a playground for the kids of the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House and the entire Area IV community. It was a tremendous day.
For seven straight hours, adults from far and wide worked outside, hammering, hauling and pouring concrete.
Indoors, the kids painted panels that spelled out the letters of the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House.
So many people worked for months to make it happen, and they all deserve our thanks. But our kids would still be playing on a tired pair of monkey bars and a couple of raggedy slides if not for the generous support of Boston Properties, Gillette, and- of course- the national non-profit KaBOOM!
Thanks to you, and hundreds of volunteers, we now have what one of our kids described as “a miracle.”
For more pictures, check out our Facebook page.
Support the Margaret Fuller House while enjoying ice cream!
Posted by: | Comments
Through our recent partnership with a new type of local deal site called LevelUp, we’ve arranged to receive 25% of all profits generated from the sale of this week’s featured deal: $5 for $10 of Toscanini’s Ice Cream!
Bottle and Can Drive
Posted by: | Comments
Las Mujeres is a group that aims to help girls nine and older become more confident and compassionate community members. We seek to encourage girls to be goal-oriented and well-rounded through hands-on activities, conflict-resolution skill building, career exploration, and organizing and planning field trips. We also provide a forum for discussion of a variety of topics pertaining to their lives.
This can and bottle drive will help provide necessary funding for Las Mujeres to attend a Celtics game in the coming year.
Any questions can be directed to Maida Alvarez or Megan Ryan at the MFNH School Age Program. Don’t forget to bring your cans!
Alternative Breaks
Posted by: | Comments
For most college students, Spring Break is a time to let loose and have some much needed rest. For seven dedicated students from Florida International University, Spring Break became a time devoted to social issues. As part of Alternative Breaks, theses students have foregone the beaches and parties in exchange for a week service projects. We at MFNH were fortunate enough to host these amazing spirits.
From day one, the entire group was ready to spring to action. Selma Blistein (Junior) expressed how much of an eye opening experience she’s had with Alternative Breaks. This being her second tour of duty, she was looking forward giving herself to service and being an active citizen. Laura Caceres (Junior) was looking for ways to get involved with the university when she came upon Alternative Breaks. Once enlisted, they choose Urban Poverty as the social issue they wanted to confront. As co-supervisors, they had little under a year to raise funds, organize their team and prepare themselves for a fresh take on spring break.
Projects included (but weren’t limited to) organizing the library, painting walls, building a new staircase and of course spending time with our young people. David and Jenelle dazzled with their athletic skills while Mimi and Ivan spent some time reading with youth. It was a week that won’t soon be forgotten by youth and staff alike. We hope to see more ambitious and socially aware college students who are cut from the same cloth.
For more information on our aB friends, visit their home page
Look forward to pictures and reflections from our transformative week together in coming weeks.
We've joined iGive!
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve found a cool way to raise money, every time we shop online or search the web. Check it out:
iGive.com & iSearchiGive.com
If you register with igive you can raise money for the Margaret Fuller House every time you shop online at any of their 827 participating stores. And when you search the web through iSearchiGive.com (a search engined powered by iGive!), you are raising a penny or more for our programs
If you do happen to make a purchase through iGive within 45 days of joining, they’ll donate an EXTRA $5! With 827 stores in the iGive Mall and the new iSearchiGive.com search engine, it’s easy to find the things you need AND raise money for a good cause.
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Join iGive.com to support Margaret Fuller House. It’s free, safe, and easy to join. Click here
Don’t feel like registering? Take iSearchiGive.com out for a spin and raise a penny (or more!) per search. Just visit http://www.iSearchiGive.com and type “Margaret Fuller House” in the “Select Your Cause” area.
2. Shop through iGive.com‘s online mall
~ OR ~
Raise a penny search at iSearchiGive.com
The iGive Mall features over 700 trusted online retailers like Amazon.com, Staples, Nordstrom, JCPenney, eBay, Expedia.com, Barnes & Noble, QVC, & PETsMART to name just a few! You’ll NEVER pay more when you reach these stores through iGive.com. And if you take advantage of the coupons and free shipping deals posted at iGive, you might even save a few bucks! And with iSearchiGive.com, each qualified search earns a penny (or more!) for your cause.
3. Watch the $$ roll in for Margaret Fuller House!
Up to 26% of EACH purchase through iGive benefits your cause, along with a penny (or more!) per qualified search at iSearchiGive.com. Make that first purchase within 45 days and get a bonus $5 donation, too!
Use this link to JOIN iGIVE FOR FREE and begin supporting
Margaret Fuller House
Don’t feel like registering? Take iSearchiGive.com out for a spin and raise a penny (or more!) per search. Just visit http://www.iSearchiGive.com and type “Margaret Fuller House” in the “Select Your Cause” area.
Miles for Miracles
Posted by: | Comments
Christos Couturier is a 12 year old boy who lives with Down Syndrome and has experienced mutliple medical problems and surgeries. Thanks to the dedicated and caring staff at Childrens Hospital Boston, Christos has been brought back from the brink of death several times. He possesses a strength and courage and a joy and optimism for life that shines forth. Tom McManus is going to run the Boston Marathon all 26.2 miles of it in honor of Christos. Come celebrate with us as we honor Christos and his amazing family on February 5th for an afternoon of a cappella music as Boston University Dear Abbeys Present: Music for Miracles featuring Ball In The House, The MIT Logs and The Tufts Jackson Jills. With only a $10 donation, you get a ticket to the hottest a cappella show in town. All proceeds benefit Childrens Hospital Boston where miracles like that of Christos Couturier happen every day! For more information and to make your donation visit: https://howtohelp.childrenshospital.org/bostonmarathon/pfp/?ID=MT0154
Computer Instructors/Teachers
Posted by: | CommentsThe Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House is seeking computer instructors to teach basic and more advanced computer applications to community folks. Classes are usually two evenings a week—each from 6 to 7:30 or 8 PM.
Our basic class is an introduction to how the computer works, email and basic Word. Students attending this class are usually just learning about computers.
Our 2nd class is slightly more advanced and includes more in-depth Word, Excel, Power-point or Access. Usually the class concentrates on one application per session of classes. A session might be 10 to 12 weeks. Students have experience with computers and want to move forward to advance their skills.
We offer a stipend to teachers and also welcome volunteers. An instructor can teach one or both classes and the time and days/evenings can be negotiated. A Saturday morning class is also a possibility. We would prefer to have someone who can offer a year’s commitment.
This is a great opportunity to share your expertise and “give back to the community.”
Please contact Barbara Kibler at bkibler@margaretfullerhouse.org or at 617-547-4680.
12 Days of Giving
Posted by: | Comments
BOLOCO’S
TWELVE
DAYS
OF
GIVING
Local
chain
of
restaurants
works
with
area
non profits
to
raise
dough
Medford, MA —Busy and bustling shoppers in Medford will be able to grab a tasty bite while giving back to their local community this year at Boloco. The Boloco location at Tufts University on Boston Avenue has decided to show what they’re made of (besides tasty burritos and shakes) and give a little Boloco love to twelve local charities, hand picked based on their involvement with the Medford community. Beginning December 12th and continuing through December 23rd, Boloco will donate 50 cents from the sale of each burrito, bowl, and salad sold to the charity of the day. Information about the featured organizations will also be available at Boloco.
The
schedule
for
the
12
Days
of
Giving
is
as
follows:
December
12:
Franciscan
Hospital
for
Children
December
13:
Outdoor
Explorations
December
14:
AIDS
Action
Committee
December
15:
DARBI
December
16:
Cradles
to
Crayons
December
17:
Shelter
Me
I NC
December
18:
Groundwork
Somerville
December
19:
icouldbe.org
December
20:
Margaret
Fuller
Neighborhood
House
December
21:
The
Giving
Camp
December
22:
Eliot
Community
Human
Services
December
23:
DREAM
This is the second year Boloco has featured 12 Days of Giving, an event that began during the 2009 holiday season at the Burlington, VT Boloco location. This year the event is featured at three more locations – Concord and Hanover, New Hampshire, and Medford, Massachusetts. ‘Tis the season of giving, and the event is a holiday effort to give back to local communities, something Boloco strives to do year‐round; the company has given over $48,000 through their philanthropic efforts so far this year.
Boloco
is
a
Boston‐based
chain
of
16
restaurants
located
throughout
New
England
that
serve
traditional
and
inspired
burritos,
bowls,
salads,
smoothies,
and
shakes
using
a
blend
of
bold,
inspiring and
often
unexpected
ingredients.
Every
order
is
made
to
the
specific
wishes
of
each
guest.
Boloco
was
the
first
chain
of
restaurants
in
New
England
to
become
Certified
Green TM
by
the
Green Restaurant
Association
.
To
join
the
conversation, visit twitter.com/boloco, facebook.com/boloco
or
visit
www.boloco.com
