9/24/09 Boston Women's Fund

Boston Women's Fund
14 Beacon StreetSuite 805
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: 617-725-0035


http://www.bostonwomensfund.org

About the Boston Women's Fund:

BWF Mission


The Boston Women's Fund supports community-based organizations run by women and girls in the Greater Boston Area. We work with low-income women; women of color; women with disabilities; older women; lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women; immigrant and refugee women; and girls who are working to create a society based on racial, social, and economic justice. The Boston Women's Fund raises money from a broad base of donors across economic backgrounds to provide grants and develop programs that strengthen the grassroots initiatives and leadership of women and girls.


Who we are

The Boston Women's Fund is a collaboration of staff, volunteers, donors, and grantees working together for social and economic justice. We focus on women and girls because women and girls continue to experience gender related discrimination, abuse, and disparities.
We provide grants to grassroots organizations run by and for women and girls. We also support grantee organizations through technical assistance and networking forums. We run programs to inspire young women to become philanthropists, develop leadership among young women, and educate the public about injustice. Social, racial, and economic justice is our goal.


BWF Core Values

We believe that change starts at the grassroots level, and systemic change is necessary to achieve social justice.
We believe that power and wealth must be redistributed to attain equity and systemic change.
We believe that the fight for women's rights is an integral part of a larger struggle to end oppression based on race, class, gender, age, religion, ability, or sexual orientation.
We believe that all movements fighting racism must be racially and culturally diverse in both membership and leadership if progressive change is to occur.
We believe that women and girls can and must be leaders within all movements if progressive change is to occur.
We believe that educating and organizing a diverse donor base is a critical strategy for amassing broad support for social-change movements.
We strive to reflect our commitment to shared leadership, equity, and cultural diversity in all aspects of our organization's operations.


How to Get Involved

There are several volunteer opportunities at the Boston Women's Fund. Women and girls interested in social and economic justice can volunteer to serve on our Board or on one of our Committees that include the:

Allocations Committee
Program Committee
Finance Committee
Nominations Committee
Personnel Committee
Development Committee
Publications Committee

We welcome people from diverse walks of life to help us plan various grantee, fundraising and outreach events throughout the year. In the past we have had volunteers host house parties to recruit members to our 2000 Club endowment campaign; help us to plan and carry out our annual fundraising and visibility Take A Stand event; help to organize grantee networking events and collaborate on protests, petitions, educational forums and other movement building activities.

We also look to community members to provide whenever possible some pro-bono technical assistance support to the Fund or to our grantee groups. This helps us tremendously to ensure that we are continually strengthening and growing our social and economic justice movement.

To visit the Boston Women's Fund WebSite, click here!

9/23/09 Little Sisters of the Poor, Somerville, MA

Little Sisters of the Poor
186 Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02143-1595
(617) 776-4420

www.littlesistersofthepoor.org

About the little Sisters of the Poor:

Mission of Hospitality

In 1939 the future Pope John XXIII was so struck by what he witnessed in one of our homes that he wrote to the Vatican: “Every day I witness with my own eyes the edifying spectacle of the survival of the spirit of simplicity, humility and inexhaustible and trusting generosity that the Little Sisters still offer today in Constantinople… It is as though certain traits of their blessed Mother Foundress shine in each one of them.” Thanks to Jeanne’ presence among us, we are able to continue her spirit as we pursue our mission of hospitality today.

Author and Speaker Lillian Lambert tells the Seniors of the Little Sisters of the Poor about how she overcame her obstacles in life. Please visit Lillian's WebSite at: www.LillianLincolnLambert.com


Helena Nyman and Lillian Lambert talk to the Seniors and let them be the Stars of the Day by conducting interviews to learn about their life stories.

Modern Art made by the Seniors

Spanky, the Hope Dog visits with the Seniors

On hearing about the upcoming Canonization, Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., reflected, “As the Church anticipates the canonization of Jeanne Jugan, the Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, we might recall the words of Pope John Paul II at her beatification: ‘God could glorify no more humble a servant than she!’ The quiet but eloquent radiance of her life continues to shine out in the lives of the Little Sisters of the Poor today.

These residences are icons of mercy where Christ is welcomed and served in the elderly poor with the utmost respect for their dignity. May God be praised and may the entire Church rejoice at the public proclamation of the extraordinary holiness of Jeanne Jugan.” Nothing means more to us than continuing the spirit and work of Jeanne Jugan in the world today – welcoming the needy elderly into our homes, forming one family with them, enabling them to enjoy life and caring for them with love and respect until the moment God calls them home!

The care of the dying has always been the summit of our apostolate and it is an ever more powerful witness of the culture of life. By the look in his eyes or by the silence of his whole being, the elderly person who is near death asks us this question: “Does my life still have any value? Is it worth living?” To each person we respond with a resounding yes!

Fast facts about the Little Sisters of the Poor today:

• currently 2,700 Little Sisters;
• over 13,000 elderly residents currently served;
• 202 homes;
• 32 countries;
• 31 homes in North America and 8 in Oceania (Our most recent foundations: Bolinao, Philippines (2007); Tacna, Peru (2006); Manila, Philippines (2004); Jabalpur, India (2004); Cartago, Colombia (2003); and Kwanju, South Korea (2000)
• Our homes are open to needy seniors 60 years and older
• We welcome the elderly regardless of race, religion or national origin
• As Little Sisters we profess vows of chastity, poverty, obedience – and a special 4th vow of hospitality
• By this vow we dedicate our whole lives to the service of the needy elderly
• We are grateful for the support of over 2,000 lay members of the Association Jeanne Jugan around the world
• Just as Jeanne Jugan did, we rely on God’s Providence – manifested through the generosity of good people in the community – for the survival of our mission

9/23/09 Harvard Business School, Boston, MA

The Hope Bus Team has the special privilege of a Tour at Harvard Business School in Boston by Mr. James Aisner - Director of Media Relations at Harvard Business School.


It is a very special and nostalgic day for one of our Hope Team Members - Lillian Lincoln Lambert - who was the 1st African-American Woman graduating from Harvard Business School.

Lillian Lambert & James Aisner

Helena Nyman in the Auditorium where some of the most influential Leaders in the World got their education.

From left to right:
T. Patterson, P. Smith, J. Aisner, L. Lambert, H. Nyman



Interview with Jim Aisner, Director of Media Relations at Harvard Business School.



Interview with Lillian Lincoln Lambert who graduated from Harvard Business School as the 1st African-American Woman 40 years ago.

9/22/09 Children's Village, Dobbs Ferry, NY

Children's Village
Dobbs Ferry, NY
(914) 693-0531‎

www.childrensvillage.org


A special 'Thank you' to Ms. Candida Fitts, responsible for Volunteers and Mentoring for the wonderful Tour at Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY!

The Hope Team, consisting of 5 Hope Ambassadors, was in for a surprise during the tour at the Village. From the description on the WebSite, we were aware of some of the programs that the Village provides, but all the words on the WebSite do no justice to what we were about to experience.

Besides an outstanding school program, the boys from the village get the opportunity to a first class sports program, job preparation and to recreational activities. One thing that I became aware of very quickly was the discipline and the politeness of the boys in the village. They seemed to be very grateful for what the staff and the village had to offer. Another great concept was the housing environment. Between 12 and 15 young men manage a household and learn about responsibility. (Frankly, this actually would be a great idea for most young people in order to make the transition from "home" to "independence" smoother.)




During our walk, I couldn't miss the sign on a house that said 'Culinary Institute'. When Ms. Fitts saw my question on my face, she responded very quickly that the young boys can get trained in culinary to prepare them for a job.

We also were treated with a visit to the canine training area and the barber shop where we could witness these young men in training.

After that, we were accepted into a "household" where we could observe the dynamic of the young team supporting each other with home work, chores, and playing games. I was fascinated by the harmony and the hunger for learning!

When we continued our tour, we passed a large bus that served as a computer training lab. Again, this valuable resource was used not only to have a computer lab, but the young team learned to provide computer services and to make money with these services. How brilliant!

Before resuming our trip to Boston, we made one last visit to a group of young boys who worked on the curriculum 'trust' out in the nature in form of games. They readily invited us to be a part of it, and for a few moments, I was a girl.

I am forever grateful for this amazing tour and the kindness I received from Ms. Candida Fitts, the staff and the young men at the Children's Village.

Mission of the Children's Village:

Our mission is to work in partnership with families to help society’s most vulnerable children so that they become educationally proficient, economically productive, and socially responsible members of their communities.

Our Values

Behind this mission lie three core beliefs: First, all children and youth need connections to adults, preferably family members, who believe in them and will remain connected throughout their lives. Second, education, appropriate social behavior, and job skills are essential to functioning independently in society. And third, every human being has strengths and the desire to make his or her life happy and fulfilling; with support and the tools to overcome obstacles, most can and will succeed.

About the Children's Village

Residential Programs

Residential School
Provides a structured, educationally enriched program for youth with behavioral and/or emotional problems

Residential Treatment Facility
Treats children with serious mental health problems

Crisis Residence
An alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for youth in temporary crisis.

Foster Boarding Homes
Finds loving temporary homes for children

Supported Housing
Provides supervised apartments for older youth who are homeless or transitioning from foster care

Sanctuary Shelter
Provides short term shelter for runaways and street-involved youth

Transitional Residence for Alien Children
Keeps minors who are awaiting immigration status decision safe and helps acclimate them to the US


Community Programs

Multi-systemic Therapy
Seeks to keep troubled teenagers at home by providing intensive support to families

OPTIONS Education and Employment Center
Helps older youth become independent through education and job readiness

Pathways to Adulthood
Helps foster youth develop concrete independent living skills

Street Outreach
Goes into the urban centers of Westchester County to engage street-involved youth

WAY Program
Provides 5 years of support to youth leaving CV's residential programs.


Children’s Village recruits foster and adoptive families for children leaving our residential programs, as well as for families or infants and sibling groups referred to us. For foster homes, we specialize in recruiting foster families in the Bronx and Harlem neighborhoods from which most of the children come and provide training and ongoing support.

http://www.childrensvillage.org/

Driving in NYC

Driving through the traffic of NYC made me appreciate the light traffic of my "home town" Richmond, VA. We should send the programmers of Mapquest to NYC to experience how their estimated 40 minutes turn into 90 minutes or more... ;-)

To all my friends who heard me complain about the tolls in Richmond, VA - I take it back after spending a fortune for our multiple commutes between NJ and NYC.

Driving in Brooklyn around midnight was a true adventure. Luckily, my co-pilots Jackie Davis and Spanky - the Jack Russell were great navigators. Tom Tom wasn't able to deal with all the road blocks.

About the Ronald McDonald House of New York

At Ronald McDonald House of New York, Inc., we support each family and coordinate emotional and physical services, psychological care, ministry support, wellness programs, tutors, music, art, transportation, activities for siblings, holiday and birthday parties and camaraderie for parents struggling with their child’s cancer diagnosis. These services are a part of the fabric of Ronald McDonald House of New York and are provided to families at a nominal fee that is no more than $35 per night. With each family that arrives, there is a uniting Hope and a common search for health and healing.

(The picture and text above have been taken from the WebSite of the RMDH of New York. To visit the Official WebSite, click here!)

I have been very touched during Ralph Vogel's tour at the RMDH. The Tour started on the 3rd floor where I was introduced to the family rooms. Each room looks like a Hotel Room, and the families have the freedom to make it their home during their stay in NYC. They are allowed to decorate it and change the furniture around.

Our next stop was the laundry facility where I got to see the newest models of washers and dryers that were recently donated to the RMDH.

I fell in love with the huge terrace on the same level where all the families have their BBQ parties and have some fun moments where they can forget for a moment why they are here.

Our next visit was the community kitchen that will be inaugurated in the coming few days and the community dining room. Being used to see hotel kitchen, the new kitchens at the RMDH exceeded every kitchen I have seen before. Light wood for the cabinets and all the newest gadgets that make cooking in the community a special experience. I absolutely love the idea of having the families cooking their meals together and getting the chance to support each other, and for the children, it gives them the feeling of being "home" surrounded of a large family.

While Ralph lead me next to the library, study room and play room, the conversation about Hope came up, and we both were taken by the choice of words that were identical between us. Words that will always echo were: " When families come to the RMDH of New York, they learn that there is HOPE!"

9/21/09 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of our Inaugural Hope Tour

Monday, September 21st: The Big Day is here - The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of our Inaugural Hope Tour.

(Helena Nyman (left) and Stacy Hawkins Adams (right)

With butterflies in my tummy, we approach this wonderful moment at the Ronald McDonald House of New York. Bill Sullivan (CEO and President of the Ronald McDonald House of New York), Ralph Vogel and the Team of the RMDH of New York go out of our way to make this event unforgettable! A special Thank you to the Ronald McDonald House of New York!

Bill Sullivan, CEO and President of the Ronald McDonald House of New York welcomes the Hope Bus

Bill Sullivan introduces Tim Patterson who will be opening officially the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Inaugural Hope Tour.

The Founder of the Hope Bus -Helena Nyman - presents RMDH's CEO Bill Sullivan with the Hope Tour Award 2009.

Special Guest: Lillian Lambert, first African-America woman graduating from Harvard Business School, Speaker and Author

The symbolic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Two forces pull away from each other which creates tension and 'red tapes'. We are cutting the 'red tape', unite our resources and become strong in the community.

The Torch Ceremony represents the 'Eternal Flame'. We lighten up a torch and pass on the flame. If we all are a part of passing on the fire, the World will be a better place, filled with light.

A Special 'Thank You' to Danny and the NYFD who gave us the honor with their presence!

From left to right: Actress and former World Skater Lucinda Ruh and Author, Journalist and Speaker Stacy Adams.

The Hope Mobile of the Ronald McDonald House of New York