Making Healthy Connections
In March, Community Engagement and Membership Committee (CEMC), hosted three resource fairs to give residents the opportunity to learn more about BACH, healthy behaviors, and systemic issues that impact Bostonians. These events were held in East Boston, Mattapan and South End, with resources ranging from housing to immigrant services. These events also highlighted the release of our video, “Making the Connections Boston: Race, Place and your Health,” about community health and racial inequities in Boston, which you can view here. In addition, residents can continue to engage with the initiative by attending our monthly CEMC meetings on the 4th Thursday of the month, where we have covered such topics as: domestic violence, healthy and affordable foods, and stress management. For a listing of upcoming dates and topics, please click here.
Stand Against Racism Day
On April 24th, BACH participated in YWCA Boston’s “Stand Against Racism” for the third year in a row. This year, we screened the film Flag Wars, which is one story about a community in Columbus, Ohio, undergoing gentrification and the inevitable clashes between residents. The event was held in partnership with South End Healthy Boston Coalition at the historical Tent City, which is a community symbol of unity and power. While Urban Renewal threatened to displace neighborhood residents in the South End, Tent City was born from the pitched tents protests in 1968. The film sparked a great discussion around issues of racism, affordable housing, the intersections of class, which was facilitated by Susan Naimark, Racial Equity Educator, and Dejanira Seale, BACH MSW Intern from Boston University School of Social Work.
Healthy Community Champions Orientation
On May 28th, after weeks of recruitment, we officially welcomed our champions and their coordinators to the Healthy Community Champions Initiative. Two orientation sessions were held, where the HCCs were congratulated and inducted into the program, the BACH and BPHC staff were introduced, and all participants were able to interact and get to know each other. Shown in the picture above is the group activity in which the HCCs participated, called “I am a Leader.” The champions were asked to reflect upon a person whom they admire for his or her leadership capabilities, and share some of the reasons why they believe that person to be a leader. The champions then recognized which of these leadership qualities they possess themselves and can utilize in the work in their community. This exercise served as a reminder as to why these individuals have been chosen to become Healthy Community Champions in their neighborhoods.