Commonwealth Conversations: Engage!

Remembering and Looking Forward: Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, the Patrick-Murray Administration will host a series of events and discussions across the Commonwealth to celebrate Black History Month, commemorating the past, present and future of African-American culture in Massachusetts. 

Part of the celebration is a video highlighting the contributions of African-American leaders working within the Administration. 

The video includes testimonials from Governor Deval Patrick and leaders of his Administration, including: Major General Joseph Carter, The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard; Sandra McCroom, Undersecretary for Criminal Justice, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity, Executive Office of Administration and Finance; and William “Mo” Cowan, Chief of Staff to Governor Patrick

Patrick-Murray Administration Black History Month events:

(more details to follow)

• Thursday, February 16, 10:00 a.m., Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray host an event at Caffrey Towers in Brockton to salute the “pillars” of our senior community for Black History Month.
• Thursday, February 23, Governor Patrick joins a panel at the Governor's Western Massachusetts Office in Springfield to explore the legacy of African-American leaders from the past, present and future.
• Wednesday, February 29, Governor Patrick attends a closing reception at the African Meeting House in Boston, featuring members of the faith community and civic leaders.
• During the last two weeks of February, African-American leaders from the Patrick-Murray Administration will appear live on TOUCH 106.1 FM radio to discuss the Administration's goals and priorities.

 

Celebration of Service

Cynthia Orellana

Director, Commonwealth Corps

Last Tuesday, June 14^th Commonwealth Corps joined Governor Patrick for a Celebration of Service at Fenway Park, Boston.  Nearly 300 people gathered in the morning to recognize the great community service work and resources that the Corps has leveraged in their year of service.  We also welcomed our new Summer Corps members who will comprise a group of 100 College students who will set out to teach and mentor nearly 900 middle school students through 15 new partner organizations this summer. 

  Above: 2011 Summer Corps Members 

Commonwealth Corps members fill a host of unmet community needs, from tutoring and mentoring, to helping elders access the services they need; from cleaning up neighborhoods to rebuilding communities.  Since 2008, over 700 Massachusetts residents have signed up as Commonwealth Corps members and through their service have impacted the lives of 344,083 people. Tuesday, we honored four alumni who continue to lead in their communities through civic engagement and service: Sarah Vazquez, 2008-2009 Holyoke Corps Member; May Tom, Ann Shears and Myra Prawiroatmodjo, 2009-2010 ABCD Corps Members. 

The event was also a donation drive for Cradles to Crayons which benefits children age newborn to 12. Nearly 80 Corps members and program staff finished the day participating in a group service project at Cradles to Crayons where they spent two hours checking baby equipment, filling almost 100 orders for children in need, sorting through donations to benefit nearly 130 people, and putting together almost 80 outfits for children. 

You, too, can make a difference, visit Connect and Serve to see opportunities to get involved in your community. To learn more about Commonwealth Corps visit www.mass.gov/commonwealthcorps, Commonwealth Corps programs administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

 

 

 

Ushering in the Spring with Park Serve Day

Cynthia Orellana

Director, Commonwealth Corps

One of my favorite times of the year is upon us. It is none other than Park Serve Day, where service meets Spring. After such a brutal winter what better way to usher in the spring and summer seasons than being on the front lines of getting parks and beaches across Massachusetts ready for the great weather. This year's event features more than 60 parks, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, giving you a wide range of volunteer opportunities to choose from. You can help by cleaning coastlines, clearing trails, planting flowers, painting picnic tables, and much more.

Governor Deval Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan, and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Edward Lambert invite you to join us for Park Serve Day 2011. During this annual statewide day of volunteer service, residents will work together to, “act as environmental stewards of the public beaches, parks, and open spaces in Massachusetts that belong to all of us,” as Governor Patrick reiterated last year. Last year, more than 4,100 volunteers answered that call and participated in Park Serve Day. By day’s end, those volunteers had planted 81,800 flowers and trees and had collected 51 tons of trash. This year will surely prove to be a record breaking year.

DCR will provide work gloves and equipment needed for the various projects, though participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes and work clothes, and consider bringing sunscreen and insect repellent. So please, take a moment to check your calendar and sign up to volunteer. Sign up today.

Making a Difference: ABCD Corps Shines

Cynthia Orellana

Director, Commonwealth Corps

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to meet with 13 very inspiring and committed Commonwealth Corps members serving with Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD). We sat down to talk about their service experience, what they have learned so far and what has led them to be involved in the community.

Because of Commonwealth Corps members, this year ABCD has been able to pilot a new Elder Economic Security Program, which is aimed towards Boston seniors with limited income sources, who are having trouble making ends meet. Corps members offer eligible Boston seniors individualized elder economic coaching to help them manage their finances and to help them with fuel and utility assistance, health insurance and benefits support, food resources, transportation, employment/training opportunities, foreclosure and housing, healthy aging programs and legal services.

Elcie Edouard, is one of the Commonwealth Corps members serving in the Boston SHINE program. Elcie worked in retail banking for over 20 years before joining the corps. She was drawn to the Commonwealth Corps program because she has a passion for helping people and was interested in helping seniors with their health care needs. Elcie’s bi-lingual, bicultural experience has helped expand the SHINE program’s ability to reach Haitian-Creole speaking seniors throughout the Boston community.

”I feel like what I am doing as a Commonwealth Corps is really rewarding because I am helping seniors with their health care needs, helping them navigate the complex Medicare system, and as a result, I am able to help give them peace of mind and save money,” said Edouard. “Many seniors worry about where the money to pay for medications will come from as some insurance companies don’t cover certain drugs. I have met seniors who had to make the difficult choice of paying for food or medication. I find it incredibly rewarding helping seniors so they don’t have to choose between basic necessities such as food or medications.”

 

You too can make a difference! To find out more, visit Connect and Serve and search for volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood.

 

Join Governor Patrick & Lt. Governor Murray at Inauguration Activities

This year, Inauguration Day is Thursday, January 6^th. Inauguration day marks the beginning of the second term of the Patrick-Murray Administration.

On this important day, The Governor and Lt. Governor want to engage residents from across the Commonwealth, and encourage everyone to work towards the common goal of strengthening the future of Massachusetts. Their Inauguration will bring together residents from all 351 cities and towns to participate in several exciting events.

On Inauguration Day, Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray will be sworn in a ceremony held in the House of Representatives Chamber within the State House. Though space in the Chamber is limited, members of the public are invited to watch from various areas within the State House via television monitors. State House doors open at 10:00 am. The ceremony begins at 11:00 am. 

For those who cannot attend, we will also be covering the day's activities on our Engage blog and on Twitter via @massgovernor, using the #inaugma hashtag.

After the ceremony, join the Governor and Lt. Governor at the Grand Staircase inside the State House for a meet and greet with entertainment and refreshments. The Open House begins at 1:30pm, and is free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray will convene a group of youth Ambassadors representing every city and town in the Commonwealth for a day of enrichment, action and community service, known as Project 351. Together, the participants will work to improve the lives of over 10,000 children facing economic challenge in the areas of nutrition, early childhood health and development, and educational excellence.

The Governor and Lt. Governor invite people from across the Commonwealth to embrace this same spirit of service on January 8th and beyond.  For more information on how you and your family can join in on this day of service, please visit the Project 351 website.

Volunteering to Make a Difference this Holiday Season

Cynthia Orellana

Director, Commonwealth Corps

 

On November 16, Governor Patrick joined nearly 80 people - including staff members and the Commonwealth Corps - at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Together the group inspected, sorted, and repacked donated grocery products for distribution to hunger relief agencies throughout the region. Volunteers also prepared food packs for the BackPack program, which provides food packs to children in need in the Lawrence and Lynn school systems.

 

The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes more than 34 million pounds of food to nearly 600 eastern Massachusetts member hunger-relief agencies. That morning 13,854 pounds of food were sorted, making 10,650 meals possible for those individuals and families who need it most.  There is so much more that needs to be done. But the good news is we can make a difference!

The holiday season is a time of giving. In these tough times, we need to turn to each other. Whether it is lending a helping hand to our neighbors, volunteering our time at a local community center or donating resources to a cause, there are many ways to help. Please visit www.mass.gov/connectandserve to find out what you can do today.

 

Join our team, become an intern!

Mary Kate Feeney

Office of the Governor

View Mary Kate's Bio

Are you a college student who shares in Governor Patrick's commitment to public service? Are you interested in how our government works? If so, then apply for an internship in the Governor's Office.

Every semester students from colleges and universities around the Commonwealth join our office as interns. This unique, behind the scenes opportunity puts you on the front lines of the day to day operations of the Executive Office.

When I was in college I interned in the Constituent Services Office. It was a wonderful experience. It brought to life what I was learning in my classes and also taught me how the office affects the lives of my fellow Bay Staters.  It was a highlight of my college career.

Interns work in all facets of the office, including answering phones in Constituent Services, and drafting Daily Updates in the Press Office.

Time commitment during the academic year is 10 to 15 hours per week. Students who attend school in Western Massachusetts have the opportunity to intern in the Governor's Office in Springfield.

We are looking for students who are motivated and hard-working. We make every effort to place applicants in the departments which more closely matches their interests and areas of study.

For additional information, please visit the Governor's Internship Program site. If you have questions about the program, contact our Intern Coordinator, Daniela De Caro.

Millions of unclaimed dollars you could be accessing

    Posted by: Cynthia Orellana, Commonwealth Corps

 

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to join Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, advocates from the IRS, United Way, community organizations, volunteers and supporters in Nurses Hall of the State House to celebrate Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. The goal was to inform working residents and families in the Commonwealth about the opportunities available to them through the Massachusetts EITC program and to recognize the collaborative work of all the community-based organizations, volunteers, federal and state entities that work together to broaden the reach of this important resource. 

The ceremony also included a series of speakers, who all reinforced the positive impact the EITC has for so many working families in Massachusetts. Among the speakers was a single mother, who expressed how support from Action for Boston Community Development, including EITC assistance, prevented her family from poverty in the most trying of times. 

 

 

Lt. Governor Murray and EITC Business and Community Partners with Governor's Proclamation

The EITC offers refunds in the form of tax credits to help families save more of what they earn. Taxpayers may claim the credit even if they may not owe any taxes or may not have any income taxes withheld from their pay. To receive the credit, taxpayers must file tax returns and claim the credit. 

 

There are over 300 free tax preparation sites, known as VITA sites, throughout the Commonwealth, which are supported by the assistance of hundreds of volunteers. Some of the sites also provide financial literacy such as budgeting, credit advising, and asset development. Depending on family size and income, households may be eligible for up to $6,506 in combined federal and state credits. Last year, approximately 340,000 Massachusetts households received the EITC benefits, yet an estimated twenty percent of eligible households - that's thousands of working families - failed to claim it.

 

In these challenging economic times, an EITC refund is just what many families and individuals need to meet some of their most basic needs – to pay rent, bills and food, put down their first down payment on a home, or help fund their education. As one EITC volunteer said, through the EITC we can make a difference “one family at a time.” If you are interested in volunteering, please visit www.masscap.org or www.bostontaxhelp.org. If you are interested in locating a VITA site near you, please go to www.masscashback.org. For more information about the Massachusetts EITC, please visit:  http://www.mass.gov/anf/masseitc.

Banks that never need a bailout - Time Banks!

Posted by: Elizabeth Clay, Director of Grassroots Governance

The spirit of the "Common Wealth" remains strong, and is finding a new way to thrive- through Time Banks. Timebanking is simple- for every hour you spend doing something for someone, you earn a "Time Dollar". You can cash that in when you ask someone to spend an hour helping you out. Instead of the one-way dynamic in traditional volunteering, Time Banks are built on the idea that everyone in the community has something to give, and everyone has needs. I can bake and deliver a cake to a busy parent, or help an older neighbor move furniture, but I need help mending a torn hem and learning a new language (Bengali, in case there are teachers out there).

Massachusetts has at least six Time Banks, from Cambridge to the Berkshires, the Cape to the North Shore and beyond, where members are exchanging services and skills to help each other and build community. Timebanks blend the best of traditional family and neighborhood ties with new technology and a network with a broad range of skills. Katherine Ellin, founder of the Time Trade Circle (based in Cambridge) blogged about the diverse membership of timebanks and some of the services being traded.

Michael Costerisan and Karen Andrews are members of a local community action group based in West Stockbridge called Co-Act, and the timebank is an offshoot of that. After hearing about a new timebank in New Haven, CT, they went to Timebanks USA to get started. “There is a pretty decent learning curve to starting and running a timebank which I am still climbing but it's not too bad and well worth the effort,” said Michael. “The very nature of a timebank is community development, so that is the largest focus. However, meeting people's daily and even special needs on a one to one basis is really the grease for the wheel. At 54 members we are really just beginning.  Our longer term goal is to get a few hundred members, or more. Currently members are mostly doing things like simple handyman tasks or helping someone clean out the garage or receiving a health service like shiatsu, exercise or Pilates and we have a community garden as a member.”

Look for a Timebank near you, or consider starting one in your community or as an off-shoot of an existing organization or faith-based group. Louisa Rosenheck, a coordinator with Time Trade Circle has shared some tips about what a person should consider before starting a time bank, and they have a great FAQ page:

“First consider whether there is already a timebank in your area! Even if you want a smaller     subgroup in your specific neighborhood or town, you might consider joining up with an established timebank to increase trading opportunities as well as an established setup and experience. Otherwise if there are no timebanks nearby, be prepared to commit to the group over time. It can be hard to get started and get people to really trade and take advantage of all the group has to offer. For some people it takes a change in thinking. Coordinators need to be consistent and encouraging, but once people get into it, the group will grow and trade on its own and really give back to the community!”

Websites for MA Timebanks:
Valley Time Trade at Commonwealth Center for Change

Time Trade Circle (Cambridge and Greater Boston)

Cape Ann Time Bank

Lynn Time Bank

Co-Act Timebank of Berkshire County

Cape Cod Time Bank

Let us know what you think of Timebanking- have you been a part of one? Any tips for members or questions for those are are involved?

Governor and Commonwealth Corps Kick-Off MLK Service Weekend

   Posted by: Cynthia Orellana
   Commonwealth Corps Coordinator

Yesterday nearly 70 people including Commonwealth Corps members from Western and Central Massachusetts, program staff, Commissioners, and volunteers from Millbury High School, South High Community School and Nativity High School in Worcester joined Governor Patrick for Commonwealth Corps’ second regional group service project of the year. Together they commemorated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through projects hosted by Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA) that benefit homeless and transitioning families and individuals.

The group participated at the Donations Clearinghouse helping sort and organize donated household items and helping load furniture. As a result, over 30 families will be able to pick up essential items that will help them as they transition from shelter to permanent housing

Governor Patrick helps unload donated furniture at the Donations Clearinghouse.

Commonwealth Corps members and Worcester high school volunteers.

The Village on Cambridge Street is a shelter serving up to 45 homeless families at a given time. Corps members and volunteers refreshed the walls of a computer room where over 50 children are tutored and painted murals, sorted 18 bags of donated clothes and linens, and prepared 5,000 postcards for CHMA’s annual walk for homelessness.

MA Service Alliance staff and Commonwealth Corps members from the MLK Jr. Community Center in Springfield paint a mural at The Village on Cambridge Street.

There is still work to be done in the effort to end homelessness. Join the National MLK Day of Service movement by making a difference in your community. Please visit www.mass.gov/connectandserve to search for volunteer opportunities in your area.  As you’re also well aware, there is a huge effort underway to help those in Haiti.  For more information and how you can help, visit www.mass.gov/haiti