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Lanita Tolentino

We began these blogs because we wanted to start a conversation. The posts on this blog are the personal perspectives of individual staff, volunteers and guest bloggers, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization. We encourage response and conversation. We just ask you to keep it respectful. We'd love to hear it. It's a conversation, after all, we hope you'll add to it. Want to be a guest blogger? Email us

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Lanita Tolentino
Thu, 11/18/2010

A Thanksgiving Feast for All

packing with a pupose

It is for this women, her family and those like her that I am apart of this project, taking care of my community.  read more »

Lanita Tolentino
Tue, 08/03/2010

If You Give a Child a Book...

I can remember sitting on the side of my bed reading book after book after book over and over again... as a teenager, in middle school, even in elementary school and before I could read them holding and staring at the pics I'm sure while creating an adventure in my head. Having my own mini library meant that I could pick from a range of books and thanks to my parents and other adults around me my collection grew year after year.  read more »

Lanita Tolentino
Tue, 06/01/2010

Another Life Lost

We Need Change- What will you do?

Memorial Day Weekend was in full swing. Warm weather- check, list of cookouts to attend- check let the fun commence. That all quickly changed when the phone rang at 7a on Sunday morning. I'm always a little nervous when the phone rings early in the morning or in the middle of the night- never know what I might hear from the other end. This call was one of those. The news was that Cory Johnson, a family friend, more like a brother to me, had died. My heart sunk and my mind immediately went to hoping it wasn't by violence.  read more »

Lanita Tolentino
Mon, 01/12/2009

Home without heat, what about others?

Moving back to Boston from warmer climates I can honestly say this winter is really giving me a run for my money. I guess I partially expected that- what I didn’t expect is that it would be as cold in my house as it is outside on many days.  read more »

Lanita Tolentino
Thu, 05/01/2008

MA first state to have a statewide youth council.

Encourage youth you know to apply

On April 24, 2008 I had the pleasure of attending Governor Patrick's statewide youth council executive ordersigning. About a year ago the Governor visited Dorchester after a youth shooting. He was asked by a youth during this site " Why can't we have a voice in shaping the policy that affects us". That was the spark that lit the fire to start the statewide youth council. Governor Patrick is the first Governor making MA the first state to take a youth council to the state level. The council will meet at least four times per year and the Governor himself plans to attend some of the meetings. He is looking to get 2 youth ages 14-20 from each of the 14 counties of the
state.  read more »

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