2009

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Tuesday, in the belly of what was once a Union Street Bank, United Way and Serving People in Need (SPIN) launched an innovative center to move people beyond safety nets into permanent financial stabiliy and economic empowerment.  Located at 270 Union St in Lynn, The United Way Financial Stability Center, powered by SPIN aims to help families climb out of poverty through an integrated plan of Financial Education, Credit Counseling, Basic Banking, Free Tax Preparation/ EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit), Computer and job-related skills (ESOL, ABE, GED), Financial Aid Application Assistance, Mat  read more »

I've always considered top ten lists to be the lazy man's answer to writer's block.  Late night TV shows, blogs, major media outlets on slow august weekends -- we're all guilty of it.  This morning though, I found a top ten list that broke through my previous perceptions and struck me as both incredibly interesting and exceptionally important. 

Last week, The Nation an online and print magazine on politics and national affairs printed an editorial by  read more »

Outside of my office window a young girl is jumping in and out of brightly colored squares painted on the sidewalk.  Her mother points to each of the squares and asks how many are there. It takes only a moment over the course of their stroll to Boston Children's Museum, but this stop will help lay the foundation for the little girl's developing math and motor skills. It will join a flurry of other experiences, observations and interactions that will prepare the toddler to enter school ready to learn.  read more »

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just released its Annual Homeless Assessment Report. According to HUD, the report is the first to "provide year-to-year trend information that explores  read more »