Community Buzz

An appreciation for the effect of the unexpected

Guest Blogger — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:57:15 -0400

The following is a guest post by Lisa Palin, an attorney at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. On September 15, Lisa participated in a United Way Poverty Simulation. The United Way Poverty Simulation aims to provide participants with a closer view into in the life of a family living at or near the poverty level in Massachusetts. Each participant takes on the role of a family member and are assigned tasks to accomplish to sustain their families – work, grocery shop, go to school, sign up for needed services, etc.

The experience is simulated, but participants get a sense of the real-life constraints, such as transportation, work and time, that many families face in trying to attain financial stability. In her guest post, Lisa walks us through her "role" in the simulation and what was going through her mind during and after the experience. read more »

An Overview of United Way: The video

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:31:17 -0500

Before a Child's First Birthday

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:35:05 -0400

In 2001, Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies the development of children began a long-term study which took a look at infants from multiple socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Their primary research question? When does poverty begin to impact a child's development? When does the achievement gap first manifest. read more »

Boston's Homeless Census

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:34:46 -0500

Monday, United Way volunteers joined crowds of others in the City of Boston's annual Homeless census. The Homeless Census aims to shine a light on the numbers of individuals and families living without permanent homes in the city. The Boston Globe coverage included a photo of United Way staff alumna (and current executive director of the interagency council on housing and homelessness) Liz Curtis leading a set of volunteers as part of the census. read more »

Food Donations and Volunteers Needed

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:23:25 -0500

BOSTON - On Saturday, November 21 from 9 a.m. read more »

Governor Patrick visits with the United Ways of Massachusetts

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:35:21 -0400

Today, Governor Patrick stopped by the offices of United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley for a meeting with representatives from United Ways across Massachusetts. The meeting was focused on shared goals for the Commonwealth and covered topics ranging from the economic stimulus to ensuring that more Massachusetts youth graduate from high school with options for the future. read more »

Have Jobs Need Skills

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:29:00 -0400

With the unemployment rate in Massachusetts hovering around 8.7%, it can be difficult to believe that there are some local jobs sitting open due to lack of qualified candidates. In places like inbound marketing firm Hubspot and Tewksbury's Raytheon unit, it's a reality HR professionals are seeing more and more. Journalist Curt Nickisch, explored this issue in a recent story on WBUR, saying: read more »

How We Learn

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:09:21 -0400

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 »

Local Restaurant Celebrates Milestone and the Importance of Community

Pam Carrier — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:13:14 -0400

NEW ENGLAND -- Remember when a pizza only cost five bucks? On Saturday, October 17th, Sal's Pizza will be turning 20. To celebrate, the long-standing community restaurant will be turning back time on its prices, while raising funds to advance the common good. The restaurant, with more than 30 locations throughout the region, will roll back prices on its 19" cheese pizzas from $9.99 to $5.55 -- the price of a pie when Sal's first opened. read more »

Motel Homeless Numbers on the rise

Meghan Keaney Anderson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:59:55 -0400

This morning, The Boston Globe ran a front page story on the record numbers of families being placed by the state into area motels because homeless shelters are over capacity. As of June 15, there were 751 families, with about 1000 children total, living in local motels at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $2 million last month ($85 a night). read more »