Weekend of outreach touches city residents
Summer safety door knock and barbecues helped connect residents with city services
Boston City employees fanned out in Roxbury this past weekend in an effort to connect children and youth with summer camps and summer job programs, all part of Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s violence prevention strategy for summer 2013.
“The best way we can promote the many things the city has to offer this summer is to be visible in the neighborhoods, talking directly to the residents,” Mayor Menino said.
More than 65 volunteers from nine different city agencies were involved in the outreach. The volunteers went door-to-door in Charlame, Charlame 2 and St. Joseph’s housing communities, inviting residents to one of three free barbecues and resource fairs in their neighborhoods.
They also signed up more than 67 young people for summer programs and job referrals.
“We know that one way to address the usual spike in summer violence is to make sure children and older youth have access to resources like camps and summer jobs,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
The weekend programming also brought out partners from College Bound, The Institute for Pan African Cultural Education (PACE) and the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club of Boston, each offering their own programs and resources.
“The opportunity to engage residents in this way ensures a safe and healthy summer,” said Daphne Griffin, executive director of Boston Centers for Youth and Families, which provided Fit Kits and a variety of sports equipment for the events.
