MACDC is thrilled to welcome the folllowing new members in 2014:

Downtown Taunton Foundation: Founded in 2011, the Downtown Taunton Foundation is a relatively new non-profit organization that works to provide affordable housing, encourage the arts, and lift up small businesses in their community. Led by Michael Wedge (President) and Michael Mattos (Vice President), we look forward to the partnerships that will be created with their new membership. Feel free to contact this organization via email at: info@downtowntaunton.org.

Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly: For an organization that has been around roughly 50 years, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly keeps their community work fresh and exciting. JCHE, by which it is commonly known, works to provide elderly of diverse backgrounds with safe and manageable housing within a thriving community. With the President and CEO, Amy Schectman, JCHE brought in over $26 million dollars in total revenue sources in 2012. We are excited to help strengthen their work! For more information, feel free to contact JCHE via email at: info@jche.org.

Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA): The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance is an organization that fights for more affordable housing for low-income buyers in Massachusetts. In order to help fight for more affordable housing, they offer several services including the following classes: "Buying a Home", "Online Homebuying Course", "Owning a Home", and "Owning a Condo". These services help to empower community members and support their mission of fighting for more affordable housing. For more information on MAHA's services and goals, feel free to contact them via email at: info@mahahome.org.

Rebuilding Together Springfield: Rebuilding Together is a national organization that helps low-income families that are elderly, disabled, or unable to have repairs done to their house. Rebuilding Together Springfield, brings this same mission to Springfield, MA. Through helping this community with the much-needed repairs, they allow residents to age in their own homes, without being displaced. We look forward to hearing about their continued efforts in the community! For more information on Rebuilding Together Springfield, feel free to contact Susan Staples, the Director of Development, at: RTSpfld.Susan@gmail.com.

On July 22, Mayor Walsh and our elected officials helped NOAH announce their Coppersmith Village project, a dynamic new development along Border and Liverpool Streets in East Boston. It will be a mixed-use, mixed-income, development of 15 for-sale town-homes, 56 rental units, and a 3,000 square foot restaurant with outdoor terrace. Over half of the units will be affordable to those earning less than 100% AMI. It is fully zoned and permitted by the City.

Mayor Walsh commented, "It's going to dovetail into a lot of the work that we're doing in the City, around other public spaces in the City of Boston. In this budget, we set aside $35 million for improvements to East Boston in the capital plan...Coppersmith Village is good for East Boston, and it's a good sign for the entire City of Boston. You have the opportunity here to build a model that we want to replicate."

The street-scape will be beautified with new trees and lighting, and a "pocket" park will be created adjacent to a new community room. Designing for climate change and flood resiliency has been a priority from the start. We will continue to maintain the site, cutting down weeds, securing the buildings, and paying taxes. For those of you who couldn't make it to the Kick-Off announcement event, NOAH recorded the speakers. You can watch the video on their YouTube channel by clicking here.

The conversation around affordable housing on the Lower Cape is not a new one. However, we are excited about an opportunity to move from conversations to actions. On Thursday, October 16th from 4 to 6 PM at Nauset Regional Middle School, Senator Daniel Wolf and Representative Sarah Peake, with support from the CDP and Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), will bring together affordable housing stakeholders, town elected and appointed officials and community leaders on the Lower Cape for a "Lower Cape Summit on Affordable Housing Issues" in hopes of generating new thoughts and opportunities in this realm. This forum is part of a series of meetings being held in other rural communities in the Commonwealth as part of MHP's Rural Housing Initiative. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage in conversation about the current affordable housing issues facing the Lower Cape, including exploring a regional planning strategy focused on the Lower Cape's affordable housing needs. A focus of the gathering will also be on the work completed by MHP on their Rural Housing Initiative, including an opportunity to provide feedback. Learn More

2014 Community Development Awards

Please review the selection criteria and use them to guide your written comments. Please return this form, the nominee narrative, and other supporting materials, to Shirronda Almeida at shirrondaa@macdc.org  by September 19, 2014.

Member Awards

• The Ricanne Hadrian Award - Presented to a CDC project manager or organizer who meaningfully engages local residents in building economically and racially just communities.
• The Richard Smith Award - Presented to a CDC staff person or board member who exemplifies outstanding commitment, leadership and achievement for the community development movement in Massachusetts.
• The Rising Star Award – This award is presented to up to five people: a CDC Director, staff or Board member, less than 40 years old, who has demonstrated outstanding innovation, leadership and achievement.

Public and Private Sector Award

•  Excellence in Community Development - Presented to an individual or agency from the public sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts.
•  Jeffrey Graham Award – This award is presented to a person or organization from the private sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts.

Nominee:

Award Nominated for:

Title/Organization:

Length of Service in Position:

Name of Nominator:

CDC/Organization:

Please submit a one page (maximum) description of the nominee’s qualifications and accomplishments in the form of a typed narrative. You may attach letters of support and documents to demonstrate the applicant’s accomplishments.  We are looking for nominees’ who:

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the Community Economic Development field;
• Demonstrate a commitment to the vision and core values embraced by MACDC and its members
• Make a substantial contribution to both the field and the community;
• Bring innovation to their job;
• Involve the community in decision-making and priority-setting;
• Enhance the “sense of community”; and/or
• Serve as mentor to others.    

Scheduling 32 candidates to show up in Roxbury is no small feat!  Kudos to the Roxvote Coalition and our Community Action team for organizing a successful Cookout with Candidates event last month.

More than 400 attended the event.  Candidates contending for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, sherrif, state senate, and state representative all came out to meet and greet the residents of Roxbury and make pitches to gain their votes.

The Baystate Banner covered the event.  Click here to read more.