Pick Your Price Art Sale to Benefit JP Nonprofit City Life/Vida Urbana

You can pick your price for original art and support housing justice at the same time at this year's Art For All 4 on June 11. This year's event will provide 100% of proceeds to Jamaica Plain nonprofit City Life/Vida Urbana – a local organization fighting for affordable housing and racial, social and economic justice. This all volunteer collaboration between local artists and grassroots activists offers art lovers a huge selection of pieces to choose from while knowing that they're supporting an important cause. Each year, Art For All benefits an organization working to promote inclusion and further the movement for justice. Previous Art For All beneficiaries include the Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) and La Collaborativa.

958 Views

Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Welcomes New Executive Director

Residents, families and staff members recently gathered together to meet Ren de Leon, the new executive director of the Jamaica Plain nonprofit Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “A drive and passion for senior care has propelled me to keep reaching for excellence,” said de Leon.” I can’t think of a better organization than ANRC to continue my career. I am looking forward to getting to know each and every one of our families and residents.”

673 Views

JP Nonprofit Community Servings to Open Satellite Meal Distribution Center

Community Servings, a Jamaica Plain-based nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition services, and a leader in “food is medicine” research, advocacy and policy, recently announced plans for a satellite distribution center in Mansfield. At the new distribution center, Community Servings will be able to efficiently reposition and expand meal packaging and delivery operations serving critically and chronically ill clients throughout the region south and west of Boston. Community Servings has finalized a long-term lease agreement for a 23,000-square-foot warehouse building in the Cabot Business Park located near the junction of interstates 95 and 495. The interior space will be renovated to accommodate Community Servings’ mission and is expected to begin operating this fall. “This new satellite location will enable us to more easily reach the individuals who depend on our nutritious meals through a more efficient packaging, shipping and delivery network,” said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings.

1,137 Views

BBR’s Mission Hill Building Certified as Zero Energy

The Boston Building Resources (BBR) Reuse Center building in Mission Hall was certified as a zero-energy building by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), representing one of the highest aspirations in energy performance for buildings. BBR announced the award at their April 22 Earth Day celebration. Zero Energy Certification from ILFI allows projects to demonstrate that the building is truly operating as claimed, harnessing energy from renewable sources to produce net annual energy demand. Through a third-party audit of actual performance data, Zero Energy certified projects are proven to be highly efficient buildings that rely only on clean energy, without on-site combustion of fossil fuels. BBR’s 8,800-square-foot building became zero energy after a transformational renovation project, completed in 2021.

743 Views

Jamaica Plain Nonprofit Apprentice Learning’s Founder’s Successor is Familiar Face

Jamaica Plain-based nonprofit organization Apprentice Learning's founder and Executive Director Helen Russell will step down from her role this June. The planned transition takes place after a decade of leadership and growth, resulting in more than 1,300 8th graders in Boston Public Schools participating in apprenticeships with local businesses in Jamaica Plain and throughout Boston. “It’s been a privilege to lead Apprentice Learning these past 10 years,” Russell said. “While it’s difficult to leave this role and our incredible team, I want to let others have the joy of leading as we round into our second decade. Of course, I will always be an Apprentice Learning champion and ambassador!”

Apprentice Learning will celebrate its first decade and bid Russell farewell at its Decade of Career Dreams event on May 4, 2023 under a tent in the gardens at JP’s Loring Greenough House.

844 Views

JP’s Rehearsal for Life Musical ‘Banned in Boston: Funderdome’ with Gov. Healey and More

Governor Maura Healey is among the cast members for Jamaica Plain based nonprofit Rehearsal for Life's new live Banned in Boston musical. The musical Banned in Boston: Funderdome will be performed live at Roadrunner Boston on April 27, and is once again be written and scored by award-winning creative Faith Soloway, Artistic Director of Rehearsal for Life and co-writer of Amazon’s award-winning show Transparent. Rehearsal for life is a non-profit leader in the Boston area’s creative youth development sector. The cast is huge for this year's musical-esque romp including more than two dozen Boston-area politicians, celebrities, philanthropists, and business leaders, performing on-stage and on-screen, fighting it out in an exaggerated, Battle of the Network Stars-style competition between fictional organizations trying to raise money in challenging times. The current cast list includes: Governor Maura Healey; Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council; Jared Bowen, Arts Editor & Host, WGBH’s Open Studio; Jim Braude, Co-host, WGBH Boston Public Radio; Yolanda Coentro, President & CEO, Institute for Nonprofit Practice; Carolyn Cole, Program Officer, Massachusetts Cultural Council; Joanne Chang, Owner, Flour, Myers & Chang; Cheryl Cronin, CEO, Boston Public Market; Margery Eagan, Co-host, WGBH Boston Public Radio; Tiffani Faison, Chef, Restaurateur, rising star on Food Network; Sam Kennedy, President & CEO, Boston Red Sox; Makeeba McCreary, Ed.D., President, The New Commonwealth for Racial Equity & Social Justice Fund; Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Carequest Institute for Oral Health; M. Lee Pelton, President & CEO, The Boston Foundation; Ken Reid, Comedian, TV Guidance Counselor podcast

In addition, a number of local chefs from participating restaurants will serve delicious meal to attendees including

Dan Bazzinotti, Pescador/Blue Ribbon Restaurants
Brad Brown, Blue Frog Bakery
Carl Dooley, Mooncusser
Lambert Givens, Hunter’s
Andrew Marconi, The Catered Affair
Steven Peljovich, Michael’s Deli
Cory Seeker, Lolita/COJE Group
Arlin Smith, Eventide
Stephen Sherman, Scarlet Oak Tavern/Webber Group
JC Tetreault, TrilliumBrewing
Will & Dave Willis, Bully Boy Distillers
Chris & Pam Willis, Pammy’s
Jen & Josh Ziskin, La Morra, Heritage & Punch Bowl

All proceeds benefit Rehearsal for Life’s creative youth development programs: Urban Improv, a no-cost program in its 30th year, serving 1,400+ Boston Public School students grades 4–12 every year; Youth Unscripted, a stipended after school community building and leadership program serving 25 teens from across Boston, and founding program Freelance Players, an after school theater program serving 200 youth ages 8-16 in Boston and surrounding suburbs.

1,369 Views

Celebrate Earth Day at Boston Building Resources with Jamaica Mi Hungry and More on April 22

Boston Building Resources will mark Earth Day on April 22, with a celebration that will include live music, a plant exchange, a flag raising, a food truck, and a limited-edition T-shirt available for sale. The event will be from 11 am to 2 pm. Environmental sustainability is a core value at Boston Building Resources (BBR), a small business located in Mission Hill (100 Terrace St.). The Reuse Center at BBR takes in donations of building materials, eliminating the environmental impact of needless waste and making materials available at affordable prices to low- and moderate-income homeowners. Two years ago, the Reuse Center building was remodeled to a zero-carbon standard, with all the power needed to operate the building generated by a rooftop solar array.

972 Views

Jamaica Plain’s Breuninger Joins Jimmy Fund Walk in Memory of Roommate & Best Friend

Jamaica Plain resident Drew Breuninger decided to participate in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk pin memory of his dear friend and roommate, Marcos Flegmann, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. "We were roommates in August 2017, and I happened to be on vacation,” said Breuninger. "I remember Marcos texted me to say that he was moving out, but he wouldn't tell me why. He said that we could talk about it when I got back...I had no idea what I could have done to make him move out so unexpectedly.”
Finally, he was able to get Marcos to give him a call. "I'll never forget when he told me.

1,110 Views

Wenham Street Cinema Releases 2023 Season Schedule

The Wenham Street Cinema released their 2023 season schedule, which includes visits from three Boston city councilors. 

District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara, City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, and City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia

All events, dates, and times are subject to change. Cinema goers as always encouraged to bring food or drink to share, as well as your own chair. 

The Wenham Street Cinema is inside Matt Shuman's garage at 23 Wenham St., and the cinema's showings include TV shows, movies, political debates, live concert series, and more. The cinema is kicking off its season with a Boston Marathon watch party on Monday, April 17 at 9 am.  

All events, dates, and times are subject to change. For updated information please check Instagram (@WenhamStreetCinema) or sign up for the mailing list by emailing matt.shuman@gmail.com. 

The following was provided by the Wenham Street Cinema:

Wenham Street Cinema 2023 Season Schedule 

Event
Date & Time
Helpful Details 
Speaker before 

the movie* 

1
Boston Marathon Watch Party
Monday, 4/17

 9 am to 10:45 
This is a breakfast potluck and has a hard stop at 10:45 am so we can bike over to the Marathon. Please bring food or drink to share if you are able. 

2
Kids’ Screening: Raya and the Last Dragon 
Early May

Doors at 5:30, movie at 6:00
This event usually becomes a party for adults on the sidewalk as kids enjoy the movie.

1,824 Views

Sherrill House Promotes Miniello to Chief Clinical Officer

Sherrill House, a not-for-profit skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Jamaica Plain, announced the promotion of Alessio Miniello, RN, to Chief Clinical Officer. Miniello, who was previously Director of Nursing Services at Sherrill House, is a registered nurse specializing in geriatric rehabilitative and long-term care, focusing on operations management, compliance and clinical development. “Alessio is a strong leader and effective team builder who cares deeply about our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care to the individuals we serve,” said Sherrill House Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. Stapleton. “He has demonstrated his ability to successfully lead the clinical care program at Sherrill House.”

“I am excited to serve as the Chief Clinical Officer of Sherrill House,” Miniello said. “It allows me to utilize my clinical experience as part of a veteran leadership team focused on providing the best care for our residents and the best place to work for our employees.”

Prior to joining Sherrill House in 2022, Miniello served as Director of Nursing Services at skilled nursing facilities in Concord and Peabody.

1,039 Views