Méndez’s ‘Negrura’ Showcases Stories of Latin Quarter Cultural District, Premiering April 29

Multi talented singer-songwriter Fabiola Méndez's audiovisual project Negrura will premiere at the Hyde Square Task Force on April 29.  

Negrura is an audiovisual storytelling experience that showcases the stories of Afro-Latinx folks from Boston’s Latin Quarter Cultural District. The film aims to create spaces for conversations about colorism, anti-blackness, discrimination, and racism within our own Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latinx community. Music, at the core of the project, connects our voices to provide a space for self-reflection, support, and healing. Following the project's debut, there will be a Q&A hosted by Pedro Reina

This project is supported and made possible in part through the Radical Imagination for Racial Justice (RIRJ) program, a partnership between Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the city of Boston.

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Celebrate Frederick Law Olmsted’s 200th Birthday at Jamaica Pond on April 26

America’s great place-maker Frederick Law Olmsted—who created the field of landscape architecture and the Emerald Necklace park system turns 200 in 2022-- and we're celebrating it at Jamaica Pond on April 26. The event will kickoff Olmsted’s bicentennial and honor his legacy values of shared use, shared health and shared power in parks and public space. This event is being presented by Olmsted Now, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Fairsted) and Friends of Fairsted partner with Olmsted 2022 and Friends of Jamaica Pond. There will be treats, toasts and local legend Gerry Wright, founder of Olmsted 2022, portraying the man himself. Olmsted 2022 will recognize and spotlight awardees for their leadership in parks access and advocacy.

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Community Servings’ Meals4Moms Fundraiser Benefits Mothers in Need

Community Servings, a Jamaica Plain nonprofit provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition services to individuals and families in Massachusetts experiencing critical and chronic illnesses, is holding its annual Mother’s Day fundraiser, Meals4Moms, in partnership with McCrea’s Candies of Boston. Gift givers can send mom a box of handcrafted caramels – available in two sizes, 40 pieces for $65 or 80 pieces for $95 – with a Lake Champlain chocolate heart nestled within the box. Each purchase is a donation that will support a local mom with the nutritious food they need to maintain and improve their health. The gift includes a card designed by local artist Susy Pilgrim Waters inscribed with a personalized message. Supporters can also choose to send just a card for a $30 donation.

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Jamaica Plain Students Receive St. Sebastian’s School Honor Roll

St. Sebastian's School is proud to announce the Honor Roll recipients for the Third Quarter of the 2021-2022 school year. Recipients of these academic awards fall into three categories: High Honors, maintains an A- or above in all subjects; Honors with Distinction, maintains a B or above in all subjects; and Honors, maintains a B- or above in all subjects. The following students are from Jamaica Plain:
Michael J. Kalinichenko, Grade 11, High Honors
Maxim D. Kalinichenko, Grade 9, High Honors
Luis E. Sosa Espinal, Grade 9, Honors with Distinction

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Olmsted Now Kickoff Events for 2022 Bicentennial

The bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted will be marked by Greater Boston with Olmsted Now, a collaboration to amplify the vibrancy and inclusivity of shared use, shared health and shared power in parks and public space. Initiated by Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (Fairsted) and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy with more than 100 organizations within a 60-mile radius of the city, Olmsted Now explores these legacy values of America’s great placemaker and designer of the Emerald Necklace park system with a season of public events from April through October 2022. Olmsted Now aims to strengthen equity and community connection through a framework that centers decision-making for bicentennial programs with a Committee of Neighborhoods, Boston leaders trusted for their commitment to under-heard voices and under-served open spaces, especially those valued by their neighbors who identify as BIPOC. The initiative also fosters co-learning through monthly public dialogues to dive deeper into issues related to the themes of shared use, shared health and shared power in parks and public space. And the bicentennial is an opportunity to pilot cross-neighborhood collaboration to create in-park programming through the monthly series Parks as Platform in the Emerald Necklace parks.

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JP Resident’s New Art Exhibit at PD Gallery Debuting with Opening Reception on April 1

Jamaica Plain resident and artist Jamie Kendrioski is partnering with Pradit Sakkara, photographer and owner of PD Gallery, for a joint exhibition of paintings and photography. Since the opening of PD Gallery's JP location in May 2021, Sakkara's photographs have been the main draw. This joint exhibit reflects Sakkara's desire to support and create a platform for other local artists. Both Kendrioski and Sakkara are members of the JP Artists Association. The opening reception will feature live music performed by singer/songwriter Ralph Haddad.

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Sherrill House Announces Appointments in IT, Finance

Sherrill House, a Jamaica Plain not-for-profit skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, has made several key appointments to its leadership team as the organization continues to grow and enhance its mission. Sherrill House made the following appointments:
• Adam Fumia – Chief Information Officer
• Mark Altenweg – Chief Financial Officer
• Joao Santos – Director of Finance and Administration

“We are thrilled to have this talented group on our leadership team collectively providing decades of experience in these crucial operational areas,” said Patrick J. Stapleton, CEO of Sherrill House. Fumia was promoted to CIO after serving as Sherrill House’s director of information technology. He oversees all IT systems, policies and procedures while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. Fumia has also served as a liaison between the CEO and senior management team.

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Join SingPositive: JP’s Outdoor Community Choir

SingPositive is Jamaica Plain's intergenerational community choir. Join us for our spring semester, outdoors and in person! Led by Lysander Jaffe, Lexi Ugelow, and our incredible volunteers, we welcome singers of all ages to make music together in community. Join us for our Open Rehearsal, March 27, 4-6 pm and register for the full semester here: www.singpositive.us/join-us.html. This spring, we offer:
-Outdoor rehearsals: Sunday afternoons, 4-6 pm, outside Spontaneous Celebrations
-Family-friendly programming: Kids' Choir, Ukulele Class, and supervised free time for kids age 3 and up
-Flexible tuition options and scholarships
-Fun music from many genres: folk, rock, R&B, Hamilton, klezmer, and more.

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Morning Runners + Walkers — Join Back on My Feet at Franklin Park!

Back on My Feet is looking for volunteers to come join our new team launching at Franklin Park in April. Help to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and addiction by giving your time as a morning run/walk volunteer one morning a week. Our community meets M/W/F from 5:45 to 6:30 am. Learn more about getting involved at backonmyfeet.org/get-involved/volunteer.

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EMASS Senior Softball League Recruiting Players for 2022 Season

The Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball (EMASS) is opening its annual registration campaign for slow-pitch softball players age 50 and older. With more than 400 members, the league attracts players from towns across Eastern Massachusetts with games played on fields in Wayland, Medfield, and Framingham. The EMASS season opens in early May with 18 weeks of regular-season games scheduled through Labor Day and year-end playoffs completed in early October. EMASS was founded in 1995 and offers active seniors of all skill levels a safe, well-organized opportunity to play competitive slow-pitch softball. EMASS members range in age from 50 to 90.

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