Neighborhood Life

Pride Celebration Speak Out on Saturday in Response to Anti-LGBTQIA+ Graffiti on First Baptist Church

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The community is invited to a pride celebration and speak out in response to anti-LGBTQIA+ graffiti that was spray painted on the outside of the First Baptist Jamaica Plain church that was discovered on Thursday morning. First Baptist Jamaica Plain is one of the most inclusive churches and prides itself on "standing up for the rights of our LGBTQIA community, hosting a [monthly] vigil in support of Black Lives Matters, offering educational events about Israel/Palestine, marching for our immigrant neighbors, speaking up for the incarcerated, advocating in the state house, working for affordable housing and and end to homelessness..." The church also run a food justice program, hosts community meals, is affiliated with the Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, which seeks full inclusion and leadership within its church for the LGBTQIA+ community. "We have received so much support from our community in response to the hate speech written on our building this week. We want to show our thanks for your love and as a show of public solidarity with our queer community in and around our church - with a celebration of queer love and joy!"

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City Services

CPA Funding Approved for New Curley School Playground, Jackson Square Greenway, Churches, and More

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Community Preservation Act funds will be used to build a new school playground, support new affordable housing, and historically rehab several churches,

Mayor Michelle announced 56 projects will receive more than $40 million through CPA funds. The Boston City Council approved the funding on April 12. By law, projects must support the creation or preservation of affordable housing, historic sites, or open space and recreation. Since 2018, Boston has awarded more than $157 million to support 293 projects including 112 open space and recreation projects, 46 affordable housing projects, and 135 historic preservation projects, according to a press release. The following are the eight Jamaica Plain projects that are receiving funding:

361 Centre Street

$3,000,000 to partially fund an​ ​adaptive reuse rental proj​ect utilizing the vacant Blessed Sacrament Church in the Hyde Square neighborhood.

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Animals

It’ll Be a Grrrreat Time: Jamaica Plain’s Annual Canine Costume Parade on Saturday

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Ruth Barker Ginsberg, dogs dressed as bumblebees, Harry Potter, and so many more awesome dog costumes have strutted the red carpet at the annual JP Canine Costume Parade through the years. Who knows what the dogs will be wearing this Saturday! Dogs and their owners are invited to wear costumes starting at the First Baptist Church and down Centre Street parade route to the Loring-Greenough House. Then the dogs (and their people) will walk the red carpet as judges decide the top three participants who receive prizes. The event is helmed and emceed by Blue Frog Bakery owner Brad Brown.

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Neighborhood Life

Volunteers Needed: Help Centre Food Hub Fight Food Insecurity

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The Centre Food Hub needs volunteers for kitchen meal prep, grocery packing, delivering food, and hospitality. Before the pandemic, the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain's nonprofit The Centre for Faith, Art & Justice, offered two sit-down meals a week in the church, but once the pandemic hit, they could no longer offer provide onsite meals. And once the pandemic began, an increase in food insecurity was clearly evident. The two sit-down meals a week became hot meals and groceries being delivered to neighbors. The need grew, and soon enough more than 300 households were receiving food via delivery.

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Nonprofit

First Baptist Continues to Fight Hunger with $100,000 Grant

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The First Baptist Church recently received a $100,000 grant from Mass General Brigham to grow its sit down meals and food deliveries service. When COVID hit, First Baptist could no longer provide meals inside its location, said Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird. "We said, let's deliver to them. It was two meals a week, which quickly became three meals," said Wiest-Laird. Soon they were providing three meals a week up to 300 households in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Roslindale, Dorchester, Hyde Park, and more.

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Arts

Free Outdoor Juneteenth Concert at First Baptist Church

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Two Jamaica Plain organizations are teaming up to present a free Juneteenth concert with all donations going to the Black Umbrella Project. New England Jazz Connections, which was created by JP resident Greg Loughman, is partnering with JP Centre/South Main Streets, to present the Fred Woodard Jazz Collective on June 19 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church (633 Centre St.). "New England Jazz Connections is excited to present Fred Woodard and his group, and to support the Black Umbrella Project. The combination of good music, community building, and raising up folk who are making a positive change in the world is what our organization is all about," said Loughman. "JP Centre/South Main Streets is excited to partner with New England Jazz Connections to present this concert.

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From the Community

‘Resurgence’ Projection Show, Outdoor Events at First Baptist Benefitting Non-Profit Campaign

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The Centre for Faith, Art, and Justice, the non-profit organization sponsored and housed by First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, will be hosting a series of three outdoor events the next three Saturdays. The events will be on April 10, April 17, and April 24 at 7pm. The purpose of these events is to highlight the capital campaign to finish the rebuild of the upstairs sanctuary/community space which was originally destroyed when the building burned down in 2005. The events will highlight the “Resurgence” projection show created by MASARY which will be shown across the front of our building every night from 7 to 10 pm from now until the first week of May. In addition, the events will feature live music and performances from local artists, speeches from community leaders and activists, as well as more information on the work the Centre does in our community and the work we hope to do in the future with our newly renovated space.

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Art

Resurgence!

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The Centre for Faith, Art, and Justice, the non-profit organization sponsored and housed by First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, will be hosting a series of three outdoor events on April 10, April 17, and April 24 at 7pm. The purpose of these events is to highlight our Capital Campaign to finish the rebuild of our upstairs sanctuary/community space which was originally destroyed when our building burned down in 2005. The events will highlight our “Resurgence” projection show created by MASARY which will be shown across the front of our building every night from 7pm to 10pm from now until the first week of May. In addition, the events will feature live music and performances from local artists, speeches from community leaders and activists, as well as more information on the work the Centre does in our community and the work we hope to do in the future with our newly renovated space.

History
Loring-Greenough House

Mayor Recommends Five JP Projects to Receive $890K in Community Preservation Act Funds

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The city announced the recommendation of more than $25.5 million of Community Preservation Act funds to 67 projects across Boston, including five Jamaica Plain projects. The Community Preservation Committee held a public hearing and vote on Feb. 11 in support of Mayor Marty Walsh's recommendations. The proposed projects have been filed with the Boston City Council for a vote of approval. Projects supported with Community Preservation Act funds need to create or preserve affordable housing, historic sites, or open space and recreation.

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Holidays

JP Holiday Light Show Now Through Jan. 3

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The JP Holiday Light Show is happening on the steeple of the First Baptist Church every night through Jan. 3. "It’s been a long and difficult year, and the need for celebration, hope, and spirit is more important than ever this winter," said Ginger Brown, executive director of JP Centre/South Main Streets. The show will also feature drawings from Jamaica Plain residents! This year's JP Centre/South Main Streets' projection show will be every evening from 4:30 pm to 9 pm.

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