JFK COVID-19 Response | The Kennedy Center stands against racial injustice!
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Kennedy Center needs your help. The Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment projects comment period ends on NOVEMBER 20th. It is critical we get as many Charlestown residents to give comments in support of the Kennedy Center, the work they do for the Charlestown community and for the residents of the Bunker Hill development (see our list of services). The Kennedy Center needs a permanent home for our community and senior services after the pandemic caused displacement from the building at 55 Bunker Hill Street. It is unclear whether the redevelopment project will help sustain these critical programs, but we have proposed partnering to develop a new hub for services, including affordable childcare. Please see the sample comment below
Suggested comment:
I am a Charlestown resident and I want to make sure that the residents of the new development have not only quality housing but also quality services for health and wellbeing. I understand that the Kennedy Center has proposed partnering with the redevelopment to create a community center with affordable childcare programs and a range of services for families, individuals and seniors of all walks of life. The Kennedy Center has a proven track record of quality services in the Bunker Hill community for over 50 years– from Headstart and preschool programs to services for the elderly. I am in support of this proposal. I believe it is important to establish this commitment before Phase 1 begins.
It is easy to submit a comment yourself on the project website. Directions are below. If you support the Kennedy Center proposal, please submit your comment as soon as possible. And thank you so much!
Please click on the link below (in blue)
When the site comes up do the following:
1. Click on….Show: Comment Period
2. That will take you to the next page
3. Click on NOVEMBER 20, 2020
4. You will see….You may submit your comments now
5. Once in the comment site under ORGANIZATION type in Charlestown Resident
6. Under OPINION…click on SUPPORT (We do support the new housing for residents, JFK wants to be a partner in quality services)
7. Then cut and paste the narrative below
http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/bunker-hill-housing-redevelopment
CUT AND PASTE BELOW TO THE COMMENT SECTION
I am a Charlestown resident and I want to make sure that the residents of the new development have not only quality housing but also quality services for health and wellbeing. I understand that the Kennedy Center has proposed partnering with the redevelopment to create a community center with affordable childcare programs and a range of services for families, individuals and seniors of all walks of life. The Kennedy Center has a proven track record of quality services in the Bunker Hill community for over 50 years– from Headstart and preschool programs to services for the elderly. I am in support of this proposal. I believe it is important to establish this commitment before Phase 1 begins.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Kennedy Center grieves the death of George Floyd and grieves for all those who have suffered from brutal injustice and discrimination. We must change the policies and the actions which enact racism and trap whole groups of people in cycles of poverty, illness and fear. Consider how longstanding inequities in healthcare and economic policies now result in much higher rates of COVID-19 among people of color. We are dealing with not only a medical pandemic but a pandemic of injustice. Both require not only protections from harm, but also policy changes and measures to attack the root causes.
For over 50 years the Kennedy Center has stood for the rights of all people to lead fulfilling lives. We see each child in our school as a beautiful miracle. Our vision is that each one of these children thrives in love, joy, and prosperity right through their years as elders in our community. Today and every day we recommit to our mission. Doing this work will mean deep listening and learning; it will require both humility and bold action.
We pledge to our community:
For over 56 years, the Kennedy Center has provided critical safety nets for Charlestown’s most vulnerable children, families, and seniors. The COVID-19 pandemic is NO exception! Our staff are working around the clock to protect the health and safety of our community while providing services and programming during this unprecedented crisis. The needs of our community are changing daily. The Kennedy Center remains committed to providing essential services despite major disruptions to our operations and daily lives.
In the past week, we have implemented the following changes:
Although there are still a lot of “unknowns”, we do know that the coronavirus crisis disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable, and has already created new economic challenges for millions of families due to loss of wages, benefits, and support. This is only the beginning, we are actively developing new and long-term opportunities to provide additional support for highly at-risk families and staff impacted by the coronavirus public health and economic crisis. Please consider making an online gift to the JFK COVID-19 Response Fund. Your gift, no matter how large or small, makes all the difference to a family in need. Please visit www.kennedycenter.org/donate today. Thanks in advance for your consideration and support! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the JFK Leadership team:
Thara Fuller
Executive Director: 617-241-8866 x. 1351 | tfuller@kennedycenter.org
Crystal Galvin
Director of Community Services: 617-241-8866 x. 1352 | cgalvin@kennedycenter.org
Griselle Tejeda
Director of Children’s Services: 617-241-8866 x. 1340 | gtejeda@kennedycenter.org