The Charlestown Coalition News:

Issue 92

Spring and Summer Recap

Welcome to the Charlestown Coalition's Newsletter!

We are a community-based organization here to support the neighborhood of Charlestown by connecting our neighbors to services, building relationships, and providing fun and safe spaces for community members to connect.

In our newsletters, you'll find event flyers, recaps on what we do on the day-to-day, resources, information on our youth programming, and more. Thanks for following along!

Coalition Update

Over the last few months, the Charlestown Coalition paused our monthly newsletter due to a staffing shortage. We are happy to announce that the Coalition newsletter will resume and we look forward to sharing program updates with you in the coming months. Here are a few things you missed while we were gone.

-Phenice Zawatsky, Charlestown Coalition Director

Thank you, Rachel and Emma!

Rachel Harris, MSW Intern

Emma Cook, MSW Intern

This year we had the honor to work with Rachel Harris and Emma Cook, MSW interns from Boston College and Boston University. Through the Family Support Circle program, Rachel, and Emma delivered individual and family counseling, case management support, and care coordination services to Charlestown youth and their families.

Before coming to the Coalition, Rachel was a Boston Public School teacher who worked with middle school-age youth. Rachel's experience and positive personality helped her build meaningful connections with her clients, especially adolescents and middle schoolers on her caseload. Rachel was a strong and fierce advocate and coordinated services seamlessly. She worked with the Turn It Around youth program and helped facilitate groups at Charlestown High School. Her work has left a lasting impact on all those she encountered.

Emma was another great addition to the internship program with a vast knowledge of the legal system. Emma was a strong advocate but a calm and steady presence for her clients. She often met her clients where they were in the moment while helping them take small steps toward their goals. Emma excelled at providing case management support and ensured that her clients were connected to appropriate resources. Emma built positive relationships with her clients, based on trust, mutual respect, and open communication.

Although we are sad to see them leave, we are grateful for the time they worked with the Coalition. We want to thank, Rachel and Emma, for supporting the community and the Charlestown Coalition. We wish them all the best as they embark on the next phase of their career

Peace Play Training

Last month, the coalition team completed our last Peace Play facilitator training with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The Peace Play In Urban Setting training is a healing tool for the community. "It invites community members to create their worlds and express their emotions without language by creating scenes using miniature figures in a tray of sand" (PeaceInstitute.org).

The Peace Play is a phenomenal training for anyone who works with youth, families, grief, loss, and trauma. If you would like to learn about this training go to ldbpeaceinstitute.org/training

We want to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for training our team. We applaud their efforts to make Boston a peaceful community for everyone.

CRA-Family Fun Day

In August the Charlestown Coalition and Charlestown Trauma Team participated in the CRA Family Fun Day. We connected with partners, city officials, TIA alumni, and residents. Also, the community engaged in our Peace Play activity and two lucky winners won our raffle. Trauma Team member Shannon Lundin provided overdose prevention resources and handed out Narcan.

It's always a good day when we are in the community! Thank you Charlestown Resident Alliance and the Boston Housing Authority for hosting Family Fun Day and inviting us to participate in the festivities. We can't wait to do it all again next year!

Turn It Around - Newsletter

Are you wondering what TIA is up to this summer?

If so, take a look at our Facebook and Instagram

Charlestown in Solidarity:

Race and Equity Community Dialogue

Charlestown Trauma Response Team:

Overdose Prevention Training

The Charlestown Trauma team, and the MGH Charlestown Health Center, facilitated three Overdose Prevention Trainings during the Spring and Summer of 2024.

Participants received life-saving information on how to identify the signs and symptoms of an overdose, how to support someone experiencing an overdose, and how to administer Narcan. Every person who attended received a Narcan kit upon completing the training.

Between the months of April and August, the Charlestown Coalition and Charlestown Trauma Team provided t

he community with a total of 98 units of Narcan and 310 Fentanyl test strips. We will continue to ensure that the community has access to these lifesaving tools. If you or someone you know needs Narcan or test strips, contact the Charlestown Trauma Team at (617) 643-0049.

We want to thank the Charlestown Trauma Team and the MGH Health Center for their commitment to preventing overdoses in Charlestown. We also want to thank the community, our partners, and all those who supported our efforts.

If you are interested in learning more, please go to our website.

Trauma Response Team– Charlestown Coalition

Community Partner Spotlight:

Derek Gallagher

The Charlestown Coalition congratulates Derek Gallagher, who was honored by the NHL Bruins & Massachusetts State Lottery as a Community All-Star in the Spring. Derek is the Executive Director of the Charlestown Boys and Girls Club and a lifelong resident of Charlestown. Derek has been a caring and consistent presence in the community, who empowered and touched the lives of so many. We thank Derek for his commitment and service to the Charlestown community and partnership with the Charlestown Coalition.

FSC Resource E-blast

The FSC e-blast will go out once a month on the 15^th of each month. If you would like to add your program's flyers to the next e-blast, please send a PDF version of the flyer by the 12^th of each month to MSOTO0@mgh.harvard.edu