Last Updated July 20, 2010News

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The Spot - Teen Cafe

Designed and led by teenagers, The Spot in Codman Square is a safe place to hang out Thursday evenings with other teens. Weekly raffles, video games, dominoes, free food, music, dancing, and chat happening at 12 Southern Ave (next to the Walgreens). Special 25 minute program each night. Open every Thursday from 7:00 - 9:30 PM from now until September 9.

Family Fun Nights @ Elmhurst Park

Neighbors of all ages are invited to join us on Monday nights at the Elmhurst Park for Family Fun Night. Events like a ice cream sundaes, bingo, Hawaiian luau, movies, and a talent show are planned for this summer. Monday beginning at 7:00 PM.

Build a New Community Garden With Us

We now have our new community garden design for 106 Norfolk Street in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle. Join us this summer as we build this garden together as neighbors and volunteers. Contact Paul to volunteer or sign up for a garden plot (20 plots available - 50% for children/youth and 50% for adults).

Memorial Day at Codman Burying Ground

We invite you to join us on Memorial Day Monday, May 31, 2010 from 12 noon to 2 pm at the historic Codman Burying Ground. Led by Second Church and the Boy Scouts, we will have a flag retirement ceremony, an appreciation for our veterans, and tours of the historic graves including the 14+ Civil War soldiers buried here. Please contact Paul with any questions.

Park Patrol Summer Youth Jobs

Young people are changing our community by becoming champions for greenspace. Our six week summer program involves youth in either leading children's programming at the Elmhurst Park or by transforming a vacant lot into a new community garden. We will hire 4-5 youth to work with children's programming, and 15-18 youth to help build the community garden and plant trees. Youth ages 14-19 are employed through ABCD or Boston Youth Fund. Youth ages 12-14 can apply for our leadership internship. Applications available at 15 Elmhurst Street or by contacting David at 617-929-0925 or by email.

Teen Summer Job Center

We are passionate about the importance of jobs for teenagers. This developmental and financial milestone can be challenging for young people to reach especially in our troubled economy. Our new teen job center will open February 15 (during school vacation) to help teens who live in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle connect with summer jobs.

Real Life Bible Study now on Thursday

We moved our Real Life Bible Study to Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. Come hang out with others, eat, play table games, and explore who Jesus is and what the Bible has to say to your life. Contact David to learn more.

Special 30 Days of Prayer - Will You Join Us?

Boston Project staff and Board have dedicated themselves to 30 Days of Prayer for eight (8) significant needs. We invite you to join us in prayer for these needs anytime before the end of this year. We will report on how God answers in January.

Christmas Party for Children and Youth

We are excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the spirit of giving with our children and youth this Christmas season. We will host parties for elementary students in the afternoon and teenagers in the evening on Thursday, December 17 at The Boston Project's home. Contact Paul if you would like to donate food.

A Wonderful "Being Thankful" Day - Lots of Leaves!

On Wednesday, November 11, dozens of young people from Maine to Massachusetts (and some adults) gathered to help clean neighbor's yards and the new Elmhurst Park in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle (TNT). View our two-page Photo Gallery, which also highlights our community lunch and honoring Henry Wilform as our TNT volunteer of the year!

Fall Schedule - Neighborhood Youth Ministry

We have launched our fall outreach programs designed to develop young people academically, spiritually, and as community leaders.

Tutoring - Teens (M/W 2:30-5:30 pm)
Homework Center - Elementary (T/TH 3:30-5:30 pm)
Real Life Bible Study - Teens (Tuesday 7:00 pm)
Bible Club/Fizz - Elementary (Thursday 4:30 pm)
Service Projects - monthly

Contact David for more information. Location 15 Elmhurst St.

Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Neighbors United

Monthly meeting 4th Wednesday of each month for all neighbors.
Next meeting: Special Date: Wednesday, December 2 from 6:45-8:00 PM at The Boston Project's home at 15 Elmhurst Street.

Halloween Alternative: Stay Safe Off the Streets

We will be joining with Global Ministries Christian Church to offer a Christ-centered Halloween alternative for our children and youth. Bring your children dressed in costumes from 4:00-6:00 PM to the church for carnival games, candy, school supplies, snacks, and a child-friendly program.

Transforming 93 Norfolk Street

Young people and adult neighbors from the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle and The Boston Project are transforming 93 Norfolk Street from a vacant lot to a beautiful sitting park with many new perennials and shrubs. Community Planting Day on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Come out and volunteer! Contact Paul with questions.

Join Us: Being Thankful for My Community Day

On Wednesday, November 11 (Veteran's Day), we are hosting our 6th annual Being Thankful for My Community Day in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle. Join us at 10:00 AM at the Elmhurst Street Park for 2 hours of a neighborhood clean up followed by a potluck lunch and short program.

The Spot - Weekly Teen Cafe

Safe. Positive. Fun. The Place to Be! An underground cafe exists in Codman Square for youth on Thursdays from 7:00-9:00 PM. Come find The Spot at 12 Southern Ave. Music, food, video games & tournaments, table games, chat, and more. Organized by The Boston Project with funding from the Black Ministerial Alliance. Contact to learn more.

Family Fun Night @ Elmhurst Park

Grand Opening of Elmhurst Street Children's Park!

Over 200 neighbors and friends joined us on Saturday, June 27 to celebrate 10 years of work resulting in the opening of our new children's park. Read the article in the Boston Globe, Boston Metro, and check out the Globe's photo gallery. More pictures soon to come.

Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Vacant Lots

On Saturday, May 30 over 25 neighbors (youth and adults) gathered to walk to seven (7) city-owned vacant lots to dream together about potential future greenspace uses. Ideas such as a children's teaching/community garden, passive park-bus stop, landscaped parking areas, a dog walking area, and more emerged.

The results are in! On Wednesday, June 24 the TNT Greenspace team is proposing to neighbors that we transform vacant lots at 93 and 106 Norfolk Street into beautiful greenspace.

Summer Jobs & Internships for Teens

As an act of economic justice and youth development, we are hoping to provide jobs and internships for 20+ youth this summer between the ages of 12-19. Preference is given to young people who live in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle. Contact Paul for information.

Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Planning Series

Together as neighbors, we are planning for the future of our neighborhood. Over 25 vacant lots exist in the Triangle, many waiting to be developed into beautiful green space or other potential uses. Our final planning series meeting will be on Saturday, May 30 beginning at 15 Elmhurst Street (new location) to plan what our neighborhood will look like in 2015! This last planning meeting will include walking around to visit the vacant lots we are considering for green space.

New Neighborhood Youth Ministries Schedule

Check out our new schedule for free after-school programs and activities for April and May 2009.

New - Open Computer Lab!

Open computer time for children and youth in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2:00-5:00 PM. Staff by an Americorps member at our ministry house at 15 Elmhurst Street.

Project Angel Wings - Vision Party II

What a fabulous day together for Project Angel Wing partners on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Check out our photo gallery of the day with pictures of John Codman, the cemetery plot plan, and members enjoying the historical tour of Second Church of Dorchester.

One-on-One Tutoring and Homework Help

Our after-school programs to help youth succeed academically will resume after January 18, 2009. On Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 PM we assist elementary students; and we provide one-on-one evening tutoring for high school students Mondays and Thursdays. Contact to learn more.

Real Life Youth Bible Study

After a short winter break (until Jan 18), we are continuing our Tuesday night Youth Bible Study (at 7:30 PM) called Real Life. This is a safe place for teens to come and discuss their real life questions and be introduced to God's perspective on challenging issues. Contact to learn more or just show up!

Christmas Banquet for the Homeless - Delicious

We want to thank Newton Junction Baptist Church, Joy, Sister Phillips, and Boston Project staff for helping prepare and serve a delicious home-cooked meal at our 8th annual Christmas Banquet for those who are homeless with Starlight Ministries. Some have commented that this is the best Christmas dinner in Boston!

Park Community Build A Blast!

On Saturday, October 18, 2008 neighbors came together with volunteers from Citizens Bank to build the play equipment for our new park and to clean our neighborhood. Check out our photo gallery to view the fun. Contact us for more information about the new Elmhurst Street "neighborhood backyard."

New Parks Website by Park Patrol

Park Patrol youth interns this spring created a great new website, www.codmansquareparks.org to showcase parks and green space in the Codman Square neighborhood. Check it out!

Home Repair Ministry

We help seniors, churches, non-profits, and families in need with small home repairs including painting projects, wall repairs, and landscaping. Most projects are in Dorchester or neighboring communities. Contact Keith or Justin if you or someone you know is in need of some extra help.

Memorial Day - Cemetery Opening

After many hours of volunteer work (with many more to come), the historic Codman Burying Ground is going to be open to the public for the first time in recent history. Members from Second Church in Dorchester, Boston Trinity Academy, Park Street Church, and The Boston Project have come together to unearth this "hidden gem" in our community. Visit us between 10:00 AM-1:00 PM on Monday, May 26, 2008 at 53 Norfolk Street, Dorchester, MA 02124.

Ugly Quilts

Executive Director Paul Malkemes was interviewed for the "Sunday with Liz Walker" show on WBZ Channel 4, which is scheduled to air Sunday May 4, 2008 at 11:00 am. The interview was about volunteer's involvement in making "Ugly Quilts", homemade sleeping bags made of recycled fabrics, that are distributed to the homeless of Boston. To learn more about the project, read here...

Lee Academy Pilot School - Family Volunteer Day

We are excited to be working with the Lee Academy Pilot School and People Making a Difference to organize a Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, May 3, 2008 to clean up the outdoor classroom, around the playgrounds, and to have a groundbreaking ceremony for our upcoming school yard beautifications.

CCDA Training Institute

We co-hosted our first ever Boston CCDA Training Institute this past March 28-29, 2008. It was a great time of learning and coming together of like-hearted people. Watch for details for our fall 2008 institute and recent testimonies on our www.ccdaboston.org website.

Boston Shines!

Join with neighbors from the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle and The Boston Project Ministries in a city-wide spring cleaning effort on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Meet at the future Elmhurst Street Children's Park at 9:30 AM to join 60+ volunteers to tackle cleaning the park, New England Ave, and two other sites. Free Jamaican lunch for all volunteers followed by a kids vs. adults kickball game.

CCDA Training Institute

Come join us for the first ever Boston CCDA Training Institute this March 28-29, 2008. Co-hosted with the Emmanuel Gospel Center, Dr. Mary Nelson will speak on Listening to the Community and Bob Lupton will focus on Empowerment. Minimal cost. To register visit www.ccdaboston.org.

New Historic Burial Ground Partnership

On January 19, 2008 members from Codman Square's Second Church of the Nazarene and The Boston Project Ministries joined together with high school students from Boston Trinity Academy and adults from Park Street's 30-something Crosswalk Ministry to launch a 2-3 year partnership of rebeautifying the historic Codman Burial Ground on Norfolk Street. To learn more or to volunteer, contant by email or call 617-929-0925.

Park Patrol Champions

Ten youth are learning to become champions for parks and open space issues in Codman Square this winter/spring. With support from the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund, we have initiated the second session of this environmental leadership development program for young people. To learn more, contact by email or call 617-929-0925.

Homework Center Open

We are excited to offer our free, neighborhood drop-in Homework Center. On Mondays and Wednesdays we invite 4th-12th grade students for free academic help. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we invite pre-K to 3rd grade students for academic enrichment activities. Computers are available for use. Each day includes tutoring and a healthy snack with a staff to youth ratio of 1:5.

Boston Project in the News

This summer and fall, The Boston Project and our partners have been featured four times in local newspapers highlighting some of the good work happening in our Dorchester neighborhood.
• Pilot Program Set to Build New Playground.
• Shelter from the Street Storms. This is the story about the summer anti-violence youth café we operated with the Codman Square NDC.
• Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Named One of the Top Ten Crime Fighting Groups in Boston for 2007.
• The Re-beautification of the Codman Burial Ground.

Cemetery Rebeautification

In partnership with Second Church of the Nazarene, we are embarking on a 3-year project to rebeautify a neglected, yet our most historic neighborhood cemetery. Pastor Victor Price's vision is to transform the cemetery to symbolize life and light, rather than death and abandoment. Learn more about the Codman Burying Ground and contact us to volunteer.

Summer Youth Programs

Newly expanded free, summer drop-in activities for children and youth. Fun Fitness, Bible Club, Fine Arts, and Special Events each week; Monday-Thursday starting June 25-August 9. Contact us for more information.

Homework Center Expands

We have just doubled the number of days our Homework Center is open. On Mondays and Wednesdays we offer free academic help to 4th-12th grade students. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we invite pre-K to 3rd grade students for academic enrichment activities. Each day includes tutoring, a healthy snack, and a spiritual development focus.

Sunday Lunch Club

Spaghetti lunch is served. On the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, we invite youth from our neighborhood over for lunch after church to discuss what God is doing in their lives.

Summer Ministry Success!

50-60 children and youth participated in our Bible Club, Recreational Activities, special events (like Bike Day, Zoo Day, National Night Out), and youth Bible study this summer.

$1 a Bag Groceries

We have joined together with Fair Foods and Global Mini-stries Christian Church to run a $1 a bag grocery site on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of every month. Fresh produce. Fresh bread. Great deals!

Neighborhood Fest

Saturday, September 23, 2006 - A community event to support children and families held at Global Ministries Christian Church. Flea market. Family resources. Free school supplies. Live entertainment, food, and more. Come join the fun!

Christmas Banquet for the Homeless

What a Christmas Feast! Thank you for all your food and financial gifts which helped us host a banquet for those homeless on Saturday, December 10, 2005. Kudos to the Global Ministries Christian Church hospitality ministry who came to serve. Check out the photos and story on our Christmas Banquet page.

Being Thankful for My Community

A force of over 40 volunteers braved frigid temperatures (36+ degrees) and windy conditions on Saturday, December 3, 2005, to assist two seniors with leaf raking, beautify the future site of the Elmhurst Street Children’s Park, and clean litter, leaves, and illegally dumped debris from the sidewalks of New England Avenue. Thank you to all who supported this event.

Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Neighbors United

The Boston Project is an active participant in our local neighbors group working to improve our community. Bi-weekly meetings are held at the ministries' home.

Homework Center

Funding Needs
Our after-school Homework Center serves 12-16 children weekly. Financial donations needed – it costs $800 a month to operate the Center.

Volunteers
College students and adults needed to help youth ages 4-16 with homework projects. Flexible volunteer hours available either on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. Work study students may apply.

Christmas Banquet for the Homeless

On Saturday, December 11, over 35 Boston Project volunteers helped Starlight Ministries prepare a banquet for people who are homeless. One man commented to us, "This is the best tasting Christmas dinner in the entire city." Thank You for Serving!

Rally Against Violence

On Sunday, September 28th, neighbors, elected officials, and members of Global Ministries Christian Church marched the streets together culminating in a prayer rally focused on recent street violence.

Read the full Boston Globe newspaper story.

Home Repair Ministry

This fall, we have several families' homes that need some tender love and care from volunteers (especially those with construction experience). Join us for a Saturday Service Day to help a homeowner in need.

Back-to-School Rally

A time for youth to celebrate a safe summer in their neighborhood and make a positive commitment towards a great school year. Saturday, September 11th from 12 noon until 4:00 pm. Volunteers and donations of school supplies needed.

Report: 2004 SMP

Accomplished in only six weeks, our Summer Missions Program hosted over 200 youth and adult volunteers who completed 4,725 hours of volunteer work helping out 29 families and organizations in the Boston area.

Community Organizer Hired

Dorcas Dunham has been hired as Parks Community Organizer. We are ecstatic that Dorcas is now part of the team working to build two new children's parks in our neighborhood. We have known Dorcas from other outreach events and church for eight years.

Homework Center BBQ

We ended our Homework Center this May with 24 children for a great finger-licking dinner! Pray for us as we plan a service-learning program for neighborhood youth this summer.

Plant Yourself in the Park

On Saturday, June 5th we will join with residents to beautify our future children's park site on Elmhurst Street. During Boston Shines (May 22nd), we had over 35 young people and parents help with an initial clean up.

Wanted: Community Organizer

A part-time organizer is needed to develop resident support and programming for 2 small playgrounds in Codman Square.

Capacity Building Grant

The Boston Project just received a grant from the Black Ministerial Alliance for consultant hours to improve and stabilize our outreach to children and youth.

Neighbors Unite

We host monthly meetings for our Talbot-Norfolk Triangle neighbors in our home where we work together to become a caring and thriving community.