3
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
Health Fair at the McCormack Development “As this collaboration unfolds, our goal is to identify and support those most at risk, while pulling-in the entire community and its strengths to meet the challenge.” (Donna Hudson Bryant, BC Nursing)
some specific health needs we know about in the community. Equally important, we are excited to meet more community members and hear from them about their own individual and collective health concerns.” Kathy Lafferty, the Executive Director of the SBNH is also enthused about this upcoming event.
By Kevin Devlin On Thursday, April 27, at the Mary Ellen McCormack Development task force office, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., a Health Fair will be held. The task force office is located at 345 Old Colony Ave. There will be free food, raffles, giveaways, as well as blood pressure screenings and related medical advice. “The Executive Director of the development’s task force, Carol Sullivan is the driving force behind this collaboration,” said (another) Carole Sullivan, Senior Advocate and Director of Senior Programs at the South Boston Neighborhood House (SBNH). “Carol recognizes the need for services for the elderly that have aged in place, living in the Mary Ellen Development for many years, a predominantly family development. “Carol and I spoke about the needs of the seniors in the development,” she added. “… and looked at what was needed and what we could do together to create an environment to enhance services for seniors right in their own neighborhood.” “As an agency, we are very interested in bringing our services to the underserved in this development,” she concluded. “Whether they are seniors or families that are new to the community or families with language barriers, the SBNH, along with other service providers working with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and Carol Sullivan at the task force, we are looking forward to working together for the betterment of the families.” Boston College has also partnered with these agencies for the betterment of all “Boston College
nursing students in their Population Health clinical rotation are helping to assess the health needs of the community down to the neighborhood level,” said Donna Hudson-Bryant, Boston College faculty member at the William F. Connell School of Nursing. “BC nursing students are here to help support this evolving partnership,” she added. “As well as learning about this nursing specialty, the students hope to help improve the health of the community. As part of that goal, the students have set up weekly free blood pressure clinics at the Mary Ellen McCormack task force office. This has helped the students meet some community members and get to know what health concerns or questions these individuals have. Being a nurse in the community focuses on supporting the strengths of a community, but is also about helping the community identify its challenges. These nurses seek to raise awareness of the health resources that are available to meet these challenges and help make connections between people and resources. “Through conversations with stakeholders in the community, we are discovering that there is a diverse population living at Mary Ellen McCormack,” Hudson-Bryant further stated. “There are senior citizens who are living independently, but in mixed housing without specific senior-citizen focus, may be vulnerable to becoming isolated
and disconnected from support services that might help them otherwise stay living in their own homes. There are families who have language and cultural issues that may act as a barrier to health and educational resources. “The SBNH, the task force, and BC nursing students decided to hold a health fair,” Hudson-Bryant concluded. “…to connect people with resources around
“The South Boston Neighborhood House is excited to build upon our strong partnership with the Mary Ellen McCormack Task Force,” she said. “... and work with our local community health center and the other organizations to bring resources and information to the seniors living in our community who are isolated and unable to connect to services due to a number of barriers. Working together to create access to existing programs and services is our best approach to break down these barriers to our seniors.”
Public Meeting RAYMOND L. FLYNN MARINE PARK MASTER PLAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26
1 DESIGN CENTER PL
6:00 PM - 8:00PM
The Galley at the Boston Design Center, 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02210
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Please join the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) for a public meeting on the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Master Plan Update. This meeting will include a presentation on the draft master plan and provide an opportunity for public comment. Written comments on the proposed Master Plan Update received by 5:00 PM on May 5, 2017 will be considered. Comments should be addressed to: Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 Attention: Richard McGuinness or via email to Richard.McGuinness@Boston.gov. The Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Master Plan Update is available online at http:// www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/820e6922-af1f-4470-bbbe-99dfa82df97c.
mail to:
phone: email :
RICHARD MCGUINNESS
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4323 Richard.McGuinness@Boston.gov
CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: 5/5/2017
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary