QUINCY TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK APRIL 6 – 10th

QUINCY TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK APRIL 6 – 10^th

Planning Department to Highlight Inclusion, Community Programs, Solar Initiative       

QUINCY – During April 6 – 10^th, the City of Quincy will join communities across the country in celebrating National Community Development Week. This year marks 40 years of investment of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in Quincy.

The annual weeklong celebration provides the opportunity for communities to showcase block-grant-funded projects and programs, and to educate residents, businesses, and government officials about the block grant programs provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which are administered by the city’s Department of Planning and Community Development.  CDBG provides the city with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.

Three special events have been planned which the public can register for in advance on EventBrite. These events include a capacity building workshop focused on inclusion; a student performance and ribbon cutting at the new Germantown Neighborhood Center/South Shore YMCA Music Studio; and a “Youth Giving Celebration” and ice cream social at the Houghs Neck Community Center. 

“Opportunity Quincy Focus on Inclusion: Enhancing Programs & Services for Persons of All Abilities” will be held on Wednesday, April 8^th from 9:30 – 11:30 am at the Thomas Crane Public Library at 40 Washington Street in Quincy. This capacity building event for service providers will be based on a presentation of the white paper from UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion” entitled ‘Indicators of Inclusive Service and Volunteer Organizations.’ Following the presentation, a local panel will discuss local initiatives of best practices on inclusion. The panel includes Joe Buizon, Employment Services Specialist, Mass Commission for the Blind; Eric Clark; Assistant Head of School at the Woodward School for Girls and Lisa Drennan; Association Director of Inclusion for the YMCA. For more information and to register, please go to: http://oppquincyinclusion.eventbrite.com.

“Germantown Legends: Music Clubhouse Ribbon Cutting” will be held on Thursday, April 9^th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Germantown Neighborhood Center/South Shore YMCA at 366 Palmer Street. The event will kick off with a student performances followed by a greetings from the City and invited dignitaries, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, additional performances by the students. As this is the official highlight event for the week, the annual Community Development Week Awards Presentation will also take place at this event. Youth will be preforming Motown music and have gathered inspiration from the Jackson 5, The Temptations, and The Marvelettes. For more information and to register, please go to:  http://GermantownLegends.eventbrite.com.

The “Youth Giving Celebration & Ice Cream Social” will be held on Friday, 10^th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Houghs Neck Community Center at 1193 Sea Street. Youth of all ages and their families are invited to celebrate fundraising and volunteering. A special station will be set up for youth to report on their savings that created a “giving bank” during the Martin Luther King Day of Service at Houghs Neck Community Center this past January 19^th, 2015. Quincy Credit Union, Father Bill’s & Main Spring and Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center will join to empower youth with knowledge about their organizations and will be giving away prizes. For more information and to register, please go to: http://hnccyouthcelebration.eventbrite.com.  

Additionally, On Tuesday, April 7^th, at 7:00 PM at the Clifford Marshall School located at 200 Moody Street, the Department of Planning and Community Development is co-promoting a “Meet the Installer” event as part of the Solarize Quincy initiative.  City planners have worked with the Solarize Quincy initiative to ensure that public outreach for the discounted solar program connects with low and moderate income neighborhoods in the City.  Educating property owners about the value of renewable energy can serve multiple goals including spurring private investment, preserving the stock of affordable housing and promoting neighborhood revitalization.

Quincy’s calendar also includes women’s, senior and youth programming at Germantown Neighborhood Center/South Shore YMCA, Houghs Neck Community Center, North Quincy Community Center, and the Quincy Council on Aging.

All of the Community Development Week events are cost free and open to the public. All interested parties – including but not limited to local service providers, residents, and program participants – are encouraged to attend.