Summary of Coalition Meeting #3, March 28, 2018
Updates:
Debora Guimaraes- Youth Initiatives- Self-Care Fair on April 26, from 2:20-4:30 in the RHS gym
- The purpose is to respond to youth's voice expressing very stressful lives. Fair consists of a diversity of resources that would help to address stress.
Dimple- City Healthy Community Initiatives and Revere on the Move
- Summary of the Mass in Motion assessment; cause and effects statements were shared
- Four priority populations identified: those living below the poverty level, Hispanic or Latino residents, those who speak a language other than English at home, RPS's low-income students
- Looked into understanding the gaps in the community towards healthier living
- Will need to pick 3 strategies to focus on
- Community events coming up:
--May 18-19 Harmon Park community build- in need of volunteers
--Revere Runs 5K: Teams needed: run or walk---Sign up!
Presentation on Robert Putnam's Social Capital and Social Networks article
- Most successful communities are those where everybody enjoys memberships in social networks and are connected to resources through trusted relationships and friendships
- Successful communities are also civic and members are active and engaged in the choice of leaders and the shaping of laws and regulations
- Negatives of social networks are when the norms and regulations of groups are discriminatory leaving some community members out- some are "in" while others are left "out"
- Full Power Point: Social Networks- Revere CARES Meeting 2018
Discussion:
- Questionable the conclusion of the article that population movements were irrelevant to success given the experience in Revere
- Neighborhood organizations try to engage residents with meaningful activities that build pride around their space
- No clear infrastructure in Revere to create social networks; lack of social spaces; leaders do not mirror residents; language barrier
- New high school is planned to include new social spaces; Mayor is thinking on a community center
- Civic engagement as measured by voter turnout has been low in Revere
- There is a lack of education on the importance of local politics and immigration status is also an issue
Current program models of social networks for economic mobility implemented in Boston:
- Union Capital
- Family Independence Initiative
- Will be meeting with representatives to learn more
Conclusion and next steps discussion
- Tap into youth to motivate parents and others in the community
- Do asset mapping of social networks and resources in the community to understand the gaps
- Church facilitates formal and informal networks
- Include someone from the library in the coalition group; have block street parties; an umbrella organization with resources; promote event through many venues
- There will be a street festival city-wide in September
Logistics
- The coalition needs to revisit and reword mission statement and goals for the coalition
