Winter 2002

Citizens Bank Sponsors an Autumn Gathering for Clean Corners...Bright Hopes

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon... visiting with friends and neighbors in a cozy atmosphere while sampling delicious food and wine, perhaps winning one of many great raffle or silent auction items, and getting the chance to meet Mayor Thomas Menino... all for a great cause!

Project Place and the South End Business Alliance held this Autumn Gathering on November 11th to support Clean Corners...Bright Hopes on Tremont Street. The event was hosted by Icarus, a premier South End restaurant and was sponsored by Citizens Bank. Mayor Thomas Menino recognized both Citizens Bank and Icarus for their commitment to Clean Corners…Bright Hopes and voiced his unwavering support for this program that employs homeless men and women to maintain business districts and neighborhoods in the Boston area.

Many thanks to Citizens for their gen-erosity, and to Icarus for providing a beautiful venue for the event. Clean Corner's success on Tremont Street can be attributed to a dynamic collaboration between Project Place and the SE Business Alliance, SE Neighborhood Associations, community leaders, and numerous other individuals who share in our mission to alleviate homelessness and poverty.

Much appreciation to all of our contributors who helped make the Autumn Gathering the great success that it was!

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Look What We’re Up To...

Clean Corners...Bright Hopes is celebrating two new work sites. The Charlestown Navy Yard and the Allston Main Street district. This is exciting news because more work sites translates into the opportunity to offer jobs to more homeless men and women.

Our Aftercare services are better than ever! To ensure comprehensive service delivery and our clients' long-term success we now have both a Job Developer and a Stabilization Worker. Our Job Developer is responsible for the provision of job counseling and placement services, and is available to help graduates obtain job upgrades, and our Stabilization Worker provides post-program support in the form of case management and resource/referral services, and runs an alumni support group.

Betty's Transitional Housing Program Last year Betty's Place Transitional Program provided shelter and case management services to over 45 women. 63% of those who graduated from the program obtained permanent housing. The staff at Betty's is also excited to report that they currently have a client in the process of purchasing her own house!

Our computer instructor, Neena Josen, recently launched a new Computer Certificate Program for clients interested in pursuing a career track that requires more advanced computer skills.

Neena welcomes volunteers to help out in the Computer Lab - if interested please call her at (617) 542-3740
Every year Project Place serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal for all clients, staff, friends and family. The staff decorate the dining room, prepare special desserts, and serve the meal to clients. This year we served over 60 meals helping to make the holiday special for the homeless men and women who come through our doors each day.

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The Blue Door Review Debuts

Project 90 coordinator, Andrea Aptecker, recently introduced the debut of The Blue Door Review, a newsletter written by Project 90 students for the staff and clients of Project Place. Andrea initiated the newsletter as a means of displaying the best talents of Project 90 students, reinforcing for the men and women in her class that they have meaningful things to say and can do so in creative and articulate ways. She teaches her students that in addition to being a way to improve one’s language skills, writing is also a form of self-discovery and a way to share opinions and ideas with others. Andrea also believes that for many of her students writing legitimizes their life experiences, helping them to acknowledge their pasts and learn from them in a new context. The following is an excerpt from The Blue Door Review...

The Smallest Things (by Lisa Grant)

I remember when my daughter was five and it was Christmas morning. My daughter was living with my sister, and I came over to see my baby and the family. I watched my daughter give my sister a little stuffed heart. My sister kissed her and thanked her. I was sitting there very jealous when I said to my daughter, "Where is my present?" She said, "I forgot yours mommy, but I'll go make you one." She went into the next room for several minutes and then came out with a shoebox. Now I was excited. I opened the box and to my surprise, nothing was inside. I said, "That's not nice. When you give some-one a box there's supposed to be something in it." My daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Mommy, there is something in it. I put lots of small kisses inside."
To this day, I still have that box of kisses.

Things That Go Away (by Justine M. Collins)

Project 90 is a job readiness program for homeless individuals with little or poor job history that combines classroom instruction and a paid community internship.

Save the Date!

Project Place's Fourth Annual
Charity Golf Tournament
is scheduled for
Wednesday, July 24th at the
New England Country Club
For more information or to register your team please call (617) 542-3740

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