Literacy

Newcomers Academy

Phone: 

617-635-7993

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

M-F: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Mission: 

* Deliver high-quality education
* Accelerate English language acquisition
* Develop academic content vocabulary and higher level thinking skills
* Promote the development of social and academic skills students will need when entering district high schools
* Build a foundation for long-term academic and socio-cultural success
* Serve as a learning site for best practices in educating secondary school English language learners with interrupted schooling or gaps in their formal education.

Location

100 Maxwell St.
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

* University of Massachusetts Boston
* Boston University
* Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians
* Local social service agencies

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

All students new to the Boston Public Schools must visit a Family Resource Center with the appropriate paperwork to begin the registration process. English Language Learners are identified through a home language survey and testing provided at the Newcomer Assessment and Counseling Center. Students who meet the criteria for Newcomers Academy will be informed about the program. All students will complete a choice form to select a diploma-granting high school as well.

Students may attend Newcomers Academy for one semester or up to two calendar years, depending on the academic need, before enrolling in a diploma-granting high school. Newcomers Academy staff will continue to monitor students’ progress after they have left the program.

Key Programs Offered: 

All students engage in rigorous coursework, including:
* Intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) and Literacy development; and
* Sheltered instruction in English, Math, Science, Technology, Social Studies, Arts and Physical Education.

Students participate in field trips and community service to support their transition to life in Boston. Instruction takes place during the school day (8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.), with additional support available on Saturdays and during the summer.

Student progress is assessed through a variety of measures, including:
* MCAS exams, such as MELA-O and MEPA to assess reading, writing, speaking and listening skills;
* Math notebooks;
* Reading and writing assignments;
* Community service participation; and
* Exit portfolio.

Created: 
04/16/2010

Centro del Cardenal (Cardinal Cushing Center)

Mailing Address (if different than physical location): 

Phone: 

(617) 506-6600

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mission: 

Centro del Cardenal is committed to providing young men and women, ages 14-20, with the opportunity to earn either a high school diploma or a GED in a nurturing environment that values and supports them.

Location

185 Columbia Road
Dorchester, MA 02121
United States
Key Partners: 

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Key Programs Offered: 

Created: 
11/10/2010

This GED program helps out-of-school and high-risk youth—who did not thrive in the public school system—earn earn their GED

Boston Public Library, Mattapan Branch

Phone: 

(617) 298-9218

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Monday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
Tuesday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m

Mission: 

The Boston Public Library's mission is to preserve and provide access to historical record of our society, and to serve the cultural, educational, and informational needs of the City and the Commonwealth.

The vision of the Boston Public Library is to touch the lives of every Bostonian in
libraries, online and in the community.

Priorities for 2009‐10
Advancement of Learning
* Early Literacy: babies to pre‐kindergarten
* Academic support: School age children and teens
* Lifelong learning: For all ages
Easy Access to BPL Resources Most in Demand
* Serving the greatest number of people with existing or reduced resources
* Includes open hours, electronic access, and collection
Libraries as Community Gathering Places
* Existing facilities are clean, organized, and welcoming public environments
Programs and Services that Help People during these Economic Times
* Includes services such as job and career information, resume writing, foreclosure
prevention programs, etc.

Location

Mattapan Library
1350 Blue Hill Avenue
Mattapan, MA 02126
United States
Key Partners: 

Part of the Boston Public Library system. Click here to learn more about Dorchester area libraries.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

Click here to register for a free library card online!

Key Programs Offered: 
  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Mattapan: Tuesday 4-6PM.

Created: 
05/21/2010

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
Strong collections in urban fiction, popular music, teen fiction, anime, manga and a wide array of DVDs, from movies to popular TV series. There is also a modest collection of local history materials.

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Weekly toddler films, Fun with Books, teen movie matinee, teen advisory board, and homework assistance.
Adult Book Discussion Group - 3rd Tuesday of each Month

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
A monthly calendar of events offers a range of programs from films, author talks and readings, workshops, and educational activities for all ages. Summer reading programs are offered for children and young adults. The Friends of the Mattapan Branch also has activities throughout the year. Please consult our calendar of events for more details.

The Mattapan Branch is teamed with the Mildred Avenue Middle School and the Mildred Avenue Community Center as part of Mayor Menino’s Community Learning Initiative, a multi-department collaboration aimed at helping Boston’s youth reach their full potential by coordinating learning and recreation throughout the day.

HISTORY
As early as December 18, 1849 the people of Mattapan were concerned about library facilities. It was on that date that Increase S. Smith founded the Mattapan Library Association. On May 2, 1854, the Boston Public Library opened, and in 1870 the suburb of Dorchester, which included Mattapan, was annexed to Boston. The Mattapan Branch evolved over many years beginning with a reading room attached to the delivery station in the Oakland Hall Building in Mattapan. In 1898, the book collection consisted of ninety-eight volumes.

Around 1924, the population of Mattapan began a rapid increase. As newer groups began to establish themselves in the more central Boston neighborhoods, Jewish immigrants moved in large numbers to Mattapan.

The small reading room was granted Branch status in 1923, but could not meet the demand of the growing population. Annual circulation climbed from 20,000 volumes in 1924 to 75,010 in 1926. Mattapan residents requested a new library. Citizens' letters and petitions took effect, and on June 22, 1931 the Mattapan Library Branch at 10 Hazelton Street opened its doors.

The Hazelton Street branch served the neighborhood well for more than 75 years, but with the formation of a Mattapan Library Task Force, the procurement of necessary funding in 1997, and the perseverance of Mayor Thomas Menino and Councilor Charles Yancey a new chapter began. On February 28, 2009 the Mattapan community celebrated the opening of an architecturally-stunning, technologically enhanced, and service-rich new Mattapan Branch at 1350 Blue Hill Avenue.

Perkins Community Center

Phone: 

617-635-5146

Email: 

perkinscc@cityofboston.gov

Website: 

www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf

Location

Perkins Community Center
155 Talbot Ave
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

Boston Centers for Youth & Families Joseph Lee Elementary School Lee Academy Pilot School Codman Square Library DotWell

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

For Adult Education, including GED and ESOL classes, contact Papa Diop at (617) 635-1894. Drop-in registration every first and third Wednesday of the month. For all other after-school, summer, and recreation programs: call the front desk at (617) 635-1895.

Key Programs Offered: 

School Age Child Care After-School and Summer Program Piranhas After-School Program: Meets M-F, 3:20 - 6. 4 - 5pm writing. 5 - 6pm pool. $150/year. 1st month: Deposit and &35. Then: $35 every 3 months. Piranhas Swim Team: Membership overlaps with After-School Program, but open to others also. Swim meets 6pm Fridays.** Open Swimming: Saturdays. 10:15 - 11 Children, 11 - 12 Lap Swimming, 1 - 2:30 Community/Open Swim, 2-4:30 Adults.** Fire Star Homework Drop-in: Call center for more info Boston Raider's Mentoring: Academic help for youth aged 7-18. M-F, 3-8pm. $20/month. Strong Women, Strong Girls: Mentoring for girls in grades 3, 4 and 5 at Perkins on Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm. Open Gym Peewee Basketball: Saturdays, 9am - 1pm. $65/season. Season runs approximately October - April. Self-Defense: Free self-defense classes taught on Saturdays from 9 - 11:30 am. 16 years and up. Karate: Classes offered for ages 5 and up, adults included, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6-8. Call center for pricing information. Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition site

Community Meeting Space Available: 

Yes

Created: 
11/29/2011

Boston Public Library, Grove Hall Branch

Phone: 

(617) 427-3337

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mon, Tues, Weds: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thurs: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri & Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mission: 

The Boston Public Library's mission is to preserve and provide access to historical record of our society, and to serve the cultural, educational, and informational needs of the City and the Commonwealth.

Location

BPL Grove Hall Branch
41 Geneva Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02121
United States
Key Partners: 

Part of the City of Boston library system. Click here to read more about Dorchester's libraries.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To register for a free library card online, click here!

Key Programs Offered: 
  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Grove Hall: Thursday 4-6PM.

  • Ongoing Programs

    Tuesdays: 10:30am, Preschool Storytime: Stories and songs followed by movies.
    Wednesdays: 10:30am, Computer Troubleshooting: If you need assistance with submitting a resume, establishing an email account, or applying for a job online, this program is for you.
    10:30am, Japanimation: Do you love Anime and Manga? Then join us every Wednesday for Anime screenings and lively discussion. For teens ages 13-18.
    Thursdays: 12:30pm, Library Basics: Learn how to use the library and find the information that you need. Library Basics will keep you up to date on the latest BPL programs and services.
    Fridays: 10:30am, Job Seekers Roundtable: Offers people who are seeking employment an opportunity to share experiences, strategies, and ideas with other job seekers. Library staff will explore and share job leads and schedule guest speakers.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

No

Created: 
05/21/2010

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Grove Hall collection has a strong component of African-American literature.

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Preschool story hours are offered weekly for children.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
An annual musical program of jazz has been offered over the past several years, inspiring local interest in initiating a neighborhood jazz festival.

HISTORY
The first library in this section of Roxbury opened May 1, 1898 in the rear of Mr. Mowry's Drug Store at the corner of Warren Street and Haynes Park with one table, eight chairs, two shelves and 200 books. It was so well patronized that the Trustees of the BPL voted in 1905 to open a reading room. In 1919 the building on the corner of Warren and Savin Streets officially became the Warren Street Branch Library. In 1926, this branch moved into its new quarters in the New Roxbury Memorial High School and thus became the Memorial Branch Library. The Memorial Branch was replaced in December 1970 by the Grove Hall Branch Library located at the corner of Warren and Crawford Streets.

On April 4, 2009 the new branch library at 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester opened. Located in the newly-renovated Jeremiah E. Burke High School, the new library was designed by Schwartz/Silver Architects. It features a designated young adult room and young adult librarian, in keeping with its unique configuration, adjacent to the high school.

Boston Public Library, Lower Mills Branch

Phone: 

(617) 298-7841

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mon & Thurs: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tues & Weds: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Mission: 

The Boston Public Library's mission is to preserve and provide access to historical record of our society, and to serve the cultural, educational, and informational needs of the City and the Commonwealth.

Location

BPL Lower Mills Branch
27 Richmond Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
United States
Key Partners: 

Part of the Boston Public Library system. Click here to read more about Dorchester's libraries.

How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To register for a free library card online, click here!

Key Programs Offered: 
  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Lower Mills: Monday and Thursday 4-6PM.

  • Ongoing Programs
  • Tuesdays: 10:30am, Preschool Adventures with Ms. Maija: storytime and a fun activity.
    Wednesdays: 10:30am, Little Wigglers Storytime and Playgroup: Ms. Maija will read a story and then we'll have some fun with music, dancing, and playing with our friends.
    Fridays: 10:30am, Preschool Films: 3-10 minute short films for preschoolers.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

Yes

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

library

Created: 
05/26/2010

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The branch has a particularly strong mystery collection, and has been building its medical study and reference collection to support the schools and colleges in the neighborhood. The fiction collection continues to expand, providing various genres for diverse readers. Books and ephemera related to Dorchester, and particularly Lower Mills, history are well represented in the collection.

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Preschool story hours are offered twice weekly for children. Trivia night is held once a month for school-aged children. Pre-school films are also shown weekly. Students who attend the Pope John Paul II Academy, Lower Mills campus and The Charles Taylor Elementary School use the branch daily. Teachers also bring classes to check out material that may support their curriculum. For adults, the Book Discussion Group meets every third Thursday of the month. Beginners Internet instruction is available by appointment.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Lecture programs are typically offered in the fall or spring focusing on a variety of topics including local history. In June, an Outdoor Music Concert is held. Summer reading programs are offered for children and additional events are scheduled during these months.

HISTORY
Library service in Lower Mills was first offered through a branch delivery post in 1875; it was open three hours each day to take requests for books and to deliver books requested from the Central Library and the Dorchester Branch Library. Full branch services began in 1876 with a dedicated collection and expanded hours. In 1883, branch service was moved into the vacated Blue Hills Bank building. In 1931, space owned by the American Legion was purchased and in 1936 a small addition was completed. Eventually the collection outgrew that building and the present Lower Mills Branch Library building was opened in 1981.

In 2005, the branch was renovated, a new façade was designed, and the heating and cooling systems were up-dated. The building in general got a “face lift” and is bright and airy.

Boston Public Library, Fields Corner Branch

Phone: 

(617) 436-2155

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Monday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Closed July - August)

Mission: 

The Boston Public Library's mission is to preserve and provide access to historical record of our society, and to serve the cultural, educational, and informational needs of the City and the Commonwealth.

Location

BPL Fields Corner Branch
1520 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02122
United States
Key Partners: 
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To register for a free library card, click here! Check the library's schedule at http://www.bpl.org/branches/fc_calendar.htm

Key Programs Offered: 

Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m., Preschool Films & Fun: Films you (mostly) can't find on television, stories, songs, and play. Fridays: 10 a.m., Tots Storytime: Stories for children ages 3 to 5.

  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Fields Corner: Tuesday 4-6 p.m.

  • Ongoing Programs

Distinctive Aspects of the Collection:
This branch has a growing collection of Vietnamese materials - including books, DVDs, CDs, and magazines. There is also a strong children's and teen fiction collection, featuring a wide variety of summer reading list titles. There is also a large selection of popular dvds in all genres, best-sellers, romances, mysteries, African-American fiction, classics and audiobook/music CDs. 

Special Programming: The Fields Corner Branch hosts a free art enrichment program for children every summer, in collaboration with DotArt. Drop-in science and craft programs are offered several times during the year, along with school vacation programming and vibrant summer reading programs. HISTORY The Fields Corner Branch opened in 1969. It was the successor to the old Dorchester Branch which was also located in Fields Corner.

Community Meeting Space Available: 

Yes

Created: 
05/21/2010

Holland Elementary School

Phone: 

(617) 635-8832

Mission: 

We are beautiful people. We will learn, grow and become strong. As a scholar of the John P. Holland School I must learn to respect myself, my teachers and my fellow classmates. I must strive to do my best work in academic subjects. I must discipline myself at all times.

Location

John P. Holland Elementary School
85 Olney Street
Dorchester, MA 02121
United States
Community Meeting Space Available: 

No

Also (or Previously) Known As...: 

Holland Community Center

Boston Public Library, Adams Street Branch

Phone: 

(617) 436-6900

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

Mondays and Wednesdays 12 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Homework Assistance Program Monday-Thursday 3:30-5:30PM; tutoring Monday and Wednesday 4-6PM

Mission: 

Service was first provided in 1875 through a delivery station established in Neponset on Walnut Street. A reading room was opened at 362 Neponset Avenue in 1947. The present branch library building was opened in 1951, and at the time represented the first new neighborhood facility built in 20 years.

Location

BPL Adams Street Branch
690 Adams Street Adams Village
02122
United States
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 

To register for a library card, click here!

Key Programs Offered: 
  • Homework Assistance Program

    Free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K-8 from high-achieving high school mentors. Available at every BPL branch Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30PM.

  • Boston Teachers' Union Tutors

    Tutoring for students in all grades from BPS teachers. Days and times vary by location. Adams street: Monday and Wednesday 4-6PM.

  • Reading Readiness for Preschoolers

    Tuesdays: 10:30am, Stories songs and activities designed to reinforce the building blocks of reading. Includes performances by children's performers.

  • All libraries also provide computers for public use and FREE wireless access.
Community Meeting Space Available: 

No

Created: 
05/21/2010

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Adams Street Branch supports the broad interests of a passionate reading neighborhood with outstanding mystery, history and summer reading collections. The branch has been complemented on its eclectic and varied audio-visual collection and extensive list of films. They also have a wide range of CDs to borrow!

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
The Adams Street Branch is more than a library: it is a community gathering place for the local business association, many neighborhood organizations including a women’s writing group, and three Girl Scout troops that use our community room on a regular basis. Adams Street offers a variety of programs, from well-attended toddler, lap sit, Reading Readiness and Pajama story times to a busy Friday morning Play Group, and for adults a Monday afternoon film series.

The Adams Street Branch is teamed with the Richard J. Murphy School and Murphy Community Center as part of Mayor Menino’s Community Learning Initiative, a multi-department collaboration aimed at helping Boston’s youth reach their full potential by coordinating learning and recreation throughout the day.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
During the spring, summer and fall months, a reading garden provides a beautiful setting for special children’s events, musical performances for adults and kids, and piñatas on occasion. The branch regularly schedules lectures on a variety of topics in the community room, and offers special programs for children during school vacation weeks as well as an active schedule of summer reading events. The Adams Street Branch is also the hub for BPL participation in The Big Read, a program designed to restore reading for pleasure to the center of American life.

HISTORY
Service to the Adams Street neighborhood was first provided in 1875 through a delivery station on Walnut Street. A reading room was opened at 362 Neponset Avenue in 1947. The present branch library building was opened in 1951, and represented the first new neighborhood facility built in 20 years. In 2004, through the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Adams Street Library, a portion of the library’s yard was transformed into a Reading Garden, featuring decorative brickwork, colorful landscaping and wrought iron benches, a peaceful oasis in the midst of a busy urban neighborhood.

Boston Ten Point Coalition

Phone: 

(617) 524-4331

Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 

M-F: 9-5

Mission: 

The Boston TenPoint Coalition is an ecumenical group of Christian clergy and lay leaders working to mobilize the Christian community around issues affecting Black and Latino youth, especially those at risk for violence, drug abuse and other destructive behavior.
The Boston TenPoint Coalition envisions a strong, mobilized coalition of churches, effectively using their collective power to provide consistent services for high-risk youth while rebuilding communities to secure a safe, moral and productive future for all youth in Greater Boston. Boston TenPoint foresees a future when the social entrepreneurial efforts of Coalition members and partners will generate the funds required to sustain local efforts while reaching out to replicate successful policies, programs and practices throughout the state and region.

The Boston TenPoint Coalition is committed to reinforcing and creating new networks of violence prevention and intervention services, by building the capacity of member churches to serve high-risk and, oftentimes, violent youth. The Coalition also commits to strengthening and expanding partnerships with community-based, governmental, and private sector institutions willing to invest in high-risk youth and the future of the communities in which they live.

Location

Boston Ten Point Coalition
215 Forest Hills Street
Boston, MA 02130
United States
Community Meeting Space Available: 

No

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